UBB.Developers Forums Announcements Announcements Next Generation Product

From Infopop's newsletter:

We've begun working on a new message board product that will attempt to combine the strengths of both of our current downloadable message board products (UBB.classic and UBB.threads).

This new product, yet to be named, is being written in PHP and will run on a MySQL 4 database. It will replace both UBB.classic and UBB.threads and be Infopop's sole downloadable message board. UBB.classic and UBB.threads license-holders will be able to download the next generation product when it becomes available, so long as they have a current member area subscription for their product. We will also be ensuring that versions of UBB.classic and UBB.threads remain available in the member area well beyond the release date of the new product.

Finally, the new product is not simply an upgrade from UBB.classic and UBB.threads. This is an entirely new product and, as such, moving to it will require a data import from your existing message board. If you have a valid UBB.classic or UBB.threads license, however, you will not have to purchase a new license to use the new product!

Consolidating our development efforts on one downloadable message board should result in a better overall product, improved support, and faster development cycles. We'll release more details about the new product over the coming months, but the current projection is for a Spring 2005 release date.

To summarize:

-- The new product is being written in PHP, running on MySQL 4.

-- Your existing UBB.threads or UBB.classic license will apply to the new product.

-- New development on UBB.classic and UBB.threads will cease, with the exception of bug fixes.

-- Old versions of UBB.threads and UBB.classic will remain in the member area, even after the new product is released.

-- If you move from UBB.classic or UBB.threads to the new product, you will actually have to import your data to the new message board (it is not simply an upgrade). This means some settings/information from your current board may be lost (because not all of features/settings will be the same).

-- Release of the new product is not expected until Spring 2005.

So much for that "we'll be supporting UBB.classic for years to come". Might actually be a good thing, if they make the new product any good. UBB.classic's look and ease of use combined with a MySQL database. About time.

I just want to know if I'll be able to import my UBB.classic into it completely (polls 100% included). Otherwise it makes more sense to go with vB, I'm sure it'll be cheaper. Details, please, Charles! I want to know what will get imported, and what UBB.classic features we've grown used to, if any, will be lost.

P.S.
This product better look much better than UBB.threads, or you have little hope of getting any converts from us UBB.classic users.

So much for that "we'll be supporting UBB.classic for years to come".

We will. It'll still be in the Member Area, you can still get help for it. We won't be actively developing it, but you can sure get support for it.

As for the import process? We'll be more able to answer that when the importer has been started on. Right now we have nothing to import into.

Our goal, of course, is complete importation.

Some things won't come over in the same way, as the feature might be slightly different in the new product.

For example, it's likely that the new product will use topic-style private messages (like Classic), so for UBB.threads users, their standalone private messages will be imported into topics.

Other features might be removed or changed in some way as to make certain settings invalid (like the complexities involved in the Recent Visitors controls).

Porting the Classic model of private forum access - and password protected forums - is also going to be very interesting. We'll have to decide on either the express permission model or just shove everyone into a group upon import.

(I speak in generalities here not because I don't know what's going on, but because I don't want to give you guys information that may later become invalid.)

So is development of UBB.classic and threads officialy over now, and nothing new for these two will be released until the new product sees light of day?

Also, will this new product have a more competative price? Because php boards are a dime a dozen, most free even, and vB, the best one out there, is way, way cheaper than any UBB...

Development in terms of new features has stopped, yes. Any future releases will be for bugfixes only.

ok, so will I have to buy a new license to use this?

Oh, and will all the hacks I installed in my forum move over to the new version?

Ian, read the original announcement

If you have a valid UBB.classic or UBB.threads license, however, you will not have to purchase a new license to use the new product!

No, none of the hacks you have added to your perl based UBB.classic will carry over to your php based board.

Well, then again, anything you do wouldn't surprise me in the least, so I'll answer with "probably not easily"

Yey, now Ian has to learn more php :x...

