So whats next (after v1 final)

[Adam Howard]

I would imagine it would be bug fixing the small bugs others will find. But over all, what do you think they should work on next or will work on next?!

I'm hoping for an official blog or bridge. While I know the majority maybe hoping for a CMS.

 

[Marc]

I've always liked on invision that the main things are coded by IPS like portal, gallery and nexus (although I think for most people nexus is too big, Im talkin more of something for subscriptions). Reason being is because they are more tightly integrated with the main software, and they are looked after during updates. A company will not bring out an update that will mess up one of their own products, however there is no guarentee this will not happen with a third party one and so you are waiting for updates. On top of this there is the fact that you know you have paid guarenteed support.

This said however I think thats as far as it should go. I wouldnt want every single feature you can possibly think of being part of the main system, for example build a portal and give people the hooks and libraries to build their own blocks, only providing the minimum with the base software. I wouldnt want the company concentrating on things like adding users online today, or who's viewed this topic etc ... Also wouldnt want them coding more specialised areas such as downloads, link systems, arcades and the likes that not everyone uses. I would say there is a large enough set of people to code a gallery from scratch and a portal from scratch. Personally I use a gallery and its integral to my site. I am sure there are others who find the portal integral to their site, or both.

At the moment I love the general feel of XenForo. I am under no dissillusion that there are some fundimental things missing that I would rather have such as a calender, warning system etc which are pretty much now seen as base functionality, however its version 1 and its very very good. However the more I have looked at the software the more it is just a nicety at present. There simply isn't the key functionality for me to move, which for me is the gallery and importers. Although one things for certain. I will be moving to XenForo, its just a case of when I can.

 

[Marc]

I've always liked on invision that the main things are coded by IPS like portal, gallery and nexus (although I think for most people nexus is too big, Im talkin more of something for subscriptions). Reason being is because they are more tightly integrated with the main software, and they are looked after during updates. A company will not bring out an update that will mess up one of their own products, however there is no guarentee this will not happen with a third party one and so you are waiting for updates. On top of this there is the fact that you know you have paid guarenteed support.

This said however I think thats as far as it should go. I wouldnt want every single feature you can possibly think of being part of the main system, for example build a portal and give people the hooks and libraries to build their own blocks, only providing the minimum with the base software. I wouldnt want the company concentrating on things like adding users online today, or who's viewed this topic etc ... Also wouldnt want them coding more specialised areas such as downloads, link systems, arcades and the likes that not everyone uses. I would say there is a large enough set of people to code a gallery from scratch and a portal from scratch. Personally I use a gallery and its integral to my site. I am sure there are others who find the portal integral to their site, or both.

At the moment I love the general feel of XenForo. I am under no dissillusion that there are some fundimental things missing that I would rather have such as a calender, warning system etc which are pretty much now seen as base functionality, however its version 1 and its very very good. However the more I have looked at the software the more it is just a nicety at present. There simply isn't the key functionality for me to move, which for me is the gallery and importers. Although one things for certain. I will be moving to XenForo, its just a case of when I can.

EDIT: Just to add to this

I didn't abandon my vB4 media library because I ran out of time... I abandoned the vB4 version as a stand against Internet Brands. If they can't treat their customer's right, then I don't want to help further their goals. In a way, I was just a rat deserting a sinking ship.

Good on ya.

 

[Marc]

@Kier/Mike/Ashley - I do think what would be a good idea is to actually say which bigger additions you plan to make. One thing I'm sure you would not want to do is to upset your development community as this has to be a key part of your business. By letting people know early it means people wont be trying to code something thats going to be replaced. I understand you wouldnt want to put times on anything at all, however I think an extremely basic plan would be a good idea to share. And I for one would ordinarily be in the "I hate roadmaps" crew, I just strongly feel this is where Invision lost their mod developer base.

 

[rexxxy]

vBSEO, vBAdvanced.

Vbtube too

 

[Paul M]

I didn't abandon my vB4 media library because I ran out of time... I abandoned the vB4 version as a stand against Internet Brands.

A stand that hurt no one except the forum owners, certainly not IB.

 

[Alpha1]

vBSEO, vBAdvanced.

Yes, these are stable & supported addons. vbSEO is a reputable company with a good team. So if one team member disappears there will always be others. Im not saying that all addons are risky. But in many cases its a gamble whether or not the addon will still be supported next year.

 

[Sadik B]

A stand that hurt no one except the forum owners, certainly not IB.

I agree. If I was the developer i would have found someone willing to take over the project, given it to him and said goodbye. Sort of like what thegeek did when he handed over Gars to Morgan. But everyone is entitled to their choices and I respect that.

 

[Alpha1]

I agree. If I was the developer i would have found someone willing to take over the project, given it to him and said goodbye. Sort of like what thegeek did when he handed over Gars to Morgan. But everyone is entitled to their choices and I respect that.

That must be the worst example you could have picked.

 

[Sadik B]

That must be the worst example you could have picked.

I can understand what you mean, since Morgan didn't really support the product later on. But I was commenting on the intention on the part of the original developer.

 

[Jaxel]

A stand that hurt no one except the forum owners, certainly not IB.

When people start looking elsewhere besides vBulletin because the developers are abandoning it, it certainly hurts IB. The power of vBulletin has always been its third party developers. Without them, they may as well be Invision.

 

[Marc]

A stand that hurt no one except the forum owners, certainly not IB.

