Topic: The new forum, Why not smf2? (Read 276 times)

I, along with some of them have used and tested the Epochtalk version of the forum and it was quite good to be shifted to the new UI design. When we were using them, merit wasn't really available/developed but mention notifications,topic creations were good and we were notified if someone mentions us. The epochtalk mobile version was too adaptable to type and the forum was separately designed for mobile users. There are much more interesting features in the new forum software and the SMF version are insignificant to support such features.

Try it out yourself by logging in https://www.cryptos-currencies.com/ using a throwaway mail and a password. I assume IPs would be logged in, so you could better use TOR for signing up and testing the forum software.

I figure you are referring to this post: re: What is wrong with the development of new software ?

I’ve seen quite a few large and long software projects take a dip at some point. On some occasions due to the project requirements changing drastically, rendering the developed software so far functionally obsolete, on others due to the overly complexity undergone in the development, and on other occasions due to new SAS (software as a service) covering the functionality at a fraction of the cost. Adequately allocated resources have a large saying in the equation.  On these occasions though, the invested amount was thrown at a loss, as often functionality and timing mark the pace where there is a strong pressure from the Business.

Here, there is no extreme pressure to forgo the change of software due to business needs. Sure a nicer framework may be catchy to attract new users, and a bunch of new functionality may make the forum interaction nicer in the day to day (i.e. built in notifications when mentioned, 2FA is on the list of Epochtalk features, and so on).

Current Bitcointalk maintenance and software feature evolution, as derived from the above referenced post, seems to reside on a single man’s shoulders, but it works. Moving on to a new software, which is the intent, puts that task on a new scenario where what now is fixed in a short period of time may require days on end (simply because everything is different). 

One important thing to understand is that Epochtalk is, in intent, a generic forum generator, where Bitcointalk is just an instance. That is, Epochtalk is not only Bitcointalk, but a software capable of supporting a variety of different forums; a bit much like smf itself. It’s therefore not really a question of running Bitcointalk on smf/smf2 or on Epochtalk, but rather more developing a competition to smf itself. The objective is bigger that it seems.

The base on this forum is SMF 1, but the modifications on the code are big, lot of features that we have right now doesn-t come with the software, so, if we migrate to smf2 that would be a ton of work to migrate all the features.

All those kids with their smartphones...

The old sunk cost fallacy.

Although i agree though- Epochtalk is/was designed specifically with Bitcointalk in mind, SMF2 is not, and might lack a lot of additional/behind the scenes features such as trust ratings and w/e. It's obviously just a shame that it's taking so long.

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I kind of forgot why we needed a new forum design in the first place..? 

I checked crypto-currencies site (a trial site from one of forum users with source code of Epochtalk. I saw that the font size is large, maybe due to I am familiar with default font-size of bitcointalk.org after months using it. I am not sure how that guy run the site, with adjustments from source code or not, but I would prefer to see UI like the Epochtalk site, that looks more professional, and will smaller font size, a traditional medium font size. I understand that it's always hard to switch from familiar one to a new one.

Well... It's not *only* the money that has been spent... On numerous occasions, Theymos has also given a statement that just upgrading SMF wouldn't be possible/feasible since he rewrote a lot of the current SMF sourcecode so a straightup upgrade would no longer work (i'm just to lazy to find the correct reference link).

I know money has an important part here but I think several times on the history we have examples on things worth a lot of money worse than one old renewed projects.

So do you think is "only" money spent factor?

Forum has already spent much time and money on the new Epochtalk software. Many developers are already working on the betterment of the current setup, also many of the members here are busy reporting bugs and suggesting improvements in the Epochtalk which would make it unreasonable to change the software to SMF2.

If you see Epochtalk has much more exiciting features ahead of the SMF software. You can check the details here http://epochtalk.org/docs.html. I personally feel it exiciting to switch to a totally new UI and operations for the forum by using Epochtalk.

After all this working and updates in Epochtalk, I don't think it would be advantageous to switch the new forum software to SMF2.

Now that we spent millions on the new software and it is pretty much done? It’s not going to happen.

I'm noob about it I just asking, SMF2 (RC) has been launched this year

https://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=566669.0

I think the switching from smf1 to SMF2 should be not hard

Why don't use smf2 over Epochtalk if you want to change the forum?