Topic: Status, Thanks and Apologies

[[SiNaN]]

Hello everyone,

3 months ago (now 4 months) we released the current latest version of SimplePortal, 2.3.4. It introduced a lot of long-awaited feature requests and fixed plenty of reported bugs from 2.3.3 version (unfortunately) while introducing a number of others. Despite going through a thorough testing by our Beta Testers and community, 2.3.4 ended up with a few unfortunate bugs.

The plan at the time was quickly coming up with another patch, strictly for fixing those bugs. Unfortunately my new hectic real life and, later, health problems I've been having for the past years which made me useless for long periods of time had me end up in 2 months inactivity. (now 3 months, because of health problems, again) (I have already started working on this patch, 2.3.5, and it should be ready soon)

During this long absence of mine, I proudly watched SimplePortal climb the top most popular mods list in simplemachines.org Mod Site. It has been in that list all that time and it still is, now at the 3rd position. Not only top 10 most popular mods, which only considers the past 7 days, but SimplePortal made it to the 3rd position at top 10 downloaded mods (ever) list, with a total of 108990 downloads (at the time of writing this). The latest version, 2.3.4, was downloaded over 3000 times at simplemachines.org Mod Site and over 6000 times from our downloads area.

So I wanted to give my thanks to the great SimplePortal community for their continued support. I know that the best way I can give my thanks would be to continuing developing this beautiful mod with less bugs and more features and I try my best at doing that. However, recent changes in my life, which I mentioned before, and things going a bit for worse, I was unable to. I apologize. Still, I'm alive (and grateful being so) and will try my best again and again, until I'm unable to do so.

[tomeh]

You are doing a good job, the website is cool and fun like to grow.

I am grateful for it because it's really great work. It is now one of the best and may be the best.

I greet all supported the creators of SP and thank you for your work, you have to appreciate.

[igirisjin]

Health and real life first ... virtual and digital can wait. Its a great system, and one of the main reasons I chose Simple Portal was because it was well supported by the nice people here - you have a good team around you.
All the best.
Andy

[Doctor Deejay]

You're doing a great job [SiNaN] Get well soon and I agree with Igirisjin and Tomeh, Simple Portal is awesome and great

[Glitch]

No apologies needed...

This mod is simply awesome!  A great piece of software which implements well with SMF.

Real life takes priority...especially one's health.  Relax and heal from whatever ailment...


All my best!

[tomeh]

Only one person works on SP?

[Gotipe]

I think there are a couple more but it's suren ot a big team compared to other large mods to forum platforms.

I think it's a great job and with a stable product already waiting is not much of a problem when you know what comes ahead will be as good.

It's plus for being open with the holdups with the community as well, don't know the health problem you are suffering form but can only say I hope you get better.

[[SiNaN]]

Thank you all, for your support.

We're a team of 5 here but unfortunately I'm the only developer.

[c23_Mike]

Hi there!

It is just a wonderful and great software! No hurry for the last simple bugs, they are not worth to damage your health! So just think first of you!

[BaghdadGhost]

get well and thanks for the great mod

[infostrides]

Health is wealth! It is only when you are healthy that you can bring the best you. I wish quickest recovery. Thanks for the great mod!

[sharks]

Thanks a lot for all your efforts, [SiNaN]. Your role here is pivotal for the continued success of this leading modification for SMF.

I always check the Tracker here to see how the progress is going, maybe 3 or 4 times every week. I am always looking forward to seeing an improved and bug-free SP, so if i can help in any way possible (i'm no programmer, unfortunately) please let me know. Without your involvement in this project, it might as well be classified as Legacy software since i don't see many active devs still working on SMF platform. I really hope that you will keep releasing updates for SP, although i fully understand your need for more time in your life and to care of your own health.

My sincere advice to you would be to release small bunch of fixes, like SMF team does these days. Don't wait for a huge number of fixes and new features to be implemented before releasing a next version, as the last time you took over one year between 2.3.3 and 2.3.4, which is a bad thing as it gives users the impression that you might have dropped this mod and also bugs accumulate and drive users away from your mod. I think it's also going to be less stressful for you and the small dedicated team here to make a bug-fix release every 2 or 3 months.

Good luck!

[[SiNaN]]

Again, thank you guys for your support. I really appreciate it. And thank you sharks, for your kind suggestions. I'll be sure to make the most of them.

[tomeh]

I am also of the opinion that it is better to spend more updates and minor repairs of a problem than to wait for something bigger.

[davejo90]

I agree with everything thats been said. It's a fantastic mod and well deserved to be in the top 3.

Just keep yourself well and family close...everything else comes second....good luck to you [SiNaN]

[Eudemon]

you're doing a great job +1
health and real life come first, don't worry too much

[[SiNaN]]

Thank you!

I am also of the opinion that it is better to spend more updates and minor repairs of a problem than to wait for something bigger.

As much as I want to do quick updates, I tend to be very unstable. I may not do any work for months but may do a few months worth of work in a few days when I feel like it and have the time. We're looking into improving our development model though. Hopefully that will change things for good.