My Suggestions for vBulletin.org (when it upgrades to v4)

[cheat-master30]

1. Impex + vBulletin.org database
2. Drop all modifications made to vBulletin.org. Tough luck. Start from fresh vBulletin 4
3. Drop and completely revamp the style and layout.
4. Upgrade to vBulletin 4, using the new features like built in tags and what not.
5. Hire more paid staff from Jelsoft/vBulletin Solutions/Internet Brands to manage it backend wise.
6. Use the CMS for the articles, modifications, styles, graphics, etc.
7. Use blogs for the developers who make various modifications, as well as the staff team. Basically, it would act like an insight into how the community codes their top notch mods/hacks.
8. Use project tools for the modification bugs and what not, as well as problems with the site. This would unclutter the modification topics, and maybe make it so things like suggestions and bugs get seperate sections.
9. Have forum to post paid mods, as in details, link to where to get them, etc.
10. Profit!

Already posted this on AdminAddict, but I'll say it here as well. My suggestion in future is just to rebuild the site from the ground up on vBulletin 4, who cares less about any current minor modifications or styles made. Shouldn't mess with the license tie in thing, vBulletin.com works fine with it on version 4.

[ChopSuey]

They've been with 3.6.12 for a reason. Don't see why this shouldnt happen.

[Paul M]

My (personal) comments.

1. Why would we need Impex ?
2. What purpose would that serve ?
3. These styles wont work in vb4 anyway, so thats bound to happen.
4. You suggestions are for when we upgrade, so upgrading is a bit of a given.
5. Thats up to IB.
6. For Articles yes, makes sense. Why would the CMS be used for Mods & Styles ?
7. Not sure if blogs are useful or not, seems you are suggesting they be used as articles.
8. PT will not be an official product, but yes, we would like a bug & suggestions system for mods.
9. Thats never been vb.org policy, but we'll see if it changes.
10. vb.org isnt here to make a profit.

[ChopSuey]

4. You suggestions are for when we upgrade, so upgrading is a bit of a given.

Missing an " R " there paul? :p (Couldnt resist)

[cheat-master30]

My (personal) comments.

1. Why would we need Impex ?
2. What purpose would that serve ?
3. These styles wont work in vb4 anyway, so thats bound to happen.
4. You suggestions are for when we upgrade, so upgrading is a bit of a given.
5. Thats up to IB.
6. For Articles yes, makes sense. Why would the CMS be used for Mods & Styles ?
7. Not sure if blogs are useful or not, seems you are suggesting they be used as articles.
8. PT will not be an official product, but yes, we would like a bug & suggestions system for mods.
9. Thats never been vb.org policy, but we'll see if it changes.
10. vb.org isnt here to make a profit.

1. Because otherwise you have a load of unused tables taking up space, especially for things that get replaced by better features.

2. Because pretty much everything can be done with default features... prefixes... tags... And because save your panicking about not upgrading, just drop the smaller modifications that I hear have been made all round this site..

3. True.

4. Darn it... redundancy.

5. It'd be nice though. And they promise they'll overhaul this, or at least did once in the past.

6. Because it looks more like the standard style and makes more sense than an edited postbit template.

7. Not sure. Maybe it'll help the staff, I don't know. Best to set an example, otherwise no one use the suite features on their own forums either.

8. Awesome.

9. Good idea though, it's been requested dozens of times now.

10. It's merely a saying. Basically... follow this and you get success.

Edit: For 10, read this page and you'll understand it:

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/StepThreeProfit

[Gio~Logist]

I agree with everything Paul said except #10. Reason, being this site indeed is in order to make IB more money - if not one way than another. It clearly plays a great role in the community and customer base, no? I don't see why profiting would hurt, from softwares to platforms to phones, extending plugin development can only play to your advantage - especially if you're exposing it and charging devs even. But in the end, this clearly isn't a choice for any of us to make.

I can definitely see the need for better use of displaying content for articles and what not, as well as a new front page, but other than that I'm sure you guys will do just fine with the upgrade.

[fanyap]

vB.org could be a HUGE revenue source for IB if they take the right steps and implement the correct things this community really has needed for quite some time.

[Paul M]

1. Because otherwise you have a load of unused tables taking up space, especially for things that get replaced by better features.
2. Because pretty much everything can be done with default features... prefixes... tags... And because save your panicking about not upgrading, just drop the smaller modifications that I hear have been made all round this site..
3. True.
4. Darn it... redundancy.
5. It'd be nice though. And they promise they'll overhaul this, or at least did once in the past.
6. Because it looks more like the standard style and makes more sense than an edited postbit template.
7. Not sure. Maybe it'll help the staff, I don't know. Best to set an example, otherwise no one use the suite features on their own forums either.
8. Awesome.
9. Good idea though, it's been requested dozens of times now.
10. It's merely a saying. Basically... follow this and you get success.