Can't wait to play with the new code

oh yeah... if we get to vote for a new name, I vote for: ubb.über

mebbe: ubb.über v4.7

"Gizmo was here" sounds peachy... But then again just "UBB" works

I vote for "Ultimate Bulletin Board" or "UBB"

UBB.classicthreads
UBB.phpmysql
UBB.thefinalsolution
UBB.whodathunkit

First of all, I would like to say hi to everyone!

This is a step in the right direction for Infopop but I would like to list a few suggestions:

1. Coding:
The most critical shortcoming of UBB.classic is the code base. It is messy, cluttered and unorganized and although Charles did an excellent job refactoring and enhancing it, it still suffers from it's original code base.

I believe that the development team should spend a good time designing the software because the more you design now, the less you have to code later. Maybe something like MVC design pattern should help. There is no need to rush.

Also, some competitors fell into the trap of using OO syntax with function-oriented approach. So be aware

BTW, are you guys considering using PHP5 features?

2. Features:
Despite the fact that UBB.classic is outperformed in terms of features and performance by many competitors, it has features that non of them has: professional-looking interface, balanced feature set and an easy to use Admin CP. I believe that the new product should concentrate on having a good balance between features and usability.

3. Price:
As Gladius said, the price should be reconsidered as most competitors are cheaper than the current price points of UBB products.

Imaage ideas:

Note that none of these images are official, and are only my ideas of what Infopop should consider.

These image ideas are based on my former ideas for UBB.threads 7.0, but modified to keep UBB.classic users happy. Note that I also removed the subforums from my forum index idea.

• Next Generation UBB Main Index
• Next Generation UBB Forum Display
• Next Generation UBB Thread Display (flat view)
• Next Generation UBB Thread Display (threaded view)
• Next Generation UBB posting form
• Next Generation UBB search page
• Next Generation UBB User List main page
• Next Generation UBB User List
• Next Generation UBB My Home (profile area)
• Next Generation UBB My Home (private messages)

The price never really bothered me; I mean we're paying for the time and effort of the coding team to do what they do best; code. Granted it is a bit pricy they are quality products.

Pink Jazz, no offense but that's a little too "threadish" for my liking... The classic UI IMHO looks about 900% better than threads.

All I can say for "colors" in posts; I pray we have a way to disable it... Last thing i want is to visit my dark blue board and see a red post lol...

The search itself doesn't look half bad, but I keep staring at the menu system for threads; I never really liked it; classic does it fairly clean and one gets used to it; I hope that if they go to threads way of viewing things that we have an option to choose between them...

The userlist, not bad; however it looks like every-other "userlist" out there (look at PostNuke and PHPNuke for example.

I must say, I do like the My.UBB Home (I made a name! My.UBB! it'll never be used, but still )...

The new model isn't traditional MVC, but there is a clear line between the templates, the code, and the database bits.

The new codebase is mostly function-based rather than OO. OO isn't practical in PHP4. Which answers the next question.

I'll remain silent on the rest.

Wow, good to hear that

About OO in PHP4, I would have to agree but I've seen an open source application called Plog which incidently is a blogging application, it is bloody well written in a style similar to Java Struts and makes full use of OO programming.

Anyway, as long as there's a good sense of organization - whether OO or not - I'll be happy

Good luck

UBB.1337

Some of that stuff is pretty good, PinkJazz.

To be fair, I had to include elements of Classic, Threads, and eve. Whlie most people prefer the UBB.classic look over UBB.threads, there are those who prefer the look of UBB.threads. For modernization, I included elements of eve (such as those dynamic drop down menus).

True, but they're trying to replicate classic's look.

Also, while I am one of the one's who love Eve's javascript menus, I strongly doubt they will be included in UBB.1337. Well, at least some of my hacks can be carried over.

I do really like the main page of the user list.

Allright, it's official: The name is going to be:

UBB: The Two Towers

I can't wait to see the finished product!

oooh, purdy... now to login...

