XF 2.4 general discussion, feedback, complaints, random off topic posts, etc.

[BikeGremlin]

Wrote a reply in a thread that got locked - LOL.
It did turn to be like this one - so probably a good call by the mods.

Forums (and websites for that matter) are a dying breed (have been since 2015 one could say, but now it's getting more and more obvious, extreme, and faster). But trying to paint them into modern colours won't fix that - it will just make them look ridiculous.

Trying to turn them into social networks will just make them "social networks on a shoestring" - good for nothing (compared to the more polished originals).

XenForo already has the what's new and featured & trending threads options.
That is already working for discovery without destroying the structured topic-pased discussions that forums in fact are.
Some members here seem to be mixing "content discovery" with "engagement farming."

Any drastic do-or-die changes make little sense - especially if they detract from refining forums as they are (no revolutionary drastic change).

Of course, it is not impossible that I'm wrong. Or, that the vast majority of users wants to go the "social network way" - and if that i where XenForo (and other forums for that matter) goes, we will see how it ends. I plan to stick to more classic forum-like solutions, and if XenForo changes drastically, I hope I'll be able to find a good alternative.

 

[nodle]

Me logging into Xenforo every morning

 

[Mr Lucky]

OanicI’m

Me logging into Xenforo every morning

don’t worry there’ll be an update soon then it will be:

 

[Alpha1]

Wrote a reply in a thread that got locked - LOL.

Brilliant idea to continue it here then.

 

[BikeGremlin]

Brilliant idea to continue it here then.

Indeed. And a shocking turn of events I must add:
posting about forum development… in the forum development feedback thread. Truly revolutionary!

 

[Alpha1]

Indeed. And a shocking turn of events I must add:
posting about forum development… in the forum development feedback thread. Truly revolutionary!

You demonstrate succinctly why XenForo needs a 'Buy me a beer' function. But eh, engagement farming. lol.

 

[Suzanne O]

I'm looking forward to what 2.4 has for us to play around with.

 

[Mouth]

XenForo already has the what's new and featured & trending threads options.
That is already working for discovery without destroying the structured topic-pased discussions that forums in fact are.

Disagree. What's New is the most fragmented, poorly designed/conceptualised, and unappealing page/content that I've seen in a community platform. It looks and feels like it was slapped together by a young teenager in a hurry to rush something out the door just to say it has such functionality, without proper appreciation or regard for content that exists outside 1st party functionality. And even that is segregated.

 

[Wing]

Disagree. What's New is the most fragmented, poorly designed/conceptualised, and unappealing page/content that I've seen in a community platform. It looks and feels like it was slapped together by a young teenager in a hurry to rush something out the door just to say it has such functionality, without proper appreciation or regard for content that exists outside 1st party functionality. And even that is segregated.

Tsk tsk, how dare you. No new modernizations are needed!!

 

[BikeGremlin]

Disagree. What's New is the most fragmented, poorly designed/conceptualised, and unappealing page/content that I've seen in a community platform. It looks and feels like it was slapped together by a young teenager in a hurry to rush something out the door just to say it has such functionality, without proper appreciation or regard for content that exists outside 1st party functionality. And even that is segregated.

That makes sense fixing if it needs (don't see it as nearly that bad, but that's a tangential topic).

I'm talking about not making the forum into a social network copy.

You made a typical straw man fallacy by implying that I think XenForo is perfect as it is, like it doesn't need any refinement. That’s not what I said - I'm arguing against drastic changes that undermine the core strength of forums: structured, topic-based discussion.

 

[Mr Lucky]

Tsk tsk, how dare you. No new modernizations are needed!!

While it may be true no new modernisations are actually needed (when thought about literally) I think many new features could be very valuable. I have suggested and voted for plenty. Obviously I’d love to see my (and our members) suggestions instigated.

 

[Miri]

While it may be true no new modernisations are actually needed

 

[Mr Lucky]

XenForo already has the what's new and featured & trending threads options.

Yes, What’s new is incredibly important. It’s great that it’s versatile but I’d love to see the presentation improved.

That is not an easy task, ie combining versatility with simplicity of use. The combination of both a large navigation and an easily overlooked filter is problematical for me - users need an easy and intuitive way to customise.

When I did a poll I found that most users started off their use of the site with either new posts or (less common) latest activity.

Only one started of at the forum list.

New posts is also on the home page.

 

[Max Fridman]

My only comment on this about 2.4 is that a short development cycle was promised or projected.

And that there would be close communication regarding developments.
Obviously, as was to be expected, there have been problems, slowdowns, and communication has become increasingly rarefied.

Until today, 06/06/2025 and the last communication regarding newly implemented features was two months ago.

Honestly, I am puzzled. It's all very sad. I don't understand how other developers of other platforms keep their customers updated with reasonable time.

The rest is all very iterative, by the way nothing that goes to solve core Xenforo problems like content discoverability, the backwardness of the trophy system, incentivizing interactions between users and with the site, and so on.

I will have to be patient, it will be for the next version in 2026, maybe.

 

[ge66]

For me, I "solved" the What's New shortcomings by not using it at all.
I use New posts. I have given it a prominent place in the menu.
This works well for me, not using profile posts, gallery or resources.
Having two extra type of threads, blog-like, classifieds-like and xf:s article-like in separate subforums, when normal threads isn't enough.

 

[Mr Lucky]

I use New posts

That’s all I do but give an option in the subnavigation for filtered new posts, unfiltered new posts and latest activity.

 

[vbresults]

I think the option to have a reddit-like homepage like this would be great in 2.4.

 

[tajhay]

Whats new is pointless. Ive hidden it completely and get users to use new posts. Just poorly implemented.

 

[Mr Lucky]

Whats new is pointless. Ive hidden it completely and get users to use new posts. Just poorly implemented.

Me too (see above)

However what’s become obvious here is people want very different things, and for all we know there is a silent majority who want everything to stay the same. (Apart from any bugs)

The logical conclusion I can see is the best thing is to make it much more versatile from a user (who is not a developer) POV, with many options to customise.

One thing that I find restrictive in this regard is widgets. They could be so much more. You can use widgets to build your own home or landing page which I’ve done but I find a bit restricted because, … well a couple of examples:

• I have a new posts widget among other things - great but it’s missing the filters.
• I’d like a personal “your stuff” widget that shows a member’s watched threads and forums.
• A popular forums widget. Ideally showing a more versatile and attractive layout, e.g. grid including an image for each forum. (I can build that with html, but life is too short)

Having said that I really do love the search forums widget. But it’s a bit clunky having to create two things, ie (a) search forums widget and (b) the node itself. It would be good if the widget itself just did all the criteria searches.

Also, a quick way to make a nice grid layout of widgets without futzing with CSS and html.

 

[JamesBrown]

New posts is also on the home page.

Yes, New Posts has been my forum front page for years.