1. We dont have loads of unused tables, nor would we. Im pretty sure space is not an issue with IB either :D
2. Prefixes yes, tagging .. maybe. Neither of those would replace some of the basic features like install tracking.
3. -
4. -
5. I cant comment on what plans IB have (cause they dont tell me ....).
6. The same layout for mods, articles etc does not make sense, each has their own requirement.
7. This seems to be a common misconception, vb.org is a place to get/discuss modifications, its purpose is not a vb showcase.
8. I guess it depends on what happens to PT, and peoples time.
9. See 5 ;)
10. Not a saying ive come across. :)

[haothiencz]

@Paul:

Personaly, we have a highly customizied board, w many modified templates, mods, like what you are having here at vbulletin.org.

Many times, members keep asking us, hey guys why dont you upgrade our site to latest version?

The answer used to be: we have a lot of customized mod rite here, upgrade will make many trouble and waste time for us to start everything from the beginning (ok, not everything but almost to make sure it's compatiable with the latest version).

We said it when vbulletin release the 3.7 , 3.8 and now the brand new coming 4.0.

I said to my member, even vb.org dont have the lastest version because of the same thing what we have here. So, why we have to pay for the renew and continues with new version?

Its just my opinion but I'm sure many people here have customized board like you guys here and doesnt want to do upgrade with the same reason like me. Then why dont you start the new guru?

As Gio said, I believe that you could done it well without any problem, just need time here.

[Princeton]

upgrading just for the sake of upgrading?!?

The top 2 reasons to upgrade are....
1__ security
2__ new features

security - we are always on top of security patches, etc

new features - up to this point there's nothing screaming at us; not saying that we don't want changes just saying that what is out there is not necessarily what is needed at this moment

Should we upgrade? NO, IT'S NOT NECESSARY
Can we do it? YES
Do we want to upgrade to vBulletin 4? MOST DEFINITELY

Please answer the following...

Do we have to upgrade our software for you to enjoy the addons, the articles, and/or the thousands of posts on vbulletin.org?

Are you having difficulties navigating the site?

[Captain Tycoon]

In order words, don't fix what isn't broken ;) I love this site the way it is and I haven't came across any problems with it.

[cheat-master30]

upgrading just for the sake of upgrading?!?

The top 2 reasons to upgrade are....
1__ security
2__ new features

security - we are always on top of security patches, etc



For how much longer? Read this:

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?289585-vBulletin-3-6-X-End-of-Life

Officially... you have until vBulletin 4.0 to upgrade, before vBulletin 3.6 reaches end of life. Once that happens, this site is a sitting duck security wise if anyone bad gets found in that version. Because after vBulletin 4's release...

We will continue to release any security patches as needed until vBulletin 4.0 is released. At that time all support for 3.6.X will cease.

Yeah... I'd say you've got about until december/january to use 3.6 with any calmness of mind left.

Plus... again, leaves a bad impression using outdated software for an official site. vBulletin.org is an official site. People on various forums mention this. It's like a company employee using an outdated version, or a Microsoft group using Windows 98, if they don't use their own latest versions of software, why should the consumer?




new features - up to this point there's nothing screaming at us; not saying that we don't want changes just saying that what is out there is not necessarily what is needed at this moment


Should we upgrade? NO, IT'S NOT NECESSARY
Can we do it? YES
Do we want to upgrade to vBulletin 4? MOST DEFINITELY


Please answer the following...

Do we have to upgrade our software for you to enjoy the addons, the articles, and/or the thousands of posts on vbulletin.org?

Are you having difficulties navigating the site?

Frankly, people have been wanting this kind of thing for months, so to be brutally honest... yes, you do have to upgrade for me to enjoy the addons, articles and thousands of posts. To be perfectly honest, it is a pain to browse this site. The search frankly isn't very good, and finding a modification I wanted for ages is nigh impossible unless it's a particularly well known modification. Take the inactive user email reminders. I looked for a particular version, couldn't find it. Found a lot of irrelevant results first, then the two versions I didn't want to use because they were outdated, and I only got the one I remembered when I asked for it on AdminAddict.

For once, just stop ignoring everyone's suggestions. Frankly, I'm starting to think there should have been more Jelsoft staff than poor Marco running this place.

[Princeton]

I completely understand how you feel. This site could be so much more!

I will say this much - planning has already started for vborg.

With that said, I'm glad you keep coming back regardless of all the problems you are experiencing. :)

[Alfa1]

Good news there!

[BSMedia]

Since the reason for not upgrading to latest version previously was because there wasn't any features in 3.7 and 3.8 that was needed, will there be an upgrade to vB4 because it has just about the same features as 3.6/7/8 except the CMS and friendly URL's which probably wouldn't get put to much use any way.

Edit: Hasn't "planning" always been under way to improve this site and its still been pretty stagnate for a while.

[puertoblack2003]

I completely understand how you feel. This site could be so much more!

I will say this much - planning has already started for vborg.

With that said, I'm glad you keep coming back regardless of all the problems you are experiencing. :)


i like it the way it is..nice and simple...be yourself vb.org !!!! :up: as it was mentioned so many times this site is not a money making site.

