Hack Installs / Working - Suggestion

[VirtualBurn]

Just had a thought about a nice hack that could be added to this board.

When a hack is released for vB that we would like to try, we all click install and try the hack.

If it's a new hack then usually there are a few issues along the way. Usually these get ironed out with a few request for help with information about the issue.

But sometimes the support is non-existent and the thread just fills up with post after post of issues after issues.

Other times there is good support, but due to ongoing problems and incompatibilty issues the posts build up and up.

Now it's nice to see how many installs a hack has had, but without mooching through all the posts you really have no real idea whether the hack is either of the above.

My suggestion is that aswell as clicking 'Install' to download the hack you have a choice to click a 'Working' button after install.

Obviously not all people are going to revisit the hack and click 'Working' but if you visit a thread and there are:

100 Install clicks
10 Working clicks
and 20 pages of issues

then you know there is a chance of getting it working but you are obviously going to have some things to iron out.

On the other hand, if you visit a hack that has:

30 Install clicks
25 Working clicks
and 30 posts of thankyou's / issues

You have a good idea that the hack is working fine.

The reason I suggest this, is that at the moment you have to filter through all the posts of a hack just to see whether it's viable or original issues have been sorted.

Then (for example) if a Hack reaches 100 installs with 60%+ Working clicks, it gets moved into a sub forum of that thread for tested / working hacks.

e.g.

>3.5.x Plugins
|..> Working hacks
| |..> hack 1
| |..> hack 2
| |..> etc...
|..> New hack 1
|..> New hack 2
|..> etc...

This would enable a user to almost guarantee a hack to work without having to scan posts and hunt through pages and pages of fixes to get it to work.

Also.. one final note, Coders who post hacks and fail to support them over a period of time (especialy if there are lots of issues) should be penalized in some way, or at the least the hack should be removed.

To leave a hack available to download and be installed with known issues after pages and pages of calls for support is not in the best interests of the members or vBulletin customers.

cheers.

~Vb

~keep up the good work - all of you ;]