Will Xenforo ever adopt threaded comment structures (like Reddit)?

[qazwsxedcrfv1234]

I know that Xenforo comments have a flat structure, but is there any chance that the forum software will come to adopt a threaded structure (like Reddit)?

Speaking of flat / threaded comments, which do you prefer? Is there a way to have both types of comments be shown for users?

I know that there might be some bias towards flat (as Xenforo's userbase is accustomed to flat comments), but it would still be nice to know as to which you prefer and why.

 

[Mendalla]

For me, the bottom line is that I would be fine as long as it was an optional feature, not a ground-up redesign that forced us on to a different model.

My site exists because people didn't want the FB group that was offered as a replacement for our old forum site so why would I make my site work like an FB group? As long as I can control how the change is implemented on my own site, it is no skin off my teeth if XF implements this as an option so people like @Ricsca can have it. But if they retooled the system in a way that didn't give me the choice or at least a transition period to adapt my site and users to the new model, then I would freeze on the last version that used linear forums and start looking at my options.

 

[Ricsca]

For me, the bottom line is that I would be fine as long as it was an optional feature, not a ground-up redesign that forced us on to a different model.

My site exists because people didn't want the FB group that was offered as a replacement for our old forum site so why would I make my site work like an FB group? As long as I can control how the change is implemented on my own site, it is no skin off my teeth if XF implements this as an option so people like @Ricsca can have it. But if they retooled the system in a way that didn't give me the choice or at least a transition period to adapt my site and users to the new model, then I would freeze on the last version that used linear forums and start looking at my options.

Why do you put words in people's mouths that they didn't say?
I said that nested comments are not useful to my community but maybe they can be useful to other communities so it would be useful if there was this option.
What does it have to do with distorting xf?
Vb my friend has distorted it by allowing admins of a form to add this option if they deem it useful.
The more options there are in a forum, the more versatile and interesting it becomes for admins and users.
Instead, in every discussion where featured is discussed, the 4 musketeers always come out with "it's useless" or "everything's fine like this"!
In life and on the web, you always have to improve and evolve...

 

[Kirby]

The fact remains that a forum should have as many options as possible to meet as many needs of possible admins who will decide to choose xf rather than vb or other forums...

IMHO you usually don't attract new users with features but content and you keep them due to content and community as well.

 

[Ricsca]

IMHO you usually don't attract new users with features but content and you keep them due to content and community as well.

Contents are fundamental because in an inactive forum people certainly don't want to write, but the more options there are, the more an admin can create a community with the characteristics best suited to the type of user he has.
And above all, the more options there are, the more people are able to create communities that are different from others.

 

[zappaDPJ]

And above all, the more options there are, the more people are able to create communities that are different from others.

So you have a choice of using add-ons to expand your forum's functionality to suit you and your members or be prepared to have the developers of Xenforo increase the price of the product exponentially to suit you, your members, me, my members and every other forum owner and their members.

In reality most people prefer simple, uniform functionality. Something they recognise rather than a bloat of function, the vast majority of which never gets used by anyone on any forum ever.

 

[Ricsca]

So you have a choice of using add-ons to expand your forum's functionality to suit you and your members or be prepared to have the developers of Xenforo increase the price of the product exponentially to suit you, your members, me, my members and every other forum owner and their members.

In reality most people prefer simple, uniform functionality. Something they recognise rather than a bloat of function, the vast majority of which never gets used by anyone on any forum ever.

You are talking as if xf has 100,000 functions.
The functions of xf (and other forums in general) are the same as 20 years ago.
External mods should be used as little as possible because it is not known until when they will be supported.

 

[Kirby]

The functions of xf (and other forums in general) are the same as 20 years ago.

Yeah, they are as much the same as the functions of a Ford Model T and a Tesla Model S.

 

[qazwsxedcrfv1234]

So you have a choice of using add-ons to expand your forum's functionality to suit you and your members or be prepared to have the developers of Xenforo increase the price of the product exponentially to suit you, your members, me, my members and every other forum owner and their members.

In reality most people prefer simple, uniform functionality. Something they recognise rather than a bloat of function, the vast majority of which never gets used by anyone on any forum ever.

This is where custom development happens... In which case, I assume that Xenforo is "infinitely" expandable?

Basically... Could Xenforo be used as a framework to create the next Facebook or Instagram (if you hack it enough)?

 

[qazwsxedcrfv1234]

IMHO you usually don't attract new users with features but content and you keep them due to content and community as well.

I think you can have both...

Have great features that encourage users to submit good content.

 

[zappaDPJ]

Basically... Could Xenforo be used as a framework to create the next Facebook or Instagram (if you hack it enough)?

