Dear Everyone:
In browsing the site, I find that most themes are upgraded to support the beta releases. I find this really odd, because those of us using SMF but not really technically savvy, are unlikely to sign on to use a beta version. It seems to me that there ought to be plenty of themes that are fit for the stable version, and that beta versions ought to at least be "backwards compatible" to the latest released stable version.
Here are my questions:
1. Where is there a list of themes specifically for SMF 1.08 (last stable release)? Or, even 1.0, since all the rest are derivative.
2. Is it possible that I'm misinterpretting? In other words, when you guys say that RC 1.1.3 is beta, is that really true, or should I really be using that version and not the 1.08 that package manager updates me to?
3. Is it very difficult to make a theme work for both the stable versions and the release candidates?
4. Are there theme designers out there who can design for the stable versions?
QT
1.1 RC3 is not really a beta, it is a Release Candidate. It is very stable (as was RC2 before) which is why many people develop mods and themes for it.
There are many themes for 1.0 on the theme site, and in the Themes board here. Searching will let you easily find them :)
Thank you for writing.
It is not true that there are many themes for 1.0x. A search just for 1.0 results in a couple of themes, and a few hits for people asking if themes can be made for 1.0, or being told that the theme is not compatible with 1.0, etc.
QT
The reason is, 1.1 is not a beta. It is "pretty damn stable (http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=109251.msg701940#msg701940)". And has many more features.
You say you are "those of us using SMF but not really technically savvy", so using 1.0 series. But mod and theme developers are usually more "adventurous" than you, so they are using 1.1.
Also, these developers don't want their valuable product become useless after a few months.
I myself suggest you 1.1 series, if you are not using a language other than english.
LainaaA search just for 1.0 results in a couple of themes
Actually if go around in the theme area, you will find themes for 1.0. The lowest theme version you should go is the one's for 1.0.4
As a side not for you to better understand the version levels also.
Alpha: (basically the drawing board level)
Beta: (the testing level or phase)
Release Candidate: "RC" (final version not yet at stable, known bugs still being fixed)
Final: "gold" (all known bugs fixed and declared a stable version)
Hope that helps some same for scripts and software. ;)
Lainaus käyttäjältä: HarzeM - syyskuu 14, 2006, 01:13:10 IP
The reason is, 1.1 is not a beta. It is "pretty damn stable (http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=109251.msg701940#msg701940)". And has many more features.
You say you are "those of us using SMF but not really technically savvy", so using 1.0 series. But mod and theme developers are usually more "adventurous" than you, so they are using 1.1.
Also, these developers don't want their valuable product become useless after a few months.
I myself suggest you 1.1 series, if you are not using a language other than english.
You make a great case for commercial software. :( ::)
Commercial software developers would develop for the users. Apparently I'm not qualified to use this kind of software.
QT
Of course you're qualified.
Lainaus käyttäjältä: QueenTiye - syyskuu 14, 2006, 10:02:01 IP
You make a great case for commercial software. :( ::)
Commercial software developers would develop for the users. Apparently I'm not qualified to use this kind of software.
QT
??? How could you derive that? Mod and theme developers are not official developers usually. And these "freelance developers" are
the great case for free software. And they are free to develop their product for what version they want. And since these freelancers doesn't get great risks by using RC versions, they produce for RC.
If SMF was a commercial product, you may wait developers not to risk their sites and use 1.0. If they were not freelancers but paid developers, they would develop for 1.0. If RC was not so stable, you would still expect them to work for 1.0.
But,
1. RC is pretty stable.
2. RC has much more features, so many teenagers who don't have very big sites to risk use RC.
3. More than 80% of SMF users use RC. So when they develop something, 80% of users can use it.
4. Everyone is free to develop something for anything, unless forbidden.
All these result in more themes for RC.
OK, sorry for my crankiness yesterday. HarzeM, I reacted to your assertion that developers don't develop for people like me, who are rather timid about going into versions that aren't, as was said earlier, "Gold." That's because I have no way of fixing bugs, and am unlikely to even know how to adequately describe them. I'm getting better, but gee am I a long way away from being technically aware enough to hang with you guys!
That said, besides the developers developing themes for the release candidates, what are the substantial (from the user/board owner pov) improvements/features?
QT
http://docs.simplemachines.org/index.php?board=40.0