Author Topic: Rewriting the Customization Site (Read 96420 times)

SlammedDime · « **on:** April 20, 2010, 04:44:18 AM »

Even before I became the customize team lead, I had an interest in seeing the customization being updated for modern times, streamlined, and made more user friendly not only to the team, but most importantly, to you guys, the users.

When I became the team lead, I had the perfect opportunity to implement my vision of the site and add a whole lot of features to make it really draw some attention and make mod development and support easier. A few months back, I really got into learning about PHP OOP style of doing things, as well as MVC architectures. Armed with some new knowledge, I dove into writing my own PHP MVC Framework which has now become the basis of the new customization site. This will also be tightly integrated with SMF as well (and may even be released as a mod itself, who knows).

Let's highlight some of the features the new site will bring to SM.org:

Totally new design for all pages of the Customization Site
Essentially all current features of the current customization site
Customization Changelog
Customization Issue (bug) Tracker
- Public or Private status, with issues that can also be declared as public or private
FAQ pages for customizations
Ratings system for customizations
XML/RSS Feeds for Customizations
Customization Tutorials
Customization Requests
- Allow community members to take on requests
- Allow requesters to manage their request
- Status/Progress bars
Package Parser that is able to show the contents in a raw format of all files in a Customization (Similar to how the Package Manager does it)
Package Maker
Community Customizer implementation - Allow the community to assist in reviewing unapproved modifications
Support for customizations will be given on the Customization site, rather than on the forum
Language editor for customizations - ability to automatically package these as well
Automated checking of customization packages for approval purposes
Versions does not work with, versions works with, versions untested with
Advanced 'Report as unsafe' feature
Mod transfers will no longer require customization team approval/assistance

This is a very long list of things to implement, and the entire site is being rewritten from scratch, so it will take some time, and you won't likely see all of these features at once, but rolled out in waves as I build and test modules with the team.

cme1st2302 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 20, 2010, 08:21:49 AM »

SlammedDime,
Sounds like a very well thought out plan. I think a lot of the features you suggested will be very helpful for the site overall. Can't wait to see the progress.

Chris

Cassiel · « **Reply #2 on:** April 20, 2010, 01:23:09 PM »

Wow, that is certainly a huge list of things SD.

Personally, I can't wait to see some of these things be implemented. Any advancement in the site is a wonderful thing indeed. It was kind of a few months back since the first post about having a new Cust site, but this just reaffirms that good things are on there way. I hope that the first little glance at this is released soon for the community to marvel at.

I'm not sure how many other people have said it, but thank for putting the work in revamping the Customization Site, SlammedDime. It's appreciated by one person to say the least.

Arantor · « **Reply #3 on:** April 20, 2010, 01:40:39 PM »

Looking great, SlammedDime.

Hopefully it'll be appreciated by users (since as cool as it is I won't be using it)

Fustrate · « **Reply #4 on:** April 20, 2010, 05:03:45 PM »

Good to see someone continuing with my plans (and adding to them) after I left.

JBlaze · « **Reply #5 on:** April 20, 2010, 05:12:18 PM »

Nice to see that work is being done. Can't wait to see it put into action!

flapjack · « **Reply #6 on:** April 20, 2010, 08:31:55 PM »

IBIWISI!

but seriously - I thank the Lord someone is taking care of it

cheers!

live627 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 22, 2010, 12:47:58 AM »

Very good going. Keep it up!

Liam. · « **Reply #8 on:** April 22, 2010, 11:27:14 AM »

Alot of highly promising features. I suspect that they'll take a while to work with making, but I look forward to it! Also, if this was released as a mod, that would just be epic, but I doubt it will since it seems qutie specific.

Bloc · « **Reply #9 on:** April 22, 2010, 01:55:24 PM »

Very ambitious plans, and to some extent also a bit unrealistic? Bugtracker for customisations, package maker, language editor..all these warrant dedicated time just by themselves. I would have settled for *just* the other ones - and foremost: cleaning it up both code and theme-wise.

But good luck with everything, lets hope it becomes of.

SlammedDime · « **Reply #10 on:** April 22, 2010, 02:36:40 PM »

Very ambitious indeed Bloc, however that is the reason it will not all happen at once. It will be a great test of my coding skills and knowledge and I am looking forward to the challenge.

Bloc · « **Reply #11 on:** April 22, 2010, 02:54:32 PM »

Good to hear!

Fustrate · « **Reply #12 on:** April 22, 2010, 04:01:56 PM »

Quote from: SlammedDime on April 22, 2010, 02:36:40 PM

It will be a great test of my coding skills and knowledge and I am looking forward to the challenge.

It's just going to be you making it? Why not delegate the creation of some portions to other Customize team members?

Arantor · « **Reply #13 on:** April 22, 2010, 04:05:15 PM »

@ Fustrate

I suspect the answer to that question is embedded within http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=375429.msg2578057#msg2578057

Fustrate · « **Reply #14 on:** April 22, 2010, 04:13:58 PM »

The same would then apply to this - shouldn't every Customize team member, including the leader, be focused on pulling their weight in regards to mod/theme approvals? Those are definitely more important than a new Customization Site.

Don't get me wrong, I liked the idea when I was the team leader (and groundup/Josh was working on a core for it), and I like it now. I'm just worried that the daily tasks are being relegated to the "regular" team members even while those team members can't possibly keep up, as it sounds like in the post you linked to.

Arantor · « **Reply #15 on:** April 22, 2010, 04:18:01 PM »

Oh, I agree that everyone needs to balance it out - part of my problem was that I couldn't get the cust repo to work locally, gave it about a day, gave up, asked (and waited) for anyone to help me get it set up, which never happened, and went back to mod approvals until I burned myself out on that score.

I agree everyone who can should help out as best they are able - circumstances depending. The fact that this week Runic and JBlaze have been helping out suggests the team can't keep up with current duties without worrying about any expansion. Expansion is good, but I get the distinct impression that Dime is the main person doing both site dev and mod approval, and trying to balance that out.

* Arantor isn't pointing fingers, just trying to call it how he sees it.

Fustrate · « **Reply #16 on:** April 22, 2010, 04:25:53 PM »

As a side note, yes, my last post was amazingly hypocritical. I think the last time I really did a mod approval without grumbling about it for hours was about 2 months before I became the team leader.

Arantor · « **Reply #17 on:** April 22, 2010, 04:27:58 PM »

You didn't grumble about reviewing one mod of mine in November.

Fustrate · « **Reply #18 on:** April 22, 2010, 04:31:35 PM »

Probably because I didn't approve any mods in November!

Unless I was amazingly bored and forgot how agonizing mod approval is...

Arantor · « **Reply #19 on:** April 22, 2010, 04:36:00 PM »

You reviewed it and asked me to change a few things stylistically - it was the ssi_multiBoardNews mod.

News:

Author Topic: Rewriting the Customization Site (Read 96420 times)