Make advforum stand alone module? Opinions?
| Project: | Advanced Forum |
| Version: | 6.x-1.x-dev |
| Component: | Miscellaneous |
| Category: | task |
| Priority: | normal |
| Assigned: | Michelle |
| Status: | closed |
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We were planning on some significant changes for D7's core forum module. But the delay in D6 contrib means there may not be enough time and we may be looking at D8 instead. In the mean time, I've been considering turning advforum into an alternate to the forum module rather than an add on. By doing this, we can test out the changes we want to make to the core forum and hopefully get some or all of them back into core in D8.
This is a significant departure for the module, though, and, though we're still in alpha, there are quite a few users. Before taking the module in a completely different direction, I wanted to get some feedback. This is my basic plan:
1) Get 5.x and 6.x working well enough to release a stable 1.x version.
2) Put 1.x into bug fix only mode.
3) Branch the 6.x line into a 2.x version.
4) Make 2.x into a complete replacement for the core forum module and start working on the changes that we hope to get into core.
5) Get lots of testing and feedback.
6) Merge as much as possible back into core in D8 and turn advforum back into an add on module for core forum to handle any features that didn't make it into core.
Any opinions?
Michelle
#1
Michelle
I guess the biggest step would be to get the Drupal community behind you on this. But I think you would not have a problem with this as you have already made a huge difference on an issue that should have been sorted much earlier. Forums are such a powerful requirement for a CMS system, - I rate it higher than blogs - that I am surprised that development for a proper integrated forum always been on the back burner.
I'm in with you on this one. Development of the core forum module needs to be removed from Drupal core development to get people to focus on the issues at hand, and those people are us.
Only concern I have is that we abandon D5 too quickly. As you said, D6 contrib are slow at the moment. I guess it was the same going from D4.7 to D5, it took a long time. D5 is a good stable test platform, and people are still happily running their sites on D5. Get something to work on D5 where it will be well tested, then port it to D6.
My opinion, of course.
You have my vote and help.
#2
Well, the point of this issue was to see what people in the community think. :) I don't think removing forum from core would be approved. But I'm hoping we can significantly change it. We wanted to do it in 7.x but merlinofchaos, who is a key part of this, really has his hands full already so I'm looking at targeting 8.x for core and ride through 7.x as a temporary fork.
I have no intention of abandoning 5.x, as I will be using that on my own site at least until next Fall. But that would stay on the 1.x version which works with core forum. This new 2.x version I'm proposing would be for 6.x and 7.x once that stabalizes. There's just not enough of me to go around to do 2.x on Drupal 5 as well.
Michelle
#3
Michelle, sounds like a reasonable plan to me, though I'm new to Drupal and to advanced forum (have only installed it so far). I wonder what is the biggest benefit/driver of making it standalone rather than continuing with it as an add-on -- to give it a better architecture for when it can go into core as a replacement for the existing forum? I am wary of re-architecting projects just because sometimes what you end up with is no cleaner than what was replaced after the inevitable compromises are made during design and development.
At any rate, I'm here to help, once I figure out what exactly is going on! I am building a site similar to your Coulee Region Online, except for my area (Denver). I am using Zen right now, so I hope I'll be able to work through some of those incompatibilities.
Thanks for all you have done -- I'm so impressed with your contributions to Drupal.
Anne
#4
"what is the biggest benefit/driver of making it standalone rather than continuing with it as an add-on"
Simply because contrib is easier for core. Getting changes to core is a huge process and it has to be done before the freeze. By doing it in contrib, it becomes a "proof of concept" and then we can focus on getting the changes into core in D8.
As far as "re-architecting" it goes, it's something that really needs to be done. There are some fundamental problems with the current forum that make things difficult. The module hasn't changed much in years and it's time to blow the dust off and shake it up a bit.
Good luck on your site. I'm surprised a city as big as Denver doesn't have one already.
Michelle
#5
Sounds like a smart way to do it -- reduces risk while giving the rearchitecture task whatever time it needs. I believe you it could use a good redesign tho I don't know much about it other than that the forums aren't as full-featured as I'd like.
Denver has various online services and directories but not exactly what I am envisioning. Anyway, my primary goal is just to learn Drupal and have fun. If it turns out to be engaging for people and useful for businesses, that'd be great too.
#6
That sounds fair. Just so long as there's a migration path from 1.x to 2.x, from D5 upwards, then I think that's a pretty good idea. There's nothing to stop you doing a contrb forums module and also applying for changes to the core in the meantime, should it be necessary.
#7
Yes, there will definitely be an upgrade path. I actually use this module, so you can be sure there will always be a path. :)
Michelle
#8
Subscribing.
#9
After much discussion on IRC, it's apparant there's a clear blocker here. Forum replies as nodes without the proposed patch to load multiple nodes at once would be too slow. Since this patch wouldn't happen before D7 at the earliest, doing this temp fork in D6 makes no sense.
So, I'm postponing this issue for now. We'll see what makes it into core for D7 and revisit it then.
Thanks for the input everyone.
Michelle
#10
This isn't likely to happen... Closing for now.
Michelle