Is there a date for all this to occur?

I may have missed it in all the threads and posts, and for sure have not read them all. If I missed it - apologies, if I didn't how about sharing it with us? It appears to be a done deal, so assume there would be a target date.

Bob A L said:

I may have missed it in all the threads and posts, and for sure have not read them all. If I missed it - apologies, if I didn't how about sharing it with us? It appears to be a done deal, so assume there would be a target date.

Click to expand...

No worries, it's a great question!

We are taking this step by step, so an official date has not been announced yet.

The first step was to reach out to our immediate active forum community, answer questions and concerns (like Ben's letter), and then expand from there to broader announcements if we're ready to do so.

For the moment, we are just focusing on your feedback while we make adjustments where we can and need to. We also hope to show you more of the new forum system and how it works with migrated test data (if that's something you are interested in).

Once we get closer to a launch date, certainly within a few days of it, we will give you more concrete estimates on when to expect the migration to happen.

Mathew,

I'd be happy to be an early evaluator if you are looking for volunteers. But I would caution you to give more than 'a few days' notice of the change over. A project of this size should, if professionally done, have a project plan you can follow with migration dates planned months ahead.

Just FYI, I was a systems architect with DEC, Compaq and the HP doing multi million pound data centre migrations - so have some experience in that area

cheers

Alan

Alan Sh said:

Mathew,

I'd be happy to be an early evaluator if you are looking for volunteers. But I would caution you to give more than 'a few days' notice of the change over. A project of this size should, if professionally done, have a project plan you can follow with migration dates planned months ahead.

Just FYI, I was a systems architect with DEC, Compaq and the HP doing multi million pound data centre migrations - so have some experience in that area

cheers

Alan

Click to expand...

Thanks for the offer, we will take you up on that!

The change over of course will occur after our planning and development, and testing, has concluded. Much of having already been in development for some time now.

I should note though that even after all that, once it launches, there will certainly be tweaks and adjustments needed then as well. We appreciate feedback at all stages!

Mathew Anderson said:

We are taking this step by step, so an official date has not been announced yet.

Click to expand...

How about a rough timeline - are looking into weeks, months or years before the changeover?

I normally visit many times per day, so I should find out when it happens, but the suspense ...

Kjeld Olesen said:

Mathew Anderson said:

We are taking this step by step, so an official date has not been announced yet.

Click to expand...

How about a rough timeline - are looking into weeks, months or years before the changeover?

I normally visit many times per day, so I should find out when it happens, but the suspense ...

Click to expand...

Let me ask the team what we can say here...

Mathew Anderson said:

Mathew Anderson wrote:
Let me ask the team what we can say here...

Click to expand...

Two days later ... apparently the team is speechless.
Cheers,
Ralf

Give them a chance. It's been a weekend; not unreasonable for the team to have a life outside DPR.

Addlepate said:

Give them a chance. It's been a weekend; not unreasonable for the team to have a life outside DPR.

Click to expand...

Why? Us posters dont have that luxury

Addlepate said:

Give them a chance. It's been a weekend; not unreasonable for the team to have a life outside DPR.

Click to expand...

I plea guilty as charged. I keep counting in patience.
Cheers,
Ralf

Ralf B said:

Addlepate said:

Give them a chance. It's been a weekend; not unreasonable for the team to have a life outside DPR.

Click to expand...

I plea guilty as charged. I keep counting in patience.
Cheers,
Ralf

Click to expand...

Ineed, thank you for allowing us a weekend to breath .

We're still working on final dates. For the moment, our priority is to get you a FAQ with your questions answered, and then a walkthrough or two of the new forums.

Mathew Anderson said:

Ralf B said:

Addlepate said:

Give them a chance. It's been a weekend; not unreasonable for the team to have a life outside DPR.

Click to expand...

I plea guilty as charged. I keep counting in patience.
Cheers,
Ralf

Click to expand...

Ineed, thank you for allowing us a weekend to breath .

We're still working on final dates. For the moment, our priority is to get you a FAQ with your questions answered, and then a walkthrough or two of the new forums.

Click to expand...

Mathew, I’m really looking forward to the changes. The current forum software, while familiar, is clearly outdated. As someone who has been involved in software conversions for more than 29 years, my advice would be to switch when you’re 80% sure it’s going to work, and then be prepared to rapidly fix the inevitable bugs that only appear on edge cases.

--
Travel, photography and gear: fcracer.com

fcracer said:

..... The current forum software, while familiar, is clearly outdated. ....

