New Release + Project Updates
So, a progress update is waaaaaay overdue but at least I come offering something good. For those not wanting to read the rest of this post, jump straight to the downloads and get the new release. For everyone else, I'm going to start from the beginning...
Google Summer of Code:
If it wasn't evident, we did not make the cut for the Google SoC program. There were not any particular reason why we didn't make the cut, there are just very limited numbers and lots of high quality people applying. The SoC organizers actually really liked our project and encouraged us to apply again next year. They suggested improving our ideas page. You can also see a copy of the application (notes) at: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgw897rb_10cx28khgq
Translations:
We have a new Bulgarian translation available now and there have also been updates to a few others. You can see more at http://projectpier.org/project/Translations
Website/Infrastructure Updates:
* Spam - You may have noticed a change in the mechanisms for posting on the website. Instead of having to answer a CAPTCHA on every post, I have implemented a system that first checks the post for its level of spaminess, and only prompts you for a captcha if it detects something. This should be much more convenient for everyone.
* Mailing List archives - If you haven't been participating in the mailing list discussions, you're really missing out in general but you also probably didn't notice discussions about improving our archive options. So, I have setup archives on several other locations. Please see http://projectpier.org/node/397 for more info.
* Live Support - some of you have already noticed it and it seems to have been useful. I have implemented an interface on the website to connect to the IRC channel where a good chunk of developers regularly hang out and talk. This interface allows people a means to get some real time help with their problems. Its not active 100% of the time, but often enough so come have a chat and help out other users while you wait.
Request for Help:
Based on the delay is actually posting this update and getting out this latest release, it should be obvious that we need more people helping with the project in order to make good progress (at a quicker pace). We really need people in all areas of the project - documentation, marketing, support, development, testing, etc. Developers are probably an obvious need, but all contributions are equally important. I will be posting a more detailed request for help soon, with some specific roles that I would like to fill but if you have ideas about what you'd like to work on, please let us know and just jump in. Thanks!
New Release:
Finally, a small overdue gift. We have published version 0.8.0.3 of ProjectPier, a new maintenance release which we encourage all existing users to upgrade to. This version primarily corrects some email notification problems and fixes a problem with dates and timezones. Please visit the ProjectPier page to download the latest version.
I have contributed a couple of patches, and some browsing through the issue tracker indicates many more that appear very useful and will go a long way towards moving the project forward.
Why aren't these being integrated into the trunk? Whose controlling the commits? You call for additional support, but it's discouraging when you contribute something and there is no follow up.
I appreciate everything that's been done to start this project and pick up where AC left off, and I had very high hopes when things got moving. But the glacial pace of progress is very discouraging and I am looking around for other collaboration tool options. Is there at least a roadmap in place?
@LouBabe - I could only find one patch from you, regarding email notification for tasks. There is another patch that is supposed to do the same thing, and I haven't had enough time to investigate each one to determine which is better. I don't believe either of them have been tested much by other developers either. Do you have any other patches I am un-aware of?
This situation is often the reason why some patches have not been committed yet. We need more people to be able to test patches and provide feedback before they get committed. Also, any new functionality is being committed to the trunk and is not being released as part of the 0.8.0 branch.
As for the roadmap, you can see http://projectpier.org/roadmap for some ideas, though it hasn't been updated recently. There is also a very active discussion going on the development mailing list about how to move forward with things. There is also a very long post by myself about the path going forward. Please see the archives and/or subscribe to be part of the discussion.
I also understand that it can be discouraging when contributions are not followed up, and that is one of the areas I'm hoping to get more help with. Unfortunately, both myself and the other core committer have been overly busy the last few months which explains the lack of quick progress, but the more people like yourself that are able to contribute by testing other people's patches, adding documentation, supporting other users, and submitting your own patches and other avenues of support will lighten the workload of moving the project forward. There is a lot of potential to improve and its always good to get more feedback.
Thanks!
Dude!
man you came up with a new release and I did not get any message!
This would have been an Email I would be glad to have it in my inbox :)
drupal has this awesome newsletter module: http://drupal.org/project/simplenews
cheers - i'll check out the new version now.
lg
Ben