Suggestions for the release after 1.1 Final

[clearly]

With 1.1 Final on the way we will soon be moving our concentration to the next version of SMF, for this we will need your input, so start dreaming and post them to the feature requests board. We also would like to ask your help at the release of SMF 1.1 Final to digg the site. We will make sure there are more details available about this soon.

Okay, a couple of ideas:

• Implementing of Grek_Kamchatka's Karma Description Mod
  I think it should be a default feature, that you have to write down a reason why you have changed the karma of another member.
  
• An SMF CMS?
  It's a really big wish of many users. Not a own CMS but a theme like the SM.org template would be great.
  
• For the next big version, SM should make the time between releasing betas/rcs not to long. There were more than 3 months between SMF 1.1 RC1 and RC2. Not like Opera, every week a new preview version but every 3-4 weeks it's ok.
  
  Well, that's it for the moment. Please consider that these are only my personal thoughts. Feel free to comment it. And sorry for my horrible english.

[B Patterson]

1.) SMF should add some more AJAX to it, so much in that you have the option to not have to refresh the page after posting.  vBulletin already has this option (quick reply puts your new reply in there after you submit it).

2.) Some more "interactive" AJAX so that some feedback is given about posting or whatever... plenty of times the site looks like it's stalled when it's just working in the background.

[H]

1) I don't think Karma description should be integrated as most SMF sites have karma disabled or if it isn't disabled it is still rarely used

2) An SMF CMS is unlikely to happen however bear in mind that the Joomla / Mambo bridge is offically supported. I believe the sm.org template should be in the final

3) SMF is not going to release versions for the sake of it. They release them when they are needed / required

[motumbo]

3) SMF is not going to release versions for the sake of it. They release them when they are needed / required

While SMF is the best free forum software out there, there is still room for improvement.

[anunlike]

There is always room for improvement, as in adding new features, streamlining things and whatnot.

But for a specific version, not needing improvement means releasing a version when all known bugs and various issues are resolved. After that's done, then you can say it's the best.

That, I believe, is what's meant by releasing the versions when they're needed / required.

[Grudge]

anunlike is correct.

Also, I'm sure you can imagine that development goes in peaks and troughs (sp?).

One month we might add 100 lines of code, the next 10,000. We make releases when there is something worth releasing for. Note also that putting a release out is a lot of work for the team - both in terms of getting it out and supporting it. Upgrading a forum is also a bit of hastle for webmasters and although we know some people love to test new things others find it a hastle - even though SMF has a great upgrade process.

The gap between RC1 and RC2 was very long (As is the gap since RC2) due to something of a lull. I don't expect things to take quite that long next time around.

As for suggestions, keep them coming

[motumbo]

As for suggestions, keep them coming

OK, here is a suggestion:  thoroughly document the inner working of SMF.

Since SMF is open source (at least for the time being) and since SMF developers rely on the input of users, it makes sense to me that as much information as possible about the actual workings of SMF should be made available.  The more someone like me knows, the more likely we will be able to make suggestions for improvement, if not write the code for those improvements ourselves.

I have a decent grasp on the index.template.php template, after spending many hours working with it.  But I looked at the code in some of the Sources files and I was dumbfounded.  I imagine that it would take someone unfamiliar with SMF weeks or months to understand how all the code works and what it does, even if they are fairly adept with PHP.  I mean, I couldn't make heads nor tails of what functions call what and what the path through the code is.  Furthermore, I believe it could dramatically reduce the cycle time for improvements because more people could contribute to the development and writing of code (though the addage "too many cooks spoils the broth" may come into play here).

Just my thoughts...heed or disregard as you wish. 

[Grudge]

motumbo,

We do recognise the importance of documenting the code - although I'm sure you appreciate that sadly documentation is often one of the things that gets pushed to the back of the queue.

That said, we do try to fully comment the code whilst going along - particular for non-obvious lines. All Source files do also have a function explanation at the top of them - but these are probably only 50% done sadly.

