=== New Forum Software ===
Discussion
We've got some subtle changes coming to the forum software. Some of you got a glimpse of it yesterday.
Just thought it might be useful to explain what's going on as otherwise it might look like cosmetic tinkering when in fact it's the result of quite a lot of work.
The forum software hasn't really changed much since I first wrote it back in 2000. I've made various changes and improvements over the years but the underlying architecture remained largely unchanged.
In January 2005 I set about rewriting the forums to create a more robust and flexible system - one that would facilitate making changes more easily going forwards. 2005 got a bit busy as did 2006 and the software was left half finished (the profiles page was the first to be part of the new architecture and then I got permanently distracted).
I've now had the opportunity to complete the job and the pages will come onstream shortly.
Feedback suggests that changing things on the forums creates a lot of noise
so I've created a 'skin' for the new software that makes it look very similar to how it has always looked. Other skins will be available for those that want a different look (more of that later).
The new architecture provides:
* A significant performance increase (large threads were killing the old code)
* Better support for mobile phones (still some testing required on this)
* Better support for printing threads
* Sound foundation for future enhancements (i.e. actually allowing us to plough on with the change requests that many have made over the years)
* Restructured database allowing me to work on a feature that I'm quite excited about (watch this space)
Just thought it might be useful to explain what's going on as otherwise it might look like cosmetic tinkering when in fact it's the result of quite a lot of work.
The forum software hasn't really changed much since I first wrote it back in 2000. I've made various changes and improvements over the years but the underlying architecture remained largely unchanged.
In January 2005 I set about rewriting the forums to create a more robust and flexible system - one that would facilitate making changes more easily going forwards. 2005 got a bit busy as did 2006 and the software was left half finished (the profiles page was the first to be part of the new architecture and then I got permanently distracted).
I've now had the opportunity to complete the job and the pages will come onstream shortly.
Feedback suggests that changing things on the forums creates a lot of noise
so I've created a 'skin' for the new software that makes it look very similar to how it has always looked. Other skins will be available for those that want a different look (more of that later). The new architecture provides:
* A significant performance increase (large threads were killing the old code)
* Better support for mobile phones (still some testing required on this)
* Better support for printing threads
* Sound foundation for future enhancements (i.e. actually allowing us to plough on with the change requests that many have made over the years)
* Restructured database allowing me to work on a feature that I'm quite excited about (watch this space)
it's an "undocumented feature" 
BliarOut said:
Without wishing to be a pain, would it make more sense to have the "Reply to topic" right aligned instead of left aligned seeing as your mouse is generally over on the right during page navigation?
Mouse balls don't come cheap you know
Mouse balls don't come cheap you know
Trouble is that's where the paging is. Same argument for that.
Speed, Plod & Law and P&P are the most obvious (former having several, latter having the competition one)
(Much much prefer this font by the way. Far neater
)
Ooo there's another longstanding feature - the multiple edit lines
(Much much prefer this font by the way. Far neater
) Ooo there's another longstanding feature - the multiple edit lines
Edited by Famous Graham on Wednesday 25th April 15:19
Edited by Famous Graham on Wednesday 25th April 15:19
Edited by Famous Graham on Wednesday 25th April 15:20
ewenm said:
When in a forum, the title bar on IE6 shows the title of the first thread, not the title of the forum. So for example, General Gassing shows the Opie-Oil thread title, not General Gassing in the window title bar.
Same in FF but wasn't it always thus? Or did it have "<ForumName> :: <TopicTitle>" or something? Can't remember
Gassing Station | Website Feedback | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff