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Opinion on my new site format? Trying keep it simple...
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MrCat

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Opinion on my new site format? Trying keep it simple...
« on December 19th, 2013, 08:32 PM »
I'm planning a new forum and a lot of my members will come from Facebook groups where they're used to simplicity without all the usual forum options.
I'm going to have my theme and template super simple and easy to use.

The thing is, in Facebook groups, 90 percent post a photo and others comment on it, so it needs to be 'gallery based' rather than purely discussion based.

What is the best software combination to use? Of course I'd love to get hold of Wedge but that's obviously not an option at the moment.
I have experience with SMF and Aeva gallery but I'm a little scared of using Aeva since updates have ended and I know of at least one bug that can be annoying.

The other option is phpBB with Gallery attached (better or worse than SMF with Aeva?)

I'm aiming for one way to post: not forum in one section, and gallery in another.
I could make it forum based and people post photo attachments in the board, but when someone posts a photo it doesn't automatically add to the gallery (like Facebook does).
I could make it purely gallery based and hide the forum, but then a post can ONLY be started with a photo and not a question. Maybe possible to alter the format with a lot of work?

To top it off everyone has got used to the 'Like' system and neither forum seems to have a good MOD for that.

Any ideas on the best base I should use? Should I favour SMF because it may be easier to convert to Wedge later on?

Pandos

  • Living on the edge of Wedge
  • Posts: 635
Re: Opinion on my new site format? Trying keep it simple...
« Reply #1, on December 19th, 2013, 08:40 PM »
So... you should stay at Wedge.
Because... :)
  • It's possible to post to gallery and start a topic from there
  • It's possible to change the layout of your board (e.g. Article/Blog/Forum)
  • AeMe Wedge update is easy. You don't have to change a single line of code. (No more hassle with custom themes)
  • There is no other forum that will be feature complete as Wedge will be (it's a CMS where C stands for Community)
There are ways more arguments to use Wedge. Just look a bit around. If there's something that's missing, simply ask.
# dpkg-reconfigure brain
error: brain is not installed or configured

MrCat

  • Posts: 14
Re: Opinion on my new site format? Trying keep it simple...
« Reply #2, on December 19th, 2013, 09:08 PM »
Thanks Pandos

There's only one problem. I'd like to get started ASAP and there's no indication on a release date (notice I'm not asking for one :))

I read using a test version on a live site would not be recommended.
 

Pandos

  • Living on the edge of Wedge
  • Posts: 635
Re: Opinion on my new site format? Trying keep it simple...
« Reply #3, on December 19th, 2013, 09:15 PM »
So Wedge should be released very soon. Jan/Feb 2014 (Nao's timeshift :niark:).
And you can believe me: it's way more stable, feature complete and secure than SMF :)

There are some things under the hood that should have to be done first. But nothing that can stop you from taking Wedge to running your live site.
It's worth to wait. If not, I'll buy you a beer.  :yahoo:

Farjo

  • "a valuable asset to the community"
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MrCat

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CMOBOSS

  • Posts: 1
Re: Opinion on my new site format? Trying keep it simple...
« Reply #6, on December 20th, 2013, 10:15 AM »
I've come to learn that the World is full of bugs & errors.
Nothing is wrong with the aeva script, it wors fine.
Read the code, think about what you're error(s) mean, and you will find your solution.
When you do, you'll smack your forehead, and laugh at your self.

It's all part of learning. If you're not willing to put forth the effort to search, learn, and trouble shoot code, then DO NOT be an administrator, be a moderator, pay someone else to do what you're not willing/able/wanting to do.

As for this script... I have a couple domains sitting around I will enjoy this for sure once/if it comes out :) 

Pandos

  • Living on the edge of Wedge
  • Posts: 635
Re: Opinion on my new site format? Trying keep it simple...
« Reply #7, on December 20th, 2013, 10:51 AM »
Quote from Farjo on December 20th, 2013, 01:17 AM
Coppermine has a forum plugin, maybe a gallery with an add-on board is the way forward?
Perhaps I'm wrong, but I see some problems with this solution.
A gallery is in need of an real existing directory.  You will start to see serious performance degradation over about 20,000 files in a directory.
So there must be some way (e.g. autoextended directories) to get this to a real working solution.
IMHO there's no way you can do it with "bridged" systems.

Nao

  • Dadman with a boy
  • Posts: 16,080
Re: Opinion on my new site format? Trying keep it simple...
« Reply #8, on December 20th, 2013, 03:33 PM »
Quote from Pandos on December 19th, 2013, 09:15 PM
So Wedge should be released very soon. Jan/Feb 2014 (Nao's timeshift :niark:).
Technically, the *source code* will be made public, as well as the import tool (well, this one already is out, basically), making it possible for ubergeeks to play with it on their forum.
An 'official' package release, however, isn't in my plans right now. I'm waiting to get more feedback, and then I'll look into it.
Heck, even the installer was horribly broken following my partial removal of theme code. I had to write multiple fixes for it yesterday, ah ah, what fun.
Quote from Pandos on December 19th, 2013, 09:15 PM
And you can believe me: it's way more stable, feature complete and secure than SMF :)
More stable, I don't know. More feature complete, for sure, as SMF wants to be 'just a forum'. More secure, I'll trust Pete on that one, but since he's working on SMF now, I guess Wedge and SMF will soon be even on that point.
Still, Wedge's main selling point is that it's effing cool. 8-)

MrCat

  • Posts: 14
Re: Opinion on my new site format? Trying keep it simple...
« Reply #9, on December 21st, 2013, 07:17 PM »
I'm still investigating doing it the other way round: Gallery software with attached forum, but nothing stands out as being the obvious choice yet. I guess it's a case of installing multiple systems and playing around.
Pandos, sounds like I need to be careful with how many photos a particular system can handle then. Of course I have no idea how popular my new forum will be but I don't want to go down a dead-end road and have it stall because it's too full!
CMOBOSS, I know what you're saying and I enjoy studying code, but it's just that my family life has been suffering lately when I spend all day on the computer :lol:
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