Addon Developer Forums - Feedback Needed

[Tex]

Addon Developers & Members:

Anyone can post your thoughts here, but I would most like to hear the opinions of those developers who have their own forum setup in the 'Addon Developer Forums' linked below...

http://orbiter-forum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=39

Right now the Addon Developer Forum permissions are set so any member may create a thread in any developers forum. Do you guys like it this way or would you rather not allow members the ability to create new threads in your forum? Members would still be able to post in threads you created, they just wouldn't be allowed to create new threads.


What are your thoughts on this? Thanks guys!

 

[Zatnikitelman]

I'm actually on the fence about this. I can see the merit of a member creating a new-more noticed topic in a forum in order to get help, however with the "most recent threads" thing at the top of the whole board, people will see the new post any ways in a specific topic. I'm leaning towards keeping new-topic permissions to just the developers, but I still see merit in allowing other users to create topics.

 

[tblaxland]

Is it possible to allow the developers (or Tex) make a support sub-forum in their developer's forum? Any member could make a post in the support area but not in the main area. Eg, like this:

Addon Developer Forums->n0madik Addons - only forum mods/developers can create threads here.

Addon Developer Forums->n0madik Addons->Support - any member can create a thread here.

Would that be too complicated to use or administer?

The other option would be to disable member thread creation and just create a sticky support thread (eg, like computerex has). The downside to this is that giving support to multiple addons through one thread could get a little confusing and difficult to search later.

 

[computerex]

Well I think the system is pretty good right now. You can post new add-on releases by creating a new thread, and provide support for that specific add-on in that thread. You can create a sticky to provide additional generic support. Since you have moderator privileges inside your forum, you can always simply merge/delete newly created threads...

 

[Andy44]

I haven't started using this system, yet, but I agree with cx. As long as you have mod privs inside your own forum it seems cool as is. (King Sh** on Turd Island LOL)

 

[n0mad23]

I hadn't realized that members could create threads in the Add On Developers Forums. I'm guessing this means it really hasn't been a problem before.

I'm quite content with the way it currently is. If there's an issue here that I'm not aware of, Tblaxland's suggestion seems sound if indeed it is possible.

If it's not broken...

 

[Tex]

Is it possible to allow the developers (or Tex) make a support sub-forum in their developer's forum? Any member could make a post in the support area but not in the main area.

The other option would be to disable member thread creation and just create a sticky support thread (eg, like computerex has). The downside to this is that giving support to multiple addons through one thread could get a little confusing and difficult to search later.

Well, we could create sub-forum(s) in your dev forum, however it seems a bit much for simply using it for support threads. I like your second idea about creating a support thread for members to post in better than having another forum for it. As computerex mentioned, you can stick threads etc so you could maybe create a support thread for each addon if you expect to have alot of feedback that might be too much for a single support thread.

I hadn't realized that members could create threads in the Add On Developers Forums. I'm guessing this means it really hasn't been a problem before.

I'm quite content with the way it currently is. If there's an issue here that I'm not aware of, Tblaxland's suggestion seems sound if indeed it is possible.

If it's not broken...

Actually, it was set so members could not post new threads, only the developer could post new threads in his own forum. I recently changed this as I actually didn't realize I had it set the other way all along. I thought allowing them to create topics could be good, however I'm sure you guys don't want a lot of support threads flooding your forum. We could leave it so they can create a thread and you could then merge that thread with another thread you see fit, or we could simply not allow them the ability to create any new threads and require they use one of the support threads to post.

I do agree with Zat, I can see both having advantages and disadvantages. I can also setup those permissions on a forum by forum basis. So if one addon dev wanted it so members could post threads and another didn't for example, we could do that.

 

[tblaxland]

I do agree with Zat, I can see both having advantages and disadvantages. I can also setup those permissions on a forum by forum basis. So if one addon dev wanted it so members could post threads and another didn't for example, we could do that.

I'm sure you have a real life too, so we don't want turn this into an admin nightmare for you . On consideration of the above posts, I'd be happy to leave it the way you have it at the moment (member thread creation allowed) and we just administer our own forums.

King Sh** on Turd Island

:rofl:

 

[Russ_H]

I am not sure what is wrong but people are not finding the resources they need to answer there questions about how to make a new add-on.

I see there post in the Addon Development thread all the time and Urwumpe does a good job helping them.

Maybe the Addon Development resource needs to be off the Addon Development thread. About a year ago I was a newbie and I did not know what an sdk or an API interface was for. I also helped someone with spacecraft3 and I had forgot just how hard it is to do.

note: I am still a newbie

Russ

 

[tblaxland]

Russ_H, just to clarify, the Addon Developer Forums are a location for the Addon Developers to host their own mini-forum. This provides Addon Developers a location to host downloads and provide support for their addons.

General questions related to addon development belong in Orbiter Addons > Addon Development. Generally, other developers will assist as time and knowledge allows (I confess that a lack of both is a problem for me at times ).

 

[Bj]

I say leave it as it is. If your posing on this forum, you are intending to make the topic public and open for debate. Sometimes is just easier to use a IM when developing with multiple people. Not only that, but it is a little more private, which has its advantages and disadvantages.

I said leave it as it is because I don't personally see a demand for it, (as most of the developers are standalone anyway) but I always like the option should there be a demand later on.

 

[Tex]

I am not sure what is wrong but people are not finding the resources they need to answer there questions about how to make a new add-on.

I see there post in the Addon Development thread all the time and Urwumpe does a good job helping them.

Maybe the Addon Development resource needs to be off the Addon Development thread. About a year ago I was a newbie and I did not know what an sdk or an API interface was for. I also helped someone with spacecraft3 and I had forgot just how hard it is to do.

note: I am still a newbie

Russ

I'm sorry bud, I'm not totally following you here. We are discussing posting permissions in the individual addon dev forums, are you simply referring to the addon development forum itself or your own addon dev forum with Bj?

Your post just isn't making any sense to me... :sorry: