[Sugestion] Vitalize Mods Section

[FragaCampos]

Hi there.
I don't know if this was already suggested or discussed here, but I thought it would be worthwhile to give it a try.

I think the mods section could have some things to give stimulus to their authors and other coders.
Two simple things:
- a ratings system
- a donation system

I don't know if any of these are against the internal rules of SMF, so I apologise if that's the case.
I just think mods are an essential part of a CMS in order to keep it alive and push it forward in terms of coders and users, and this would probably give a boost to that area.

[Kindred]

We do have plans to re-do the entire customization sub-site.

However, ratings don't really work...   but we're considering something.

donations. never....
that would make SMF responsible for the payments (or non-payments)

[MrPhil]

The problem with ratings is that someone unhappy with the product is more likely to respond, than someone who is happy with it. About the only objective data that can be automatically collected is the number of downloads over time (if a mod starts of big and trails off, that may be a hint that people don't like it).

Regarding donations, I agree that SMF shouldn't be in the business of collecting fees or donations for anyone else. However, it is not unreasonable for a mod page to point to some other site where donations (or shareware payments) could be collected.

[NanoSector]

There's already plans for a new mod site for years, and it is progressing (very) slowly. The member who's creating it doesn't want help either so we can't speed it up.

[4Kstore]

Hi, there is something that users can do for help? Maybe we can all work and do it more faster...

[live627]

However, ratings don't really work

Why?

[NanoSector]

Hi, there is something that users can do for help? Maybe we can all work and do it more faster...

The author of the overhaul apparently wants to do it alone so he doesn't make any of the code public to even team members.

Why ratings won't work is also a mystery for me.

[kat]

However, ratings don't really work

Why?

The problem with ratings is that someone unhappy with the product is more likely to respond, than someone who is happy with it.

[NanoSector]

Though we can use star-based ratings which can be done with the click of a star? No need to write entire essays.

[Illori]

that does not stop people that have a custom theme and cant install the mod on it from giving the mod 1 star as a result. or if they have 30 other mods installed and this one they want to install conflicts so they give it 1 start, where it works fine with no mods installed etc.

[NanoSector]

that does not stop people that have a custom theme and cant install the mod on it from giving the mod 1 star as a result. or if they have 30 other mods installed and this one they want to install conflicts so they give it 1 start, where it works fine with no mods installed etc.

So, how can we fix that?

I think we should force people who rate 1 or 2 stars to enter why they rated the mod that poor, and submit it to either the cust. team or the mod author when it is such a rating.

[Illori]

it will not fix it, there is no way. you either have people rate things poorly for no real reason, or you have people that dont rate etc.

you cant force people to do xyz if they rate abc.

and then if you are adding that the team has to basically moderate the ratings that will not happen, think about how many mods are on the mod site now and how long that could take.

[NanoSector]

it will not fix it, there is no way. you either have people rate things poorly for no real reason, or you have people that dont rate etc.

That's not our problem.

you cant force people to do xyz if they rate abc.

Actually we can, if people rate a mod that poor then there must be a reason for it.

and then if you are adding that the team has to basically moderate the ratings that will not happen, think about how many mods are on the mod site now and how long that could take.

Valid point.

[Illori]

actually it is the teams problem to consider all angles of this and how it would look to others.

we dont need to add more work for the team to do just for a ratings system that i believe was used in the past and removed for abuse.

[Irisado]

Star ratings are open to abuse, and even if you make people post reasons for posting low ratings, they may be evasive answers, or based on personal issues.  They do work if people don't abuse them, but with something like a mod, I don't think that it's a good idea.  Surely the number of downloads, and mod in thread comments, give an indicator of how good it is, without the need for a star rating?

[Douglas]

Hi, there is something that users can do for help? Maybe we can all work and do it more faster...

The author of the overhaul apparently wants to do it alone so he doesn't make any of the code public to even team members.

This part is a bit concerning for me. I don't want to take away from anyone's contributions to the community, but seeing that SMF is a COMMUNITY project, I think the intent behind this concept takes away from the community, and potentially SMF's core values.

Surely I can't be the only one concerned by this stance.

Concerns addressed. See Kindred's reply and my subsequent follow up reply.

[Kindred]

actually, I can kinda understand it.
Previous attempts at the overhaul failed for a variety of reasons, including too many cooks in the kitchen.

In this case, we have (I think) worked out a fairly clear list of basic functionality that we think is needed and Gary has taken on the design and layout tasks for building it...   It's not quite as "insular" as Yoshi portrayed it...   

[Douglas]

Oh, didn't know it was Gary behind this... okay, I'll strike out my concerns. He does have the community's interest at heart.

<<insert seal of approval>>

[MrPhil]

<<insert seal of approval>>

OK... The Seal of Approval

[Kindred]

beat me to it...