[Paul M]

so to be brutally honest... yes, you do have to upgrade for me to enjoy the addons, articles and thousands of posts.
How would vb 3.7, 3.8 or even 4.0 make the addons or posts more enjoyable ?

To be perfectly honest, it is a pain to browse this site. The search frankly isn't very good, and finding a modification I wanted for ages is nigh impossible unless it's a particularly well known modification.
So how is it a pain exactly ? Its pretty much a standard vb site as far as browsing goes, no different to thousands of others. :confused:

The search is no different in vb 3.7 or 3.8, so upgrading to them would make zero difference. The search in 4.0 is different, but Im not convinced it would make much difference to your example, as its still mysql fulltext based.

For once, just stop ignoring everyone's suggestions. We dont, and never have. Nor do we blindly accept them without reason. :)

[Marco van Herwaarden]

With vBulletin 3.7 & 3.8 there where no strong enough reasons for us to make the move.

With vBulletin 4.0, some major improvements with that version and the 3.6 version becoming end of life, the situation has changed. We are already designing and planning a new version of vBulletin.org using vBulletin version 4.0 for some time now. The real work on this will start once vBulletin 4.0 is stable. This will involve work done by the vBulletin.org volunteer staff but also resources from IB that will only come available once vBulletin 4.0 is stable.

[cheat-master30]

How would vb 3.7, 3.8 or even 4.0 make the addons or posts more enjoyable ?


So how is it a pain exactly ? Its pretty much a standard vb site as far as browsing goes, no different to thousands of others. :confused:

The search is no different in vb 3.7 or 3.8, so upgrading to them would make zero difference. The search in 4.0 is different, but Im not convinced it would make much difference to your example, as its still mysql fulltext based.



That's why I mentioned vBulletin 4, since I hear it's serching is more reliable. Now, just something I heard, since as I mentioned before (I think on vBulletin.com), the vBulletin (and Invision Power Board) search features are not particularly reliable, are pretty server intensive, and don't bring most of the results any more normal search engine would bring.



We dont, and never have. Nor do we blindly accept them without reason. :)

Not what some other people have been saying:

http://www.adminaddict.net/forum/vbulletin-internet-brands-passionate-discussion/vbulletin-org-day-after-tomorrow-4788/index2/#post57758

With vBulletin 3.7 & 3.8 there where no strong enough reasons for us to make the move.

With vBulletin 4.0, some major improvements with that version and the 3.6 version becoming end of life, the situation has changed. We are already designing and planning a new version of vBulletin.org using vBulletin version 4.0 for some time now. The real work on this will start once vBulletin 4.0 is stable. This will involve work done by the vBulletin.org volunteer staff but also resources from IB that will only come available once vBulletin 4.0 is stable.

That is awesome. And I'm glad Internet Brands is helping in a more visible way.

[Paul M]

Not what some other people have been saying:

One person in particular, no great surprise there. ;)

[TheLastSuperman]

I love this site and you guys, I'll still be here when the changes go into affect but for now I'm going to sit back and wait ;). Seems some of use need something to do beside beat the same old dead horse even though some of the ideas I liked, it still seemed like a 3.6.12??? type of statement only skinned differently imo but as always that's imo.

Mike

[ShawneyJ]

OMG! vb.org is going to upgrade to vb4.0. Looks like the world is going to end after all :D

[Vaupell]

OMG! vb.org is going to upgrade to vb4.0. Looks like the world is going to end after all :D

only reason i see why they should/would
it becourse of the vb support plan,, cant remeber it by heart
but wasent it something like

vb 3.6 support stop
vb 3.8 support + security continue
vb 4.x Gold released
------------------------------ next upgrade

vb 3.7 support stop
vb 3.8 security and support continue
vb 4.0 security and support continue
vb 4.1 released

-------- This is not PRECISE, its something like this
im sure if you search for it you will find it on both vb and vborg.
Im sure someone will correct it. :D such a friendly and helpfull community.

[Speysider]

There are many sites out there, eg RelicNews who use really outdated vB software, but hey, the site is still fabulous to look at. Plus, custom mods do NOT work whatsoever on newer versions.

I really see no point in trashing all the mods. That would anger every user out there and make the site a ghost town. vB.org do NOT want this at all.

I like vB.org for it's customisation. I wonder if they've had it reviewed?

[kall]

Plus, custom mods do NOT work whatsoever on newer versions.

That is a very broad, utterly incorrect statement.

eg: My HTML for Usergroup modification. Code changes from 3.5 => 4.0 = ZERO.

Some/Many mods for 3.x won't work on 4.x, that is not to say that none of them do.

[Lynne]

kall is correct. I have come across several mods from pre vb4 that work just fine on vb4. You just need to test each one individually to see.

[kall]

A good rule of thumb - If it creates/pulls templates, it's going to require re-coding. If it doesn't (administrative mods often fall into this category), it could well work out of the box.

[Speysider]

Quite a lot of said custom mods don't work even on a newer vB 3.x.