Decline in user friendliness?

[Rixn]

I can sense a cut back in user friendliness when preparing new features for us users. I don't mean the nice job done on the installation process for the IM140, I mean the upgrade issues with upgrade abilities from each earlier version.

Before, wasn't it lists of several upgrade instructions like:

• from version 1 to version 5
• from version 2 to version 5
• from version 3 to version 5
• from version 4 to version 5

which was easy. Now there're a lot more difficult to find information about how to upgrade. Not only the issues of php5, the security upgrade thingies is also something that isn't well informed about. Most of the time we need informatin of the big picture, not just about each upgrade. To inform of what NOT to do is also important. Don't underestimate the newbie's ability to think strange thoughts.

To go back on user friendliness like this will not give IM a bigger user base, and to win the open source race for publishing systems like this we really need the non-programmers to be able to use it and feel that they can manage it.

Don't rush into a semi-finished version just because it is enough for most initiated php users. Please take your time and prepare for the not so fortune newbies that aren't into php as much as most people here.

Make IM a hit for all the others too. We will all benefit of a huge user base, even if the majority will be noobs and not contributing to the open source community. I'm sure that if it becomes one of the most used systems it will draw attention of the hard core users too.

[Adrian Rea]

Rixn, I agree with what you are saying, although trying to produce what you and many others want, is very difficult.

The main reason the change from 132 to 140 was imposible to define was the method it was made. It came from the fusion of 2 seperate projects,

The upgrading of phpbb within IntegraMOD has been dificult as there have been dificulties making sure the updates work, and I agree, a cumulative approach would be more helpful, but none is quite certain the 2.0.20 update has fully been fixed into Integramod

Finally, the upgrade to 141 is extensive due to amny code changes to bring it php5 compatability, and all the rest.

I hope that what is missing in user-friendliness in complete documentation and code, is made up for by supportive colleagues with a willingness to help.

Sorry if that is not quite what you want, but we all need to help out in out own ways.

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A further point to add, there is a frustration from other users also to get the code out. It is a dificult thing to get a happy balance at the moment.

[Rixn]

I understand the hard issues arising in many new happenings with upgrades in phpBB, PHP5 and more.

My point is that I just want to remind you all of the importence of the casual user view. It's easy to forget that when your far into solving the criticals. Hopefully, in time, the IM dev team can focus on the front-end too, and not continue to the next hard core issue.

Don't forget - the easyness of this kind of system is the actual point in using it.

[Adrian Rea]

I totally agree Rixn <img>

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