SMF 1.1.13, SMF 2.0 RC4 Security Patch, and SMF 2.0 Release Candidate 5

[vbgamer45]

I have updated about 90% of my mods already to RC5 changes are very minor if anything from RC4 to RC5.
There are very few bugs left in the bug tracker right now and this is very close to the final version of SMF and most mod/theme developers are already supporting SMF 2.0.

I have seen a lot of positive movement in the last two months on the mod development with the addition of better/more integration hooks. Mod developers are able to make most changes to SMF without modifying the core of SMF which leads to better support for themes and multiple mods installed at one time.  This is really going to have a big impact on development.

[Eudemon]

there are little bugs occur after i upgraded to rc4
been waiting for rc5, thank you for ur great work

[jkdove]

Much appreciated

[Kindred]

RR... and yet I have installed more than 40 mods into an rc5 forum with no errors at all

[Oldiesmann]

Also, for those who don't think RC releases are stable, we've been running 2.0 on www.seniorsandfriends.org since the site started and have had no major issues. The only reason it's still RC3 is that I haven't had time to upgrade it yet - I've been busy and the forum is active at all hours of the day, so it's difficult to find a time to upgrade it.

[Road Rash Jr.]

RR... and yet I have installed more than 40 mods into an rc5 forum with no errors at all

And I have installed at least that many if not more in the 25 SMF 2.0 RC4 forums I have that did not install emulating RC3 without error. Which makes your claim no more invalid than mine. Mute point to all those in the support board having the same problems.

On the other hand, using mods and themes that are SMF2.0 RC4 compliant, I have had no issues what so ever.

[IchBin™]

SMF and it's Team are the most stable I have seen it in years. And while I certainly agree that the release of SMF2 is LONG over due, this is just something we are paying the price for. It was a big learning curve for SMF over the last few years. Things happened and decisions were made that we all have had to live and learn with. But I can tell you from experience and from being on the Team before and after the big breakup, that SMF is and will be in a far better place than it was before. Checks and balances have been put into place to keep things from happening like that again. The unfortunate part is that most of the things that have been changed to better this situation can't start happening until we get the current issues dealt with. One of them being the license change. And if anyone has done anything with lawyers, you know how painful that can be. We are patiently waiting for this process to end. Believe you me, we want to release SMF2 final REALLY REALLY BAD! Development for future versions is going to change significantly in how it was done so that we can push out faster releases. It's unfortunate that you (the community) have had to pay the price for our mistakes in waiting patiently for the final release, but rest assured we are doing everything we can to get this done. Nobody to blame but ourselves, we just hope you will bear with us a little longer so we can get this process finished.

[GQCritic]

Thank you for your hard work, SMF Team!

[青山 素子]

My team and I are now approving all registrations manually. However, in my investigations with IPB I see that they have a service to help build a database of IP's and ranges used by spammers. Eventually they'll run out of IP's (we hope ).

Most spamming systems are zombies - infected end-user computers being controlled. Until ISPs start shutting off connections to the millions of zombies out there until they are cleaned, we'll continue to have problems. Combine with the re-use of IPs via dynamic assignment, and it's difficult to block a single computer without causing large collateral damage.

Instead of paying IPS for the privilege, get httpBL for SMF running. It even works on the 1.1 series. It should make a noticeable dent in your problem. The only catch is that you need to set up a honeypot for the project, but contributing to the cause is a small price to pay and actually a very good thing.

I am so glad that your are not Project manager anymore.

I'm glad too. I don't think I'd be able to stand locking a waiting and long-delayed release to a political issue that could take several months more to resolve. It would be much better to get it out and then re-license at the first chance after that part was straightened out.

I wonder why he was fired from the team... Possibly because he was fed up with all the drama and started telling the truth about what was really going on behind-the-scenes. Actually, we can't even call it that any more, as the whole community must be aware by now that something is seriously wrong with the way things are being managed here.

