Showcase - A more modern user experience

[Seeker-Smith]

There's been lot's of conversation about making Xenforo more modern. I wanted a simpler user experience and layout. Here's my take on it.

The site is using a slightly tweaked Xenforo default style. Then we modified how the categories worked by adding a user editable sort function. Forums now open within the category and depending on forum type the threads open within the same interface. So along with a forum description we have a white space for instructions, rules or whatever.

I have to complement the outstanding work of Genesis for his ability to take my crazy ideas and make them work.

To test a live version here is the URL:

Welcome

honeyharbour.ca

The Community hub and News sections are where the mods are.

 

[chillibear]

Interesting approach, thank you for sharing. My first thought was that I'd quite like something to close a section at the bottom of the section, maybe after skimming down the list (obviously clicking at the top toggles it open/closed) as having a few sections open starts to get a bit more muddled.

 

[Seeker-Smith]

close a section at the bottom of the section

That's a good idea. Our thought was clicking a forum open / close clicking a thread open / close. We wanted to be able to have more than one thread open at a time. With live threads that update automatically you can carry on more than one conversation at a time. But being able to hit a button and close threads, forums at once would be good.

 

[eDaddi]

There's been lot's of conversation about making Xenforo more modern

What do people mean by more modern? As far as forums I thinks it's pretty modern and the best option out there.

Personally I think XF is for forums. Hard Stop.

I never viewed it as an all in one website solution which is what I feel like you're implying or trying to create. I think your example is slick for a whole website look, I'm not trying to take digs. I'm just saying I think XF is doing well for what it's goal is, forums.

 

[Seeker-Smith]

What do people mean by more modern? As far as forums I thinks it's pretty modern and the best option out there.

Personally I think XF is for forums. Hard Stop.

I never viewed it as an all in one website solution which is what I feel like you're implying or trying to create. I think your example is slick for a whole website look, I'm not trying to take digs. I'm just saying I think XF is doing well for what it's goal is, forums.

Fare enough. I view it as more of a platform to build from.

 

[Suzanne O]

Forum looks great mate.

 

[fionix]

Looks really great what you made there!

 

[Digital Doctor]

I'm just saying I think XF is doing well for what it's goal is, forums.

hopefully that changes.

It essentially will be driven by Xenforo Cloud. People who pay for Xenforo Cloud don't want forum only software. They want FULL WEBSITE software.

 

[Seeker-Smith]

hopefully that changes.

It essentially will as driven by Xenforo Cloud. People who pay for Xenforo Cloud don't want forum only software. They want FULL WEBSITE software.

I agree. Streamlining is the kick I'm on now. Keeping it open, reducing clicks, more conversational.

 

[eDaddi]

hopefully that changes.

It essentially will be driven by Xenforo Cloud. People who pay for Xenforo Cloud don't want forum only software. They want FULL WEBSITE software.

Not trying to be argumenitive by any means but if you’re to the point you need WordPress or a big EComm solution or other software … you’re probably to the point of self hosting. That or just have a forums.domain.com subdomain pointer XF’s servers.

 

[Suzanne O]

What i think would be great is xf cloud having a huge list of addons and other stuff you can tap into.
A bit like what smf and other forums allow us to.

 

[Seeker-Smith]

What i think would be great is xf cloud having a huge list of addons and other stuff you can tap into.
A bit like what smf and other forums allow us to.

And very soon there would be no developers. These folks that make add-ons won't work if there is no reward.

 

[Hareon]

I like that it has a landing page. Create pages in XF is hard for me. Create tables isnt that easy.

 

[Seeker-Smith]

I like that it has a landing page. Create pages in XF is hard for me. Create tables isnt that easy.

Pages are really quite easy once you have a basic understanding of how to place the widgets etc. I could give you some code samples if you need.

 

[Suzanne O]

And very soon there would be no developers. These folks that make add-ons won't work if there is no reward.

Not if the developers worked in with you to help customise your forum.

 

[Hareon]

Pages are really quite easy once you have a basic understanding of how to place the widgets etc. I could give you some code samples if you need.

Oh! I want it! Thank you!

 

[Seeker-Smith]

Oh! I want it! Thank you!

I'll DM

 

[Seeker-Smith]

Not if the developers worked in with you to help customise your forum.

In a nutshell you'd like Xenforo to offer a list of widely use add-ons as part of Xenforo.

What would happen first is the price of Xenforo would go up in price. Next the widely used add-on would be maintained but we'd never see any new features. Case is point XFGG and XFRM.

 

[Suzanne O]

In a nutshell you'd like Xenforo to offer a list of widely use add-ons as part of Xenforo.

What would happen first is the price of Xenforo would go up in price. Next the widely used add-on would be maintained but we'd never see any new features. Case is point XFGG and XFRM.

You'll realise that the only addons required are the three official addons that xf created.
I'm simply saying, be like smf and have your widgets in a package that include shoutbox set up, themes that are created by other creative minds who use xf software, and known trending resources that are also done by third party xf users.
Then you can keep them in the game.

The only things the xf staff and developers need to worry about are bugs and updates.