Alfa,

What you presented in your "wish list" is beyond a simple review content type for the vbCMS. What you're asking for with your requirements set is a very flexible CMS with extensible data types. The current database structures for vbCMS do not support a capability like that. GARS does.

On one hand, GARS is a hack. It works by wrapping itself around the forum and thread system of vB. In general, any system that relies on a mass of hooks to work is going to break with just about every upgrade of the core system.

On the other hand, GARS is a masterpiece of flexibility. With a little imagination and a little effort, You can make GARS be what you want.

I think an ideal solution takes an approach that does not hook into the vB forum system, and uses a GARS-like approach to data definition for reviews. By unleashing from vB's forum and thread system you have more opportunities.

Pete

Yes, I agree that a GARS like approach could be useful, if some detached from the forum system and if it has a modern UI. It does not need to be in the vbCMS. But it does need infractions, moderation tools, reputation, CKeditor, widgets, new entries / comments in 'Whats New', searchable with the vb search engine/sphinx.

Okay, you might want to add those requirements to your list.

When you say "modern UI" what exactly are you speaking of? It's difficult to make an add-on's UI more modern than the system that is hosting it.

Do you want the CKeditor on the admin side or on the member's side?

Halo Plugin Pete,

what would it cost if you convert GARS to VB4?

regards
delazar

Hi Delazar,

I think that Alfa is correct. GARS is grossly outdated. My only goal in making it work on vB4 is to pick it apart so that a new product can be made compatible with the GARS database format (or, at the least, easily converted). When I searched Google for the GARS copyright it came back with a few hundred unique sites. A lot of people are stuck on GARS.

Pete

I added:
vbulletin still uses YUI2 for the most part, which was released in February 2006 and outdated since the release of YUI3. Utilizing jquery allows for many modern subtle effects:
- sliding rating stars
- instead of opening a new page to enter a new review, just load the entry fields within the page with a fade-in effect like jreviews does. (login to jreviews: user&pass= demo)
- when submitting a review or comment let it fade or slide in.
- once a button is no longer needed, just let is fade out, instead of requiring a new page load or a popup.

Personally I think that ZK Direct Ria and Sencha are the best thing since sliced bread, but that may be pushing it. :D
Both.

Okay, updating to add YUI2 support is not a big deal. I agree, there are a lot of nice user interface tools available with jquery.

I agree, ZK is a nice framework, but hardly cost effective for this kind of project. Plus, it would double the framework size of the vB instance and make the whole thing a pig.

I don't know much about it, but I went to the GARS website and the programmer seems resigned to let it die because he got too many nasty emails from people. He writes:

I have reached out by PM to a few of you, I have money to contribute - unfortunately I gave up coding somewhere between Fortran and Basic - who knows if I stayed with it I might have been an internet millionaire. But I made money in other ways over the intervening years. So that is where I can help. We each contribute what we can to get the product we need, right? Some by coding, some by testing, some by ideas, some by cash. Well you know where I stand, reach out to me if/when necessary.

The story of the Geek website and products is a bit convoluted. The original programmer had a family business tragedy and needed to make a decision to contribute the code to vbulletin.org or find someone to take over the project. I'm not one to judge, but I think Morgan (the current owner) bit off a bit more than she could chew. Having spent many hours with the code, I can understand. GARS is a big system and it's not documented. I would never be critical of Morgan. I'm learning from what GARS accomplished and want to build on that effort.


Pete

For unknown reasons the developer who would provide the initial quote for this project, is not responding. Which is not a good sign. The quote was requested before Pete offered his project as an option.

So, I am considering to wait and see what Pete comes up with. (Within reasonable time) Pete has already shown that he can deliver, as much is already coded.

At the same time I do not want to let anyone down and if anyone of the people who pledged to invest in this project wants to go in another direction or have specific requirements, then please PM me to discuss. I realize that many people are depending upon a reviews content type to be able to update to vbulletin 4 and can no longer afford to wait. I am in the same position.