Dallas PUA

Hey guys, I'm looking at transitioning the DallasPUA to a new software package.

To get the advantages of the new system (namely integration and consistency across functions) I am considering replacing the entire website, not just the forums.

I would like to convert the static pages (resources, links, videos, pua pictures, etc.) over to a wiki for easier collaborative editing. Right now it requires manual editing of HTML, which only an administrator can do. I do not intend to make it openly editable so it won't be a true wiki in that sense. Rather, I want to use it as a tool for collaborating on static resources.

I want to use mediawiki (already installed) for all the resources and semi-static pages, and e107 for everything else. These two packages can be integrated such that the users are shared between the two pieces of software. And by the way, there is a working import script so that all the users and existing content from this forum can be imported into the new forum.

Some advantages of the new software will be:
1. It is easier to manage group emails to different groups instead of sending email to "all users" like I do now. Specifically, there can be newsletters which members may subscribe to/unsubscribe from at any time. And there can be calendars and members may subscribe/unsubscribe themselves from the calendars also.
2. The calendar and list of upcoming events is integrated with the system and shows up on the sidebar. (I feel the calendar we currently have is really crappy.)
3. There is a news feature built-in and news visibility can be restricted to members only (or Lounge Members only), unlike a typical blog
4. Live chat via IRC can be included similar to how it works now.
5. Regular users won't be "stuck" on the forum page.. As it is currently, there are no links from the forum to any other part of the website.

Disadvantages (vs. leaving things the way they are):
1. Look and feel will be different. Right now a very generic theme is being used. New artwork will have to be created and that will take some work.
2. Existing non-forum content such as 'resources' will have to be migrated, which will require a fair amount of work.
3. Existing PMs will be lost, since they won't be migrated to the new system.

Take a look and let me know what you think... Good? Better? The same? Worse?

http://e107.dallaspua.com/plugins/forum/forum.php

Note 1: I imported the users and forums a few days ago, so they are a little bit stale.
Note 2: DO NOT POST (except for testing purposes) because anything you add to the new system is going to be wiped when the transition is made.
Note 3: The wiki is not yet integrated.

You and I had a talk about e107 briefly. I personally love the CMS, and am for using it. I think...once everything is migrated and everyone gets used to it, it will work better. Hopefully it will get people using more of the website than just the forum page (I know that's your goal hehe.)

I played with it briefly and I like it. Especially the calendar function....

I am probably going way out on a limb here but if we do migrate, this might be a great time to talk to Dimitry about combining the two Dallas lairs.

I used to be a big contributor to the old lair but haven't logged on in quite a while. I just logged on and almost no one has been posting. Pretty sad actually.

I think if Dimitry were made a co-administrator, he could migrate that content over too which contains all of the sophmore posts from Capt Jack, APB, etc - some great material!

Now that the politics between the lairs is gone, I think it would be a great idea.

Comments?

Looks good.

Twitchy wrote:I am probably going way out on a limb here but if we do migrate, this might be a great time to talk to Dimitry about combining the two Dallas lairs.

Wow this didn't even occur to me. It's an interesting idea. Perhaps not as easy as it sounds, but definitely worth looking into what would have to happen to make it work.

Good suggestion, Twitchy.

I can help you with data migration if ya need, buddy.

I think the idea is splendid.

It's up to Dimitry. If he isn't interested, we have to respect that. He put a lot of effort into building and maintaining that site. If he doesn't want to retire it, we need to respect his desires.

Agreed that the other site is Dimitry's baby. But, even the idea of merging the boards would have been unthinkable in the past. What that means is progress. That is a good thing.

I think and offer should be made, and then the ball is in his court. Whatever he decides is up to him. I think it's a good gesture to offer, in the spirit of things, regardless of the outcome.

the meetup.com site?

...doesn't take much to set one up. Unless there's some other site I'm just oblivious to, not too precious of an item o.0