PunBB vs. Punres (Page 1 of 2)

Part of the problem is probably the mods here, including me, should really just close any topics relating to modifications with a message "get thee to Punres. I'm not entirely sure still having a modification forum here helps much either.

Interesting.  I just figure it would have been much easier and better for the community to keep it all in one place. I don't know about the whole database thing, but it just would have been and still would be far easier if they were combined.

It would make more sense to have one port of call for modifications..... punres

No I disagree on that.
I personally just use the same username and password for both bb and res.

Anyway I registered/logged in once when I joined and have never logged in again so pretty irrelevant if you ask me.

I have always considered this to be the biggest problem. Half of the mod discussions goes on in punbb.org's mod release forum, while the other half is at PunRes.

The ball is in Rickard's court though.

That makes sense Rickard.

But I have to agree that checking two sources for certain information can be a pain. Prime example...but not the only one.
PunBB PMS Topic (154)
Punres PMS Topic (163)

we can just make it a point to refer people over to Punres if the mod forum is closed.

Problems with official extensions should just go in Troubleshooting as any other PunBB problem.

My 2 cents: I'd like to see a mod release forum remain here, except with replies disabled, so that actual discussion is restricted to Punres.

The problem I have with a single, unified forum is that the official forum (this one) needs to be as close to a stock install as possible, for demonstration purposes. A separate site for mods and styles, like Punres, alllows for special additions, like the project and style system, the board stats, and the wiki.

Hi all,
  I have another suggestion...

THE ISSUE, REALLitY
  I think productivity, continuity, and time are the relevant issues here.  It is counter-productive, not to mention counter-intuitive, and overly time consuming to have to deal with similar issues cropping up and being discussed in two different places that are so intimately connected. And that this persists raises valid questions about the proprietors' thoughtfulness to things being claimed as important to them (with regard to the product).  So how does this 'add' to how punbb appeals to newcomers (considering 'the whole')?

   A glaring example of needless aforementioned waste is the (wonderful) calendar mod, which is actually posted in both forums (who knew that - I thought mods were supposed to be posted over at punres?!) - and keeping up a contiguous sensible bead on that is therefore twice as challenging and more time consuming, not to mention ridiculous - oh there I go, I mentioned it 8^P
   I don't understand why that wasn't merged over to the punres zone where it seemingly belongs as 'one thing' (unless I misunderstand the alleged protocol).  People are confused about what/which to download, and where to be discussing which/what current one... etc!

This is just silly.  And it's unprofessional.  And I think this reflects poorly on punbb.

OH WHAT TO DO?
   So Then, if
- we cannot sensibly merge the forums due to their distinct functions,
- and we cannot rely on administration hassling to be moving topics all the time,
- but we thereby have a counter-supportive factor effectively built in to this environment...
... would it possibly be an appropriate thing (coding-wise and utilitarian-wise), to at the very least create the ability in the search features at both forums to be able to search both forums from one location?
   I know this moves slightly away from 'the stock installation on the Punbb.org forum' concept, but if it was just that one little extra thing, might it overcome the 'dredge' and save us a lot of the hassle of having to keep up in two different places for certain things that really should only (need to) be in one place but it doesn't work that way? 

<BABBLE/RANT>
   I do not mind logging into two places, and enjoying the benefits of the two forums' unique offerings, but having to conduct separate searches and browsing gets to be needlessly combersome and time consuming - which also kind of rides counter to what punbb promotes about itself - slick and non-bloated and easy and smart, etc. 
   And no sooner do I obtain a bead on where I think all the relevant topics are for 'a thing' than there goes someone openning up yet another new one 'outside the designated zone' ...and because it is not moved to its 'home' I find that that kind of new thing usually gets overlooked by me for up to at least a week before I catch on... and then I find we now have two places where the same or similar issue is being discussed.   
   And its the same thing with mods and styles.  If you want to be browsing through the 'functional' aspects [mods + plugins], you necessarily have to equally wade through the 'form' aspects (styles) while you are doing it, and visa verse.    It takes up a heckova lot more of a person's time ...and its just not smart or necessary.  All that would have to be done is to better categorize and separate these things, and then better moderate where postings are going.  But I digress... this is certainly more about punres than here... however, the same sort of needless waste is going on, and its, well, needless.
</BABBLE/RANT>

  Anyway, if punbb wishes to be growing up all smart and dapper, as it really seems to be as an open source php BB (I think its killer), I think the forums here do well to be reflecting that same dapper and polish.  I offer the search mod idea as a minimalist  fix approach in the face of the proprietor(s) not wishing to merge the forums; however, if it were me I think I would change that alltogether.  Re-do it right, as one place, as it should be imnsho.

And that's my 2hawks-cents.
Cheers,
TwoHawks