Welcome To Simple Machines!

[Brian Lacy]

Haven't posted here yet -- not as a member anyway, can't remember if I made an earlier comment. After reading this entire(!!) thread I wanted to throw in my own praise for the Dev's.

Before I continue, please understand that I have no affiliation with Simple Machines or YaBB SE, other than being a very pleased user of the software since YSE's release.

I had a chance to talk with a couple of the Devs in the past, and back when YaBB SE 2.0 was in an early production stage I even got a quick peak at the code, which I assume has grown and evolved into SMF. If this is true, then I'm lucky enough to have had a small glimpse of what's coming.

Although this was very long ago, I can tell you that this forum software was designed and built from the ground to be extremely secure, stable, and reliable, and incredibly customizable. I won't go into detail because I don't know what the Dev's have planned for their Charter Members (I'd be one already if I had the money), and I don't want to spoil their hard work. I also don't want to give any false or misleading information.

But we all know that the software is expected to be extremely customizable design, thanks to the theming system, and that the board allows Child boards, a feature supported only by one other forum package I know of. I'm also aware that it is much faster. I'm sure there's more I haven't mentioned, which could be discovered by simply bothering to click on the appropriate links on the Simple Machines home page -- if you're too lazy to do this so-called "research" then don't complain about a lack of features.

As for the complaints about looking like YaBB SE:
SMF will always be reminiscent of YaBB SE because it is ultimately an upgrade from that software... think of it as being something like the difference between Windows 98 and Windows XP, or between Mac OS 8 and OS X. The roots are basically the same, the company (or in this case the Devs) are the same, and the target audience is the same -- but the codebase and the functionality have been completely redesigned to be more powerful and functional in virtually every way.

I hope that clarifies things for a few people.

Lastly I want to comment on the name. When I heard "Simple Machines" the first thing I thought of was a product that was easy to use, and a product that is based on many smaller, elegant components working in unison to achieve a common goal, like a complex machine made from a simple one. It is my understanding that not only is SMF built in a more component-based manner than YSE, but that Simple Machines is intended to evolve into a suite of web applications that can work in concert with each other or as standalone products, the way Microsoft Office is comprised of Word, Excel, Access, etc.

So to me, Simple Machines is a great name. I also think it has a great ring to it, and sounds both professional and slightly whimsical, and even the logo is logical and recognizable. Whoever thought up that name deserves a medal, and ought to consider a marketing career for themselves.

Alright, I'm done raving. I pretty much just wanted passive readers to know that there was a non-affiliated individual around here that could back up their views.

[Wezz6400]

Nice post

I had a chance to talk with a couple of the Devs in the past, and back when YaBB SE 2.0 was in an early production stage I even got a quick peak at the code, which I assume has grown and evolved into SMF. If this is true, then I'm lucky enough to have had a small glimpse of what's coming.

Sorry to disappoint you but YaBB SE 2.0 was dropped because of various reasons. SMF basicly is YaBB SE 1.6.0, but it's a total rewrite with lot's of new features. You could call it 1.6.0 but if you're talking about changes your comparison with Win 98 v.s. XP is way more accurate.

[Brian Lacy]

I realize the name was dropped and the code re-worked, but I highly doubt they scrapped the code for the entire YSE2 project. They had the permission system, the themes, the childboards, and so on -- everything we've seen evolve into SMF. YSE2 was designed from scratch to be a compeltely new product; it was my understanding that they intended to make big changes before YSE2's release, and I'm positive Simple Machines is a result of that.

Incidentally, its important to understand that YSE2 was a completely new product -- it re-used none of the existing code structure from YaBB SE. So it makes sense that they would change the name. It also makes sense that a different license would be used.

If a top-level or long-time Dev can refute this, and tell me that the entire codebase is brand new, then I'll rethink my position otherwise I feel perfectly justified in saying that SMF is an evolved version of YSE2 (and not YSE1.x).

[Matt]

This Looks Great! 

[David]

Actually, all of the YSE 2 code that you would have seen was scrapped.  It was too limiting and in the end would not allow for the flexability.  The codebase was also a lot slower due to how parts were coded.  The code in SMF is based offf of YaBB SE 1.5.4 but has more or less been completly rewritten, I can't even follow the SMF code and I have been working with YSE since 1.3.0.

[Brian Lacy]

*wishes he could see the code now*

[Farseer Ulthrion]

Hello all,

I thought I'd just introduce myself here .
I found out about YABBSE when I first signed up at EldarOnline, and I thought it was easily the best forum I had seen on the net so far *clap clap*. Since I study Computer Science at the University of Nijmegen (in The Netherlands), I was quite interested in the various functions of the boards.

A few months ago, I finally pushed myself into learning PHP (I created my first page with PHP, but I've only worked for three days on that one .. I will work on it a bit more, to learn more of the PHP functionality). I signed up at YABBSE as it's a relatively good source for PHP (as I already know C/C++ and Java, PHP is fairly easy for me to understand).
The next step in evolution was signing up at SMF, which is where we are now (but I guess you already knew that ).

I'll probably go back into my lurker-state now, as I don't know enough about PHP yet to actively participate in most of the threads. Also, I like to read what you all have to say.

I the end, this is just an excuse to make at least one post on the boards, but I think it's a good one .

Your thankful lurker,
Farseer Ulthrion

[Omar Bazavilvazo]

Welcome here, Farseer

[Overseer]

is Farseer a real name? ;o

[Durriken]

I SOOOOO cannot wait for this to become available!!!!!    

[Kevin]

I like the MAC type buttons

[Oldiesmann]

Are you guys going to do a "Public Beta Test" like they're currently doing with YaBB Gold SP2? I know there's the "charter member" option, but I'm a college student and don't have that much money to throw around...

[bostasp]

yea... after the Charter Members get it

[Oldiesmann]

Here's an option... Send out advanced notices to charter members and give them a dedicated server to download from...

[Jeff Lewis]

An option as opposed to what?

Charter Members will get the advance beta, that's what being a Charter Member is all about (well part of it)

[Ben_S]

The other part is the free drinks

Charter membership = Topness.

[Owdy]

don't have that much money to throw around...

Then u just have to wait 

[eFishie]

Noooooooooo!!! 

[Dietrich]

the new look is very good

only the page bottom @ SM can be better to me

[Oldiesmann]

Hey Jeff... any idea as to when we will see the first beta version of SMF?