Software Upgrade Coming!
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 5:04 pmHey Guys, I'm going to be upgrading the software to a different software package that will be much nicer. Don't freak out if you come back one day and it looks and acts different.
The current software has been functional, but it's really a half-ass forum implementation. The package I'm moving to has been around for years and it's the best I've seen.
Among the features:
* It remembers which posts you've read and which you haven't, instead of just marking everything read after your session expires. This is a big one for me because I like to read (or at least skim) everything, but if I only have a few minutes, I am afraid to come to the site because anything I leave unread will get marked as read automatically.
* Moderation tools are better, allowing splitting and merging of topics.
* I can use it to send email, and I can also delegate that authority to others. Right now sending an email is a huge pain in the ass, which is why I haven't been sending emails for a while. This will change that.
* I'll also be setting up a blog, and I can grant authority to some of you to make posts, so if you have a manifesto that you want to release to the world, you may do so on the blog in addition to in the forum. It's up to you, you don't have to.
* Better handling of troublesome users. Hopefully we won't need to use it much but when we do it will be very slick.
Downsides:
- The calendar is not as prominent, though I believe it will be possible to change the layout so it is visible from the main page.
- Private messages will not be imported to the new system. If you have any super-important private messages, now would be a good time to copy them.
The change will probably happen around mid-week (first week in August).
The current software has been functional, but it's really a half-ass forum implementation. The package I'm moving to has been around for years and it's the best I've seen.
Among the features:
* It remembers which posts you've read and which you haven't, instead of just marking everything read after your session expires. This is a big one for me because I like to read (or at least skim) everything, but if I only have a few minutes, I am afraid to come to the site because anything I leave unread will get marked as read automatically.
* Moderation tools are better, allowing splitting and merging of topics.
* I can use it to send email, and I can also delegate that authority to others. Right now sending an email is a huge pain in the ass, which is why I haven't been sending emails for a while. This will change that.
* I'll also be setting up a blog, and I can grant authority to some of you to make posts, so if you have a manifesto that you want to release to the world, you may do so on the blog in addition to in the forum. It's up to you, you don't have to.
* Better handling of troublesome users. Hopefully we won't need to use it much but when we do it will be very slick.
Downsides:
- The calendar is not as prominent, though I believe it will be possible to change the layout so it is visible from the main page.
- Private messages will not be imported to the new system. If you have any super-important private messages, now would be a good time to copy them.
The change will probably happen around mid-week (first week in August).