I wasn't fired, I resigned (I assume you were talking about me?). After a fairly disastrous attempt to straighten the project around and enact internal fixes before even trying to do a whole corporate switchover (fix the foundation before you start messing with other things), those left on the team called for resignation of all current project managers. Although the problems then may not have been solely caused by me, I felt that the right thing to do was one last act of leadership and assume some responsibility and resign from my position.

I know a bit about some of what's going on simply through knowing the motion of things before I left and piecing together a few things said publicly with my historical knowledge. That is all.

What's sad is that the big move made by the current team was supposed to remove any single person from a position of power. The funny thing is, prior to when I resigned, there were three project managers. Decisions required a majority of agreement, meaning at least two of those three needed to agree. It was designed so that a single person couldn't dictate things. Now there is only a single project manager. Maybe the power was spread further down, but the structure has gone from having three people at the top deciding to a single person deciding. That means that even more now than before a single person holds the power. Note that this isn't about the corporate structure, which is more-or-less independent of the everyday team stuff.


I do agree that development progress seems to have improved on SMF, and applaud the team for managing that. I simply worry that the internal issues still aren't fixed and the cart is being placed before the horse on changes.

Oh well, what do my opinions matter? I'm just a muck-raking power-hungry asshole like Owdy seemed to imply.

[Antechinus]

Now there is only a single project manager. Maybe the power was spread further down, but the structure has gone from having three people at the top deciding to a single person deciding.

No, it hasn't. You really are out of the loop, Michael. The power is actually spread amongst the Team Leads. They can use their majority vote to override the PM if they deem it necessary.

The way it actually works is this: the Team Leads (all of them) comprise what is known as the Steering Committee for the SMF forum project. Major decisions can be made by the PM in an emergency, but only in line with what has already been laid out by the SC. If the PM makes a decision that is out of line the SC can overrule him.

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

Yep, might not be perfect still, but power is more evenly spread and balanced than ever before.

[Livewire1]

Thanks Devs!!

Upgraded No probs....

Cheers 

[青山 素子]

No, it hasn't. You really are out of the loop, Michael. The power is actually spread amongst the Team Leads. They can use their majority vote to override the PM if they deem it necessary.

The way it actually works is this: the Team Leads (all of them) comprise what is known as the Steering Committee for the SMF forum project. Major decisions can be made by the PM in an emergency, but only in line with what has already been laid out by the SC. If the PM makes a decision that is out of line the SC can overrule him.

Well, that's good. At least there hasn't been consolidation in the manner it seemed. Maybe it would be worthwhile to make some posts or even a site page on the team structure? It would help answer questions on who to contact and maybe even provide some insight into how decisions are made.

[Antechinus]

Yes we probably should knock up something to explain things better.

[Owdy]

I'm just a muck-raking power-hungry asshole like Owdy seemed to imply.

I have sayd this many times before, don't put words in my mouth. Thanks.

[Kindred]

updates to the about section are pending the legal completion as well.

[Road Rash Jr.]

updates to the about section are pending the legal completion as well.

Curious, why wcould a definition of structure and contacts not be updated until after pending legal completion?

[willerby]

Congrats on the security fix... things seem to be moving along nicely.

[shspvr]

Nice work thanks

[chep]

Road Rash, You're kind of like road rash on this topic.  I couldn't think of a more fitting name. Don't take that in such a way that I dislike you though. You have made some valid points. I tend to agree with you especially so on this multiple RC candidates and updates of mods and themes. I was considering updating a couple of themes which I did but was disappointed with the multiple releases which came. I wasn't disappointed at SMF. It's free, and it's volunteers doing the real work. My hat is off to them. This drama regarding the licensing stinks. That is, if in fact it is what is holding it up. Anyway, I'll use free forum software but it doesn't mean I am a slouch or leech. I use SMF because it has good features and I like it. It's frustrating to wait this long. I'll continue to have faith that a final release will happen before too long.

I don't believe SMF is on a self destructive path as suggested. I believe that time has actually passed and the workers are going through rough waters and continuing to forge along. At a slower pace than some people would prefer I suppose, but that does not equate to currently being on such a course. I just have not seen any evidence that a course was set which is self destructive, either intentionally or not.

Good to see the RC release but still holding out for gold.