Sure, if you have the necessary skills and time to do it. I believe @digitalpoint suggested and possibly went on to implement something along those lines.

 

[qazwsxedcrfv1234]

Sure, if you have the necessary skills and time to do it. I believe @digitalpoint suggested and possibly went on to implement something along those lines.

Do you know what the site is?

 

[zappaDPJ]

Do you know what the site is?

I don't, I think it was an internal project.

Have a read though this thread: https://xenforo.com/community/threads/think-of-xenforo-as-a-site-not-necessarily-a-forum.203832/

 

[qazwsxedcrfv1234]

I don't, I think it was an internal project.

Have a read though this thread: https://xenforo.com/community/threads/think-of-xenforo-as-a-site-not-necessarily-a-forum.203832/

Will read it "soon".

 

[digitalpoint]

I don't, I think it was an internal project.

Have a read though this thread: https://xenforo.com/community/threads/think-of-xenforo-as-a-site-not-necessarily-a-forum.203832/

None are social media (like Facebook or Instagram), but I do have some public sites that use XenForo as the framework that are primarily not a forum (if the forum parts are used, they are used as a support venue for whatever the site is actually about).

• Outgress is a system where users can automatically forward certain emails (related to a game). It ingests those emails in realtime (currently 154M+ so far) an does various game-related things (the receiving mail server delivers them directly to the app rather than a mailbox that needs to be checked).
• Inmate Intake is primarily a tool for gaming the system so someone can make a better selection of dates they want to serve time. Also tracks inmates in realtime.
  
• Reliquary is a platform for managing a secret society (yes, really). Can't see much, because well... it's secret. You can only see something if an existing member gives you a single-use invite code. Handles all the stuff like invites, new member applications, voting/vetting of those members, event management, etc. Has a lot of pretty advanced things for events... ticket sales that dynamically become available to the user viewing based on realtime gender balancing of the event for example. Even automatically generates a shopping list for food and bar service based on the guest list.
  
• I/O Labs is a search engine that spiders 24/7 and is ingesting a TON of data all the time. Has many tables with billions of records.
• App for Cloudflare is a pretty advanced marketplace system (even though it's only selling a single thing, it can do a lot more). It handles licensing, payments (allows marketplace sellers to collect money themselves and can take a cut automatically if you want), even subscriptions that may not start right away. Some detailed info here: https://xenforo.com/community/threa...stem-for-digital-products.206498/post-1629809

There's a few others I have my hands in, but they aren't public or are being worked on still.

 

[Seeker-Smith]

I know that Xenforo comments have a flat structure, but is there any chance that the forum software will come to adopt a threaded structure (like Reddit)?

Speaking of flat / threaded comments, which do you prefer? Is there a way to have both types of comments be shown for users?

I know that there might be some bias towards flat (as Xenforo's userbase is accustomed to flat comments), but it would still be nice to know as to which you prefer and why.

I like both for different reasons. I'd really like to have the option for certain forums. Ozzy has a mod but it seems like nothing is getting updated for 2.3.

 

[Forsaken]

I like both for different reasons. I'd really like to have the option for certain forums. Ozzy has a mod but it seems like nothing is getting updated for 2.3.

Major versions see updates come out after several months, depending on the add-on. Ozzy has a huge catalog of add-ons, and also has private paid work, including some add-ons that will be coming out shortly.

 

[Seeker-Smith]

I know that Xenforo comments have a flat structure, but is there any chance that the forum software will come to adopt a threaded structure (like Reddit)?

Speaking of flat / threaded comments, which do you prefer? Is there a way to have both types of comments be shown for users?

I know that there might be some bias towards flat (as Xenforo's userbase is accustomed to flat comments), but it would still be nice to know as to which you prefer and why.

We have developed at nested node type for xenforo. It's in testing and so far seems very promising. I personally prefer this format as replies are inline and follow actual comments. Most of the typical xenforo node features are supported.

It is unknown if this will be released as an add-on. If you'd test to test it and comment please do. Unless you login you will be unable to see the posts functions but here are a couple images to give you an idea.

Topics

Select an index, join in or start a new topic. This is an experimental system. We hope it works as expected but there may be bugs. If you find one speak out so it can be addressed.

sneaker-groups.com

 

[Mr Lucky]

I know that there might be some bias towards flat (as Xenforo's userbase is accustomed to flat comments),

Well I may be part of that userbase. I’m accustomed to nested comments from before I had xenforo. So I feel able to evaluate the old nested threads (been there done that) and have to say I do prefer it the way it is now.

 

[Digital Doctor]

I do prefer it the way it is now.

In what way ? Anything specific ?

 

[FTL]

I think it would be great of XF could be switched between flat and nested at the click of a button for all users and support this natively. This is because each mode has its advantages and disadvantages.