feat: add libraries highlight carousel card

Author: julhoang

ak/homepage.py

@@ -5,19 +5,11 @@
 from core.constants import SLACK_MEMBER_COUNT
 from core.models import HomepageSettings
 from core.templatetags.custom_static import large_static
-from libraries.models import LibraryVersion, Tier
-from libraries.utils import build_library_intro_context
+from libraries.models import FEATURED_LIBRARY_TIERS, Library, LibraryVersion
+from libraries.utils import build_library_intro_context, get_documentation_url
 from news.models import Entry
 from versions.models import Version
 
-# Fallback code snippet shown on the Get Started card when no featured
-# library snippet is available. TODO: replace with a proper empty state.
-HELLO_WORLD_SNIPPET = """#include <iostream>
-int main()
-{
-    std::cout << "Hello, Boost.";
-}"""
-
 # Hero illustration for the V3 homepage.
 HERO_LEGACY_IMAGE_URL_LIGHT = large_static("img/v3/home-page/heros.png")
 HERO_LEGACY_IMAGE_URL_DARK = large_static("img/v3/home-page/heros_light.png")
@@ -45,7 +37,7 @@ def get_v3_featured_library():
     return (
         LibraryVersion.objects.filter(
             version=latest_version,
-            library__tier__in=[Tier.FLAGSHIP, Tier.CORE],
+            library__tier__in=FEATURED_LIBRARY_TIERS,
         )
         .order_by("?")
         .first()
@@ -152,17 +144,62 @@ def build_join_developers_links():
     ]
 
 
-def build_get_started_code():
-    """The Get Started code card. Hardcoded for now; a redesign of this
-    component is tracked in a separate PR.
+def build_library_highlight_carousel(limit=3):
+    """Per-slide content for the homepage 'Explore battle tested libraries'
+    carousel.
+
+    Shows the libraries an editor curated in HomepageSettings first (in random
+    order); when fewer than `limit` are curated, the remaining slots are filled
+    with random flagship/core libraries in the latest release. Returns a list
+    of dicts (name, category_tags, description, added_in_version, docs_url);
+    empty when no candidate library exists.
     """
-    return {
-        "heading": "Get started with our libraries",
-        "code": HELLO_WORLD_SNIPPET,
-        "language": "cpp",
-        "library_slug": "",
+    latest = Version.objects.most_recent()
+    libraries = list(
+        HomepageSettings.load()
+        .highlighted_libraries.prefetch_related("categories")
+        .order_by("?")
+    )
+
+    remaining_slots = limit - len(libraries)
+    if remaining_slots > 0:
+        libraries += list(
+            Library.objects.filter(
+                tier__in=FEATURED_LIBRARY_TIERS,
+                library_version__version=latest,
+            )
+            .exclude(id__in=[lib.id for lib in libraries])
+            .distinct()
+            .prefetch_related("categories")
+            .order_by("?")[:remaining_slots]
+        )
+    if not libraries:
+        return []
+
+    library_versions = {
+        lv.library_id: lv
+        for lv in LibraryVersion.objects.filter(library__in=libraries, version=latest)
     }
 
+    slides = []
+    for library in libraries:
+        lv = library_versions.get(library.id)
+        first_version = library.first_boost_version
+        slides.append(
+            {
+                "name": library.display_name_short,
+                "category_tags": library.category_tags,
+                "description": (
+                    (lv.description if lv else None) or library.description or ""
+                ),
+                "added_in_version": (
+                    first_version.display_name if first_version else ""
+                ),
+                "docs_url": get_documentation_url(lv, latest=True) if lv else "",
+            }
+        )
+    return slides
+
 
 def build_library_intro():
     """Library Intro card content for the V3 homepage, or None if no

ak/views.py

@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@
 from ak.homepage import (
     WHY_BOOST_CARDS,
     build_community_posts,
-    build_get_started_code,
     build_join_developers_links,
+    build_library_highlight_carousel,
     build_library_intro,
     hero_image_context,
 )
@@ -116,8 +116,8 @@ def get_v3_context_data(self, **kwargs):
         # Testimonial Card
         ctx["testimonial_cards"] = get_testimonial_cards(limit=5)
 
-        # Get Started Card
-        ctx["get_started_code"] = build_get_started_code()
+        # Library Highlight Carousel ("Explore battle tested libraries")
+        ctx["library_highlight_carousel"] = build_library_highlight_carousel()
 