Click to expand...

I am not really sure why it is outdated - it works superior to all other forums that I visit.

Kjeld Olesen said:

fcracer said:

..... The current forum software, while familiar, is clearly outdated. ....

Click to expand...

I am not really sure why it is outdated - it works superior to all other forums that I visit.

Click to expand...

In a way, all forum software is outdated, mainly because it serves a customer base that has been in decline for around twenty years now. Not that there was ever a ton of money in forum software, but the pickings were never as slim as they are today. And as a natural consequence of this, the overall pace of development, let alone innovation, has slowed from a crawl to a virtual stand-still.

Put another way, you can't possibly chase the shiny new thing in forum software, because there hasn't been a shiny new thing since 2008

Kjeld Olesen said:

I am not really sure why it is outdated - it works superior to all other forums that I visit.

Click to expand...

————

The history and evolution of internet discussion forum software traces the development of online communities, from text-based precursors to modern, feature-rich web applications. Key stages include early bulletin board systems, the emergence of web-based forums in the 1990s, and the shift towards integrated community platforms in the 21st century.

Precursors: BBS and Usenet (1970s–1980s)
Before the widespread adoption of the World Wide Web, the foundational software for online discussion emerged from two systems:

• Bulletin Board Systems (BBS): These were computer servers that users accessed directly via dial-up modems.
Software features: Early software enabled users to read news, post messages on public message boards, and exchange private messages.
Pioneers: The first public BBS, the Computerized Bulletin Board System (CBBS), was launched in 1978 in Chicago.
• Usenet: Developed in 1980, Usenet was a distributed network of news servers that enabled users to post and read messages in topical newsgroups.
Software features: Unlike a central server-based BBS, Usenet used peer-to-peer communication between servers. This allowed for threaded, asynchronous discussions on a global scale.

Legacy: Usenet popularized many features and concepts, such as threaded conversations and FAQs, that later became standard in forum software.

The rise of web-based forums (1990s–early 2000s)
The emergence of the World Wide Web provided a graphical, more accessible medium for discussion forums. This era was defined by dedicated web applications that managed user-generated content.

• Early pioneers: The first web-based forum software, the WIT project, was developed by the W3 Consortium in 1994. Delphi Forums, launched in 1983, transitioned successfully to the web and remains active today.
• Software packages: A wave of popular, dedicated software packages allowed anyone to create a forum with features like user profiles and enhanced moderation tools. Key examples include:
phpBB: One of the most common free, open-source options, still widely recommended.
vBulletin: A powerful, commercial software known for its robust features and reliability.
Invision Community: A commercial suite offering a variety of community tools in addition to forums.
ProBoards: A hosted, free forum service launched in 2000 that offered easy setup for amateur enthusiasts.

Integration with social media (mid-2000s–2010s)
The rise of large social media networks and Web 2.0 shifted the landscape, as forum-like features became integrated into broader social platforms.

• Social media dominance: Platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn created integrated groups functionality, centralizing discussion within their walled gardens.
• Specialized platforms: Niche and specialized communities found new homes on platforms like:
Reddit: Its subreddit system allowed for forums focused on very specific topics, combining features of forums and social media.
Stack Overflow: A forum dedicated specifically to technical discussions for developers.
Discord: Evolved from gaming chat rooms into a flexible platform for real-time, interest-based groups.

Modern platforms (2010s–present)
Modern forum software has moved towards more sophisticated, cloud-based, and mobile-friendly solutions, while still serving distinct purposes.

• Enterprise focus: Tools like Vanilla Forums and XenForo offer advanced features for businesses and larger communities, often with premium price tags.
• Hosted and SaaS: The popularity of hosted software-as-a-service (SaaS) options, like Website Toolbox, simplifies the technical aspects for website owners.
• Open-source innovation: New open-source projects like Flarum and the re-imagined Discourse continue to push development forward by modernizing interfaces and features.
• Advanced features: Today's forum software includes modern capabilities such as:
Real-time chat and updates
Mobile-responsive interfaces
Single Sign-On (SSO) and social logins
Integrated moderation and analytics tools

↑ https://www.google.com/search?udm=50&aep=11

Don't know anything about the technical aspects of designing forums, but do know that being involved in forums on the internet for several different hobbies, vocations, and interests, I have never seen a forum layout or design I liked as well as the dpr forum. The design of this forum in threaded view is what has kept me coming back to this forum for at least 25+ years. I find no equal on the net.

Locking this thread as the question has been answered. Thanks all!