UBB.extreme

I was just getting used to PERL, now I have to learn about PHP and mySQL.

It's not like PHP is difficult or anything

UBB: The Return of the King sounds better.

"UBB: We where here first"

How about blUBBer since it ain't worth fightin over? (OK, I got kids...so what!)

Seriously...the moniker NG has been popular with my company (Next Generation). I've always thought it was overused but UBB.NG has a ring don't you think?

Or how about UBB.Forum...Not to put too fine a point on it...

I'm still a fan of stipping a subname and just having it "UBB"; it's what it was in the first place lol

My first message here!
I think "UBB" is the best name; it is simple, it is clear and it is so powerful that it would make the other forum coders say "Oh no, again UBB!!!".

Now to attatch two huge monster feet, an earthquake generator, and a soundbox capable of outputting "GRAWR"

Ok, so here is my delima...

My license expires this fall, yet I don't seem to be able to purchase an upgrade anymore. Have they cancelled new purchases pending the new software, or are they just temporarily not selling them for some reason?

The ordering system should be completely uneffected, other than the current Member Area renewal sale. Please open a support ticket and explain there the exact nature of the problems you're encountering.

Yikes and a ***BIG GULP***

I get nervous whenever I upgrade my board ... I can't imagine how I'll be to do a conversion to an entirely different kind of board!


But I'll say this--if this new board will relieve some of the stress that the current UBB.classic can place on a server, I'm all for it.

just make sure you get your host to increase the timeout during the upgrade like it did last time

The last UBB I downloaded was version 5.. I hope I can still renew my account.. Anyways, I agree with the name "UBB". Ultimate Bulletin Board.. Why anything else?

Licenses are indefinate, only member area access expires; which can always be renewed with a valid license.

THAT'S what I want to know about... I JUST purchased a lifetime UBB Member Area/License deal within the last year, and I am wondering if BOTH the license AND the support will carry over...

Thanks,
Clay

PS - I think the DB backend and new codebase will be a killer combo!

Both will.

I do too. Nothings better than UBB Clasic. Now, Infopop has yet to prove me wrong, before I change my board over.eh? And, I hate PHPBB had so much troubble with that board.

However, Infopop going to something php? That is bound to be better than stupid other php boards out there!

Now, there's just one thing I want on the new product. That is an admin and moderator cpanel links that appear (only) under a member account that is set up as an admin level rank or moderator ranks.

My Phpbb board had a link to the admin panel that appeared (only) for those who were set as admin level rank members. Thats something my UBB Classic does not have : :rolleyes:

Let's have stuff like this on the new product. Also what's with not being able to hide the forums from guest, and members accept only being able to restrict access via password? That is something I want to see changed in the new Infopop build of php type product before I chage over. Just something to think about!!

"Now, there's just one thing I want on the new product. That is an admin and moderator cpanel links that appear (only) under a member account that is set up as an admin level rank or moderator ranks."

Ok. Done. That was easy.

" Also what's with not being able to hide the forums from guest"

Ok. Done.


You'll want to check out the .threads feature list. Remember this product is a merger of all that's good in both .classic and threads.

A lot of the stuff you're looking for is already acounted for.

Here is what else I have thought about for the new product. On my phpbb board I used to run, I had away to set up usergroups and set permissions of indivual forums via usergroups.

For example: My usergroup "Global Moderators" was set as a moderator of each forum. This meant that anyone who was a member of that group could moderate any forum in the board.

There are a lot of features in phpbb I miss that I do not have the use of in UBB Classic 6.7.2

There isn't a "user groups" feature for the UBB; however there is a Global Moderators (MegaModerators) modification located in the mod forum.

Also, if you need a feature, file a request.

What mod forum? I dont have a mod forum or an admin forum in this new UBB Board of mine. However i can create these two forums on the new board.

