New CMS mod for vB3 (Alpha testing)

[paradoxG(r)eek]

Hello,

As last project for vBulletin, I decided to code something mainly for vB3.8 even if I'll also release a version for vB4.2. It will be a CMS with responsive design. Please note that by saying responsive I mean that the templates are responsive. If you've a responsive style in your forum (most probably) it will works fine as the templates are table less using a grid system. If the project(s) goes well, I'm ready to release a responsive style for all your forum.

What features I'll add in the first version of CMS (more in updates):

• Multiuser Articles system based on usergroup permissions for posting (per category) and viewing (per category).
• Should be 2 versions:
  • With categories (unlimited depth)
  • Without categories for those sites that they've a few only articles.
• Responsive design
• Social sharing
• Thread comments. In this case the comments will not have responsive design as they'll be part of the forum.
• A plethora of forum related content, eg (but not limited to):
  • Last Threads
  • Last Posts
  • Last Members
  • ... etc... etc.... Actually I'm planing (maybe not from the first version) to include all blocks that currently exist for vbAdvanced.
• The CMS pages (only) will work fine as Facebook tab application.

Why a new CMS? vbAdvanced works fine

vbAdvanced for sure is a superior addon, maybe the most popular in vbulletin community, but:

• Is outdated
• Is not supported any more
• Is not responsive
• last, but most important, does not supports Articles. Is a Portal system and not a real Content Management system. To support Articles you must buy their Dynamic addons which is commercial plus the above 3 disadvantages.

Should be Free or Paid?

Free but a Paid version should also release. Extra features in Paid version:

• SEO Friendly URLs
• Instead of Thread comments you can choose to use:
  • Facebook comments
  • Disqus comment
  • .... I'm thinking to add the comments type to be per category instead of General setting.
• Social sharing
• Extra fields different per category
• Much more widgets to use
• Brand Free

ETA for vB3 version is around 10 April 2017. For vB4 version around 25 April 2017.

I'm open to ideas so, don't hesitate to post your suggestions in this thread. Also please vote on the poll.

Attention Alpha Testers

The attached version is Alpha 1.0.0. Has been tested and it will not mess your site, this is for sure. But is not completed yet. What works:

• AdminCP ...... All regarding CMS
• General Options: Work but currently for the features that already exist in the code.
• Usergroup permissions
• Add/Edit Article.

Currently there is no menu options so to be able to Add/Edit article you must use direct URL. eg:
http://www.yourdomain.com/your_forum...php?do=addedit

After saving the article you'll be redirect in edit mode for this article (next version will redirects you to "My Articles" page).

If you want to edit an Article, use:
http://www.yourdomain.com/your_forum...t&articleid=XX (replace XX with the article id).

Haven't finished yet the checks for multi image uploader so you maybe find some bugs there.

Thank you
Chris

[Paul M]

Cannot vote on those options as you have two extremes.
I would be interested in seeing it, but I certainly dont "Need" it.

[paradoxG(r)eek]

Originally Posted by Paul M

Cannot vote on those options as you have two extremes.
I would be interested in seeing it, but I certainly dont "Need" it.

hmmm... Can't say that I got your meaning Paul for the missing option, but in anycase thank you for your comment. If you think that something important is missing from the poll, feel free to modify it.

[Danielx64]

Does this support php7?

[paradoxG(r)eek]

Originally Posted by Danielx64

Does this support php7?

I'm working with PHP 5.6.3 so haven't tested it with PHP7. Ignore deprecated errors in Alpha version as they're coming from unused code. I'm working on my old vbJournal files just to avoid writting again phrases and settings. But I'm changing the code of all functions.

[HM666]

Question is are there enough people interested in a CMS for vB3 or have they moved on to vB4? I know there are still a few vB3 sites out there, but I'm not sure how many. It seems a shame to put so much work into something that may not potentially be a demand at this time for people. I think having a CMS would be great, but would there be enough interest?

[paradoxG(r)eek]

Originally Posted by HM666

Question is are there enough people interested in a CMS for vB3 or have they moved on to vB4?

I think that most of them (like me) have moved to vB4. But still have the ability to download vB3 and test it. I believe that they'll like it. I don't expect to downgrade their main site to vB3 but have seen many sales of licenses around $30-$50. So not a big deal to buy a new license. The main reason that admins moved (or planing to move) to vB4 or any other forum script is because they can't find support for their current mods. I've in plans to support vB3 community.

Originally Posted by HM666

I know there are still a few vB3 sites out there, but I'm not sure how many.

Nobody knows. But I've found a lot of them.

Originally Posted by HM666

It seems a shame to put so much work into something that may not potentially be a demand at this time for people. I think having a CMS would be great, but would there be enough interest?

I'm getting it more as a hobby than as work. I'm a bit over 60 and on this age people tend to return to their start point. And I started with vB3. Working with CMS I felt like being 50yo and not 61yo

Another advantage is that is easy to convert it for vB4. There is a trick for it. When the old days I was coding for vB3 I had no idea on how the vB4 coding should be. Now I know. So I'm truying to use such style of coding that will works in both. As a simple example. vB3 does not needs variable declaration in php files while vB4 needs it. Now, even if the code is for vB3, I'm declaring them, something that is not causing any problems to vB3 but it will be ready for vB4. To make the long story short. I need just a full day work to modify the code for vB4.

Another important point is how much someone expects to earn from a project. As I'm retired now an earning of $1,000 should be fine for me. This can be from public sales and/or from simple customizations.

Last but not least. I'm feeling very happy that I'm still active in the ship while others who were blame me in the past have leave the ship long time ago. Maybe I've changed many times my nicknames, maybe I've removed many mods, but I'm always here and I never release rubbish or half featured mods. Yes, it's true that I focus more in PHP scripts now and also plan to code for xF 2 when it will comes in life. But vBulletin (the software and not the company), was... is.... and will be for ever in my heart.

[HM666]

I stick with vB too for the same reason. Its always been the better choice for me. I hope that your CMS works out ok for you.

[nw-fotografie]

It is useful, when it will be responsive. We spend a lot of time and money to make our vb 3.x full responsive and working with ssl, because we don´t need more functions with a newer vb 4.x and i think, there are no words to say about a vb 5 version.

[JohnPBee]

YES - I NEED THIS!
I Have needed this for several years now and would gladly pay for it.