If this is to be used for a Stack Exchange clone answers need to have comments attached to them. Connecting the answers to questions using the EVA module is pretty slick. However, if comments are not used answers it is the same to use comments as answers since comments are fieldable.

There is a usability problem of answers without comments in that answered need to be discussed without creating more answers.

Comments on answers should use ajax to hide and the show the form or at least to load the form.

I don't even know where to begin, but I am sure that a question / answer website without comments on answers will fall very short of expectations.

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chipcleary’s picture

chipcleary commented

Thanks @Adam S, you gave me a belly laugh ... "will fall very short of expectations." Practicing your gruff client persona, eh?

Here's where to begin.

If you would like to enable comments on answers, you can use drupal's built-in comment functionality. Just go to the answer content type ( http://development.d7.test/admin/structure/types/manage/question ).

You will then face the issue of actually having comments show up in questions. The comments are displayed using the "Question Answers" view. This post describes what *should* work for adjusting that view, but does not seem to, and then how to work around it: http://drupal.stackexchange.com/questions/5504/when-i-add-the-comments-t... .

Adam S’s picture

Adam S commented

Practicing your gruff client persona, eh?

Um, yeah, I'm going to need you to come in on Saturday to do this.

Unfortunately, there is some hanky panky going on which may have to do with all the patches and dev modules added to make this thing happen that prevents comments from showing up on answers. It might be a strongarm issue somewhere.

I've obviously have been thinking about Stack Exchange clones for a while as your referred to a question on Stack Exchange that belongs to me - Adam S. We have decided that the n+1 problem isn't one and 10 or so added database queries isn't much of a problem since Drupal is doing 100 to 200 every page load.

I built a yelp.com clone with a business content type and using EVA and the URL node reference widget reviews that can have comments attached to them like on some review websites. My experience is that it was pointless and I was stuck with a problem of having to work with attached content rather than comments. Because of legacy issues using Views, Rules, Pathauto (in case of using entities that are not nodes), ect. that have built in support for nodes and comments, I would suggest making the answers comments instead content types added using views attach.

This is unless answers need to have comments attached to them so they can be discussed. If this is the case, there needs to be work done to make a user interface that is intuitive. The drupal 7 Ajax framework with commands should be used to load a comment form on answers and refresh the page on submit.

Jeff Atwood frustrated that someone suggesting his website's functionality could be duplicated in a weekend using open source saying Stack Exchange charged too much for hosted services wrote this wonderful blog called "Code: It's Trivial."

My favorite comment Jeff's blog is :

You obviously never heard of Drupal.

Anonymous on July 7, 2009 8:41 AM

That was how long ago? I wish I knew who it was who wrote it so I can make him or her personal responsible for getting this done in Drupal now we are almost in 2012.

chipcleary’s picture

chipcleary commented

"Um, yeah, I'm going to need you to come in on Saturday to do this.

:-)

Funny too that I pointed you in a loop to your own post!

I agree with the goals you've stated:

  • Let answers have comments (and, imo, questions too)
  • Provide a decent interface

So, that makes me want to stick with the current architecture where answers are a distinct node type.

As far as my thinking on priorities, my highest priority is some better theming overall (#1169176: Preferred theming?) and particularly when "Best Answers" are enabled. Once we're there, then I think adding comments (along with a decent UI) is near the top of the list.

chipcleary’s picture

chipcleary commented
Status: Active » Closed (duplicate)

This is now envisioned for the new look-and-feel (but not yet implemented). Thanks for the suggestion.

For the new look-and-feel, see #1445580: Feedback sought ... proposed look-and-feel for Answers.