What I am talking about is the usergroups permissions feature to be set as mod of any forum or forums I choose. It would enable me to add new members to the group and their permissions will be updated via the usergroups persmissions set up.

He was asking about the new software, which will have user groups, as threads currently has it.

Ahh, I was talking about THIS software (UBB.Classic 6.7.2) in the UBBDev mod forum has a modification for Global Moderators.

As for features of the new product, as Charles stated, if it's in either of the two downloadable products (UBB.Classic or UBB.Threads) it should make it into the new product (so long as it doesn't break cache).

I don't believe that they're focusing on any "new" features for the first release of new product, so if it's not a feature now it'd probably be unlikely to be one.

But as Ian stated, it's in Threads so it should be in new product.

Yes, Devin, it's already in threads, so it'll be in the new product as well.

Gee, that was so easy.

Good News then I will most likely upgrade to the new product then if I can have all of the cool stuff that threads has plus the totally awsome customizable features that UBB Classic has!

Yeh, should be good times for all when the new product comes out; I can't wait .

Anyone have an update or more specific release date?

It's awesome and Spring 2005

I searched but couldn't find and info on new webhost requirements (in addition to PHP4 and MySQL4).

Will it be significantly different?
Will it cost more assuming full transfer of all threads?

It's a cross between Threads and Classic. It won't be any more different than Threads is to Classic.

It will probably cost more, although any current owner of a license will already have a license for the new software.

Thanks Ian, but I was referring to webhosting costs

As long as your host meets the requirements (PHP 4.3+, MySQL4.0+), there should be no other costs involved on that side.

Will this new UBB be able to compete with vB3 and IPB2? Will it be resonably priced? If the answers to those questions are yes and UBB is making a long awaited comback, then as soon as it is out I will gladly switch over from my vB to UBB because I have always liked UBB but I thought you guys were done and out, especialy when you came out with that eve crap and I thought that was your next big thing, those hosting options are the most ridiculously over priced hosting options I have ever seen in my life. I dont care if they came with UBB.x the prices were outrageous. UBB.classic and UBB.threads are both over priced considering they can barely compeat with phpBB let alone vBulletin and IPB. I cant wait to see what you guys come up with hopfuly it will bring UBB back to the top

Unfortunately, I belive it will be about the same price as Threads. But remember: QUALITY OVER QUANTITY!

we have no information on this yet. It could very well be aligned on the price of ubb.classic or even cheaper in order to compete head to head with vb.

One thing we can count on is our licenses for both products being able to be converted to the new product without any additional charge.

This means that if you have a license with either product that you'll be able to just pay a member area renewal to download the new product (from what I got out of the anouncement anyway).

Thats very disapointing...still I imagin it's January and demos of this new product should be released soon so, when they are I guess that will be the deciding factor if I switch to UBB. I rember that before I learned webdesign and coding I loved UBB forums. Once I had learned webdesign and coding eveyone I asked had instructed me that UBB was unreasonably expensive, blew and was no longer the top forum softwear and to either go with IPB or vB and I went with vB.

Well, I figure it like this; you get a base package from Infopop and you can apply modifications to it with the large community here at UBBDev... No feature? ask for a mod ... Heck, that's how some mod's make it as a feature...

Are any of the betas on the web yet for us to see and play with?

I couldn't wait and made the switch to VB. I'm a long time supporter of UBB.Classic ever since version 5.x came out. I upgraded to 6.5 when it came out, was planning to do a 6.7 upgrade but waited until the smilie mod to come out and upgrade. The mod showed up on UBBDev, but it was an incorrect link, so I PM'ed one of the staff members and posted in the thread to ask for the correct link. No one replied to my post or PM (PM was read BTW), and I waited for months. I really hope you guys can come up with something good, because VB is years and years ahead of UBB from what I can see.

Steven replied to my post on Infopop Nation that the next-gen product is in private beta currently. "Private beta," I would assume, entails the number of people who are allowed to download and install the product. But the whole point of a beta is to get it tested by a decent number of people...