         # Library Intro Card
         ctx["library_intro"] = build_library_intro()

core/migrations/0009_homepagesettings_highlighted_libraries.py

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# Generated by Django 6.0.2 on 2026-06-30 16:03
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ("core", "0008_popularsearchterm_popularsearchtermexclusion"),
+        ("libraries", "0041_category_short_description"),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name="homepagesettings",
+            name="highlighted_libraries",
+            field=models.ManyToManyField(
+                blank=True,
+                help_text="Libraries shown in the homepage 'Explore battle tested libraries' carousel. Only flagship and core libraries present in the latest stable release are listed. If empty, a random selection of flagship or core libraries is used.",
+                related_name="+",
+                to="libraries.library",
+            ),
+        ),
+    ]

core/models.py

@@ -144,18 +144,20 @@ def wordcloud_ignore_set(self):
 
 
 class HomepageSettingsForm(WagtailAdminModelForm):
-    """Scopes the featured-library chooser to flagship and core libraries
-    present in the latest stable release, A→Z."""
+    """Scopes the library choosers to flagship and core libraries present in
+    the latest stable release, A→Z."""
 
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
-        from libraries.models import Library, Tier
+        from libraries.models import FEATURED_LIBRARY_TIERS, Library
 
-        qs = Library.objects.filter(tier__in=[Tier.FLAGSHIP, Tier.CORE])
+        qs = Library.objects.filter(tier__in=FEATURED_LIBRARY_TIERS)
         latest = Version.objects.most_recent()
         if latest:
             qs = qs.filter(library_version__version=latest)
-        self.fields["featured_library"].queryset = qs.order_by(Lower("name"))
+        qs = qs.order_by(Lower("name"))
+        self.fields["featured_library"].queryset = qs
+        self.fields["highlighted_libraries"].queryset = qs
 
 
 @register_setting
@@ -178,7 +180,22 @@ class HomepageSettings(BaseGenericSetting):
         ),
     )
 
-    panels = [FieldPanel("featured_library")]
+    highlighted_libraries = models.ManyToManyField(
+        "libraries.Library",
+        blank=True,
+        related_name="+",
+        help_text=(
+            "Libraries shown in the homepage 'Explore battle tested "
+            "libraries' carousel. Only flagship and core libraries present in "
+            "the latest stable release are listed. If empty, a random "
+            "selection of flagship or core libraries is used."
+        ),
+    )
+
+    panels = [
+        FieldPanel("featured_library"),
+        FieldPanel("highlighted_libraries"),
+    ]
 
     class Meta:
         verbose_name = "Homepage Settings"

core/views.py

@@ -1852,6 +1852,47 @@ def get_context_data(self, **kwargs):
             },
         ]
 
+        context["demo_library_highlight_slides"] = [
+            {
+                "name": "Beast",
+                "category_tags": [
+                    {"label": "Concurrent", "slug": "concurrent"},
+                    {"label": "IO", "slug": "io"},
+                ],
+                "description": (
+                    "Portable HTTP, WebSocket, and network operations using only "
+                    "C++11 and Boost.Asio. Designed for performance at scale."
+                ),
+                "added_in_version": "1.66.0",
+                "docs_url": "#",
+            },
+            {
+                "name": "Asio",
+                "category_tags": [
+                    {"label": "Concurrent", "slug": "concurrent"},
+                    {"label": "IO", "slug": "io"},
+                ],
+                "description": (
+                    "Cross-platform C++ library for network and low-level I/O "
+                    "programming with a consistent asynchronous model."
+                ),
+                "added_in_version": "1.35.0",
+                "docs_url": "#",
+            },
+            {
+                "name": "Hana",
+                "category_tags": [
+                    {"label": "Metaprogramming", "slug": "metaprogramming"},
+                ],
+                "description": (
+                    "A modern C++ metaprogramming library for computations on both "
+                    "types and values."
+                ),
+                "added_in_version": "1.61.0",
+                "docs_url": "#",
+            },
+        ]
+
         context["learn_card_data"] = {
             "title": "I want to learn:",
             "text": "How to install Boost, use its libraries, build projects, and get help when you need it.",

libraries/models.py

@@ -223,6 +223,10 @@ class Tier(models.IntegerChoices):
     LEGACY = 40, "Legacy"
 
 
+# Tiers eligible to be featured on the V3 homepage (spotlight + highlight carousel).
+FEATURED_LIBRARY_TIERS = [Tier.FLAGSHIP, Tier.CORE]
+
+
 class Library(models.Model):
     """
     Model to represent component Libraries of Boost

static/css/v3/components.css

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 @import "./avatar.css";
 @import "./carousel-buttons.css";
 @import "./cards-carousel.css";
+@import "./library-highlight-carousel.css";
 @import "./badge.css";
 @import "./count-badge.css";
 @import "./v3-examples-section.css";