I agree with Jaxel. Users look for a product they can expand in a peace of forum software and its what made vBulletin the big company it became in the first place. If the developers ditch and users install 3rd party additions that no longer work all the time it will indeed hurt IB. More to the point people also follow the 3rd developers in the same way that they follow Kier & Mike. I have used a couple of Jaxels mods on vBulletin and if he was releasing them for another piece of software as well as other developers I would indeed start looking at that software instead, and if it was any good consider switching.

Even small modifications Paul, for example your own mods for adding who's been online. There may be a couple of people come up with the same kind of thing, however it would be yours I would install because I know what it does. I've used your modifications also both on vb and XenForo and as a user would not only be pissed that I couldnt get your modifications updated if you decided to ditch, but also be pissed at having a product I couldnt get the things I need for anymore.

 

[Ryan Kent]

Many good discussion points were shared.

To those who have concerned about developer abandoned add-ons, I have a few thoughts:

- You can choose professionally developed add-ons offered by a company such as WordPress for blogs, etc. rather then an add-on developed by an individual

- You can work within the community to gain additional support (i.e. $$) for the developed add-on so the add-on developer is less likely to leave or the developer thoroughly documents his code and offers technical documentation. Then either each of us can learn the code to where we can support the add-on ourselves, or other developers would be more likely to take on the project. The problem lies in add-ons which offer no documentation, code isn't commented and the developer disappears.

- In the end it comes down to trust. I trust Kier, Mike and co. to take care of us. They have until now. The only example I can offer is with the smiley add-on http://xenforo.com/community/threads/the-happy-place-clickable-smilies-under-editor-control.8229/ The original developer disappeared and Kier stepped in, did what he could and has kept the add-on going through the latest XF updates. Of course this was a one-off type of thing and can't be expected, but if a critical add-on was orphaned I sincerely believe one of the many talented developers who depend on it would step up.

With the above understood, perhaps Kier/Mike can offer an idea of what functionality will NOT be added in 2011. For example Kier shared that an avatar gallery would not be added into the core functionality. That let's us know we either have to make an alternate plan or an add-on developer can safely develop a product without worry that the feature will be introduced right away. We must all keep in mind even with these "plans" we are so desperate for, plans change constantly. What if XF hires another developer tomorrow, and the new guy has previously developed a solid avatar product and it can easily be integrated into XF? Maybe XF then offers the feature. Keep in mind this roadmap is just the current plans, and they can easily be changed.

 

[Adam Howard]

If you need a blog then Onimua's product works, and is being further developed to make it better.

If you require a professionally developed blog then you can go with WordPress or other alternatives.

Not using XF as a forum solution because it doesn't have integrated blog as part of the core is like saying you wont buy an awesome car because it doesn't have the radio you want factory installed. What XF does have is:

- the absolute latest/greatest forum software on the market
- integrated SEO
- easy styling without any HTML/CSS knowledge through the Admin Control Panel
- Alert system, too much more to list out....

In car terms, XF has focused on the engine, transmission and body. If you purchase a forum or any software product based on which one offers the most features, then good luck. You'll need it.

Everyone's community needs are different. My community needs a blogging system which will share the same user names, passwords, and database with guaranteed continued support. The forums are tied close together in vBulletin with the blogs. Which is what I need.

But vBulletin / Internet Brands and its needless "issues" are not what I need. So until XenForo offers it, I can not switch my community.

 

[D.O.A.]

I didn't abandon my vB4 media library because I ran out of time... I abandoned the vB4 version as a stand against Internet Brands. If they can't treat their customer's right, then I don't want to help further their goals. In a way, I was just a rat deserting a sinking ship.

Good on you for taking a stand against them and hitting them were it hurts - the community that supports that junk. My vbulletin licence will never be used again and I flagged any email from vbulletin as spam a long time ago.

I'll never look back.

 

[D.O.A.]

Everyone's community needs are different. My community needs a blogging system which will share the same user names, passwords, and database with guaranteed continued support. The forums are tied close together in vBulletin with the blogs. Which is what I need.

But vBulletin / Internet Brands and its needless "issues" are not what I need. So until XenForo offers it, I can not switch my community.

Use wordpress/the xenforo bridge and your users have a better blog then IB or xenforo will ever create, simple. There are also blogging mods here that cover that area.
You're going to be waiting a long time for a official xenforo cms, I assure you. The forum software just went stable, should they do a VB4 and slap one in hastily next version and add another 2000 bugs? Personally I bought this software for a forum, not a bloated CMS. I needed a blog also for my users, and now I have something more powerful then I imagined possible. Use your initiative or be happy checking in here every month and being disappointed.

 

[Adam Howard]

Use wordpress/the xenforo bridge and your users have a better blog then IB or xenforo will ever create, simple. There are also blogging mods here that cover that area.
You're going to be waiting a long time for a official xenforo cms, I assure you. The forum software just went stable, should they do a VB4 and slap one in hastily next version and add another 2000 bugs?

No, I wouldn't want them to do the same thing as Internet Brands. ..... I can wait.

 

[dutchbb]

A stand that hurt no one except the forum owners, certainly not IB.

In the long run it will. I agree with #90.

 

[Alpha1]

A stand that hurt no one except the forum owners, certainly not IB.

While vb.org is still doing great, it has lost a lot of great developers. Without vb.org vbulletin is way behind IPB. (IMHO)
The fact that XenForo has gathered so many addons in so little time is a major victory for XenForo. And therefore a loss to IB. Do you see that differently?

 

[erich37]

Think outside the (vB)-box.

 

[Wildcat Media]

Think outside the box rather then jamming old sh*t into a new one.

Quote of the week.