So...

Does anyone have a viewable site running from the next-gen product yet? Can you provide links to said site?

My users are starting to demand that I move away from Eve because of the slowness (no matter how much I personally may like it), so I need to start thinking about alternatives. And I'm hoping the next-gen downloadable will be my solution. So if anyone's got a site I can look at just for a basic overview of the script, I would greatly appreciate it.

EDIT: I was impatient and didn't read the few recent posts about the same question. Sorry. You'd think having as many posts as I do would automatically preclude me from making n00b mistakes like that. Apparently not. Anyhoo... if anything's changed since the last time someone asked for a demo site... you know what to do.

---Jamin

Wow... apparently my post has been deleted from Infopop Nation. God forbid I mention the fact that my users think Eve is slow. Even with that whole paragraph about how much I personally love Infopop, too.

I'm so glad I got a warning and all. (Oh, wait, I didn't...)

I'm really not sure what to say at this point.

I guess this sorta says something about my loyalty to Infopop...

---Jamin

According to the Infopop News Letter there is a "feature complete" date towards the end of March. As for Private Beta think of it as an alpha period to assist in coding of the overall project (finding bugs, requesting updates etc).

At this time there are 0 public beta boards to tinker with; however, some of them will be:
http://www.undergroundnews.com/
http://www.ianspence.com/
http://www.nightly.net/

and possibly flave?

you mean flare

oh, did they change their logo?

I've been using vBulletin for so long now.. I think Infopop starting thinking about too many different things to maintain their lead. They started it all.. I hope they come back with another great product...

Hey Sal How are the 80's treating you?

Hi Allen! Oh, God.. There's so much drama there.. The site is still doing well, but my new baby is the Cadillac site.. Boy, did that thing take off like a rocket.. Otherwise.. You're the only reason I stuck with UBB for so long when I did.. You made my boring message board something very interesting.. Thank you.

You're welcome Good to see you around, come see us again in a couple months when we have something to show off

I'll be waiting.. I signed up to be a beta tester but somebody went insane and decided not to get back to me. heh. I've only been using these message boards since the mid 80s. (Yes, before the internet as we know it)

I've been watching this Next Gen thing rather intensely for a while now, and it's very exciting!

Maybe someone can clear up one question I have... I know a lot is still up in the air, but if "feature complete" is supposed to be near the end of March, what would that mean exactly? Public beta? Or should we expect to wait into April or beyond for a public beta?

I know private beta is going on now, and it's great to know that bugs are being worked out, but even though I've been keeping an eye on the private beta sites I know of, I still haven't managed even a tiny peek at anything NG. Should we expect something to "pop up" (in unfinished form) before the end of March, or am I getting this all backwards?

I'm fine with being patient, just want to get a better handle on what sort of timeline we're looking at.

It's housed in an underground facility. You wont be seeing it until public beta at the soonest. Heck, just the other day a photographer was trying to take pictures and Capps shot him dead.

That Capps... you gotta be careful around that dude... he broke my arm one time for trying to get a picture of Infopop's top-secret next-gen graemlin technology.

I KNOW YOU HAVE IT, INFOPOP!!! I WILL NOT REST UNTIL GRAEMLINS 2.0 IS MINE!!!

---Jamin

*evil, bone-chilling cackle*

:puts feather away: it wasn't me!

Is this product still to be released in the spring? Any place we can go to read more information? Anyone testing the product current? Will it be cheaper?

So many questions....So many questions...

I will be looking forward to it..

Will it be released in the spring: As far as I know

Anwhere we can go to read more info: There is an announcement at UBBCentral about the new product, nothing has been said since then.

Anyone testing the product: There is a beta team.

Will it be cheaper: If I told you I'd have to kill you.

I don't think it's going to be released until "next generation".

Is there any way to be automatically notified when this new product is ready? I'd like to be amongst the first to run it.