Soon the site will be migrated to the next version of phpBB, version 3.0 "Olympus." In preparation for the migration, a test version is available for feedback and bugs reports. It includes new features and an updated look. You can help by trying the various functions that you normally use and reporting if there are any errors or just something that doesn't work as you expect.

Note: The main "live" forum and the test forum run from two separate databases. Nothing you enter there will be preserved. The test site is a copy of the live site from today; your login/password will work on the test site if you haven't changed it very recently.

The test site is available here: http://www.home-barista.com/forums3/ (link intentionally suppressed)

So, it's just like the new stuff at coffeed?

I dig it.

Common complaints over there were things like not enough contrast of colors, and aesthetic things like that.

Just something to look out for.

Yes, coffeed and HB are both based on phpBB, though I've customized it with my favorite tweaks from the last three years (e.g., related topics, simplified image uploading instead of generic "attachments", topic URLs, etc.). Randy G. already mentioned the color choices in the test forum; I'm trying to keep an open mind because it's easy to get locked into the same habits.

My bigger concerns are performance and bugs. The phpBB version 3 database conversion is one way... so best to get the bugs out before going live because there's no turning back.

First impression : change for change sake.

Just like bloody Vista, move all the stuff around to what end.

cafeIKE wrote:First impression : change for change sake.

Yeah, I've tracked the follow-on version for over a year and thought the same thing many times. The majority of the "interesting" features are geared towards heavily moderated forums. For example, reporting posts and moderated posts (i.e., approval required). Some of the new user features are modestly interesting, e.g., bookmarking and friends/foes. While not proven, the phpBB developers claim the new version scales better than the old one. Assuming the CSS is cached correctly, it's hopefully true since the actual unique page content is significantly lower with the new version.

Can I have a telnet interface

Dan anyway to get the new features while keeping closer to the traditional/classic look? The new look is pretty bold (user info on the right?!?!:shock:)and I suppose it will grow on me but I do prefer the looks of the forums now. Then again its what I'm used too and I don't take change well (ask the Mrs.).

cafeIKE wrote:Can I have a telnet interface

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.coffee/

TimEggers wrote:...I do prefer the looks of the forums now.

Sorry, I can't take credit or blame for the template style; all I do is tweak the colors slightly from the standard phpBB V3 look. My reaction was the same as yours, but it has grown on me (mostly), even the avatars on the right.

I'm curious why the "view your own posts" link is so prominent? ("egosearch" cute)

You can get that info easily from the user control panel.

Also the 'forum home' link is a repetition of the link above (in the horizontal brown line of links under the header)

Regards, Henry

hbuchtel wrote:I'm curious why the "view your own posts" link is so prominent?

That's standard phpBB. It's not in the current live board and I can't say that I miss it ("egosearch" is also their keyword choice).

hbuchtel wrote:Also the 'forum home' link is a repetition of the link above (in the horizontal brown line of links under the header)

In the standard template that space is for a navigation "breadcrumb trail," i.e., forum index > general (category) > forum name. That's handy if a mega board uses nested forums, but HB doesn't need it because its structure is flat. Since the "forum home" link shows up in the bottom link, I figured it is symmetrical.

For the record, the current board has the same thing.