[HarryWx]

3) SMF is not going to release versions for the sake of it. They release them when they are needed / required

While SMF is the best free forum software out there, there is still room for improvement.

Well how about sharing your opinion on what could be improved?

I think a seperater between the stickies and normal topics is a needed improvement. As well as a option for announcements to be made in the forums and naturally have them on top of the rest. The following link is a good reason/example as to why they are needed along with the stickies which btw should be renamed to important as i did already. http://www.easternuswx.com/bb/index.php?showforum=15

Have it so when you click the option for adding a link/image etc that a script pops up for where you add the addy.

A big improvement to the smilies is needed to. This is perhaps my biggest gripe here as the set you get with your forum imo stink.


Another future request would be for smf to do it's own blog's, and gallery's for add ons to peoples forums instead of having to use mod's etc via other outlets outside of smf.

[HarryWx]

Oh and one last thing now that it just happend. A BIG request! Make it so you return to the topic you just posted in instead of the forum.

[Dannii]

motumbo, I personally want to document how the code works (instead of just how to use SMF). I am working at it, but there is a lot of code so I'll have to prioritise to the sections that will be the most use to mod writers. It takes even longer because I'm not an expert with PHP, so I want to check everything with the devs to ensure I get it right.

HarryWx, don't double post please. And you have always been able to do that, change your profile Look & layout settings.

[Prasad007]

have new topic and new poll in one link (one button) like in other forums
and then have the poll optional on the next page


AND

recycle bin restore

[clearly]

2) An SMF CMS is unlikely to happen however bear in mind that the Joomla / Mambo bridge is offically supported. I believe the sm.org template should be in the final

The 1.1 Final or the final after the final?

[Dannii]

This theme has been available since 1.1 RC2. The 'site template' will not be released, however I don't understand why any of you want it. It wouldn't be of any use to anyone else, and it just uses SSI.php, which you can all use anyway.

[clearly]

And why is he talking about the sm.org *template* 

Some team members are telling the template (not the theme) will be available in the final, others are disclaiming it. So what are the real facts? You guys are confusing us.

[Dannii]

The other are confusing you sorry, possibly because they're confused themselves. The facts are that the theme was released as the default of 1.1 RC2, and that's all that will be released.

And to be strictly correct, the site actually adds an extra layer, which is neither a theme nor a template

[clearly]

Thanks for clearing that up eldacar.

[Kindred]

Harry...

I like the name sticky.   Alot of the posts that I see stickied are not really important posts at all... they are just stuck at the top because they are commonly asked questions...  or they are thread sthat the amdin wants to draw attention to...  but not necesarrily "important".
If you've changed it, because you want it different, then good for you...   just change it again when the upgrade happens

(and the announcements already exists as a mod...)


I think separating stickies might be useful... but that is a THEME specific change!  If you want it, then use a theme that has it, talk to the theme author, or do it yourself (the code is in the tips & tricks section)


I hate popups... I have them disabled/blocked... (as many people do). So what you are suggesting may cause some major issues.... but again, that is a THEME SPECIFIC change.

I like the smilies...   sorry you don't.  So, get soe of your own and replace them... the function to do so is already part of the software.

and for the last bloody time...  SMF is a FORUM software!  It is not a gallery. it is not a blog. it is not a portal or CMS.
There are additions to link it to other software that does those things...
there are also a few additions/mods to work some functionality of those into SMF.
However, Those functions do not belong in the SMF standard distributable!!!   I use Joomla and Gallery 2. I don't want all that extra CRAP in SMF cluttering up the system and slowing the whole thing down when I can get software that does a better job (because it is dedicated to doing just that)
(after all, I don't see Coppermine working on a forum piece, or joomla doing a gallery.  No, they create functions which enable them to LINK to other softwares!)
This enables you to a) choose the combination that most appeals to you and b)have a software that is dedicated to doing one thing very well, rather than 10 things half-assed.

[yellow1912]

RECYCLE BIN RESTORE

What does it do if you cant restore them all with 1 click?