Re: Re : Giving FUDforum a new look |
Fri, 02 August 2013 14:35 |
|
First, let me tell you about my plugin idea.
The current design that I'm working toward would be laid out like this forum:
http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/
I don't mean necessarily the look of it. I mean the physical layout. Notice the column on the right. My idea is to support plugins that can run there as modules. You could install/enable/disable the plugins in the plugins section. If there are no plugins to run, the column would collapse. If there are plugins, then they would be displayed in the column.
I have two plugins already written: recent posts and hot posts
I also envision a generic HTML plugin that would display whatever HTML you put in it. (e.g. you could make a Welcome to FUDforum box like they have in VBulletin's forum)
One question I have is that if I have three plugins that all want to display their wares, where do I tell FUDforum what order to display them in? Here's my current thought:
- We create a special plugin type (e.g. module). To be that plugin type, you have to have be named Module:Module Name
- We create a section in the global config that queries all plugins that begin with Module: and lists them
- You are given a table where you enter the order number that each should go in
- You are given a choice about whether you want to display the modules on the left or the right
- You are given a choice about whether you want them only on the front page, or on all pages
What do you think?
|
|
Re: Re : Giving FUDforum a new look |
Fri, 02 August 2013 14:51 |
|
Also, what do you like/not like about these other forum layouts/designs?
http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php
http://community.invisionpower.com
https://www.phpbb.com/community/viewforum.php?f=49
http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/
One thing I like is that the menu system is left to right. That's pretty standard, and I've never understood why FF puts the menu system (Members, Calendar, Search, etc) on the right.
I really like vBulletin's style. Clean, crisp, and bright.
I also really like IPS community. Different than vBulletin, but still bright and cheery.
I think phpBB's style is kind of the opposite of that. I think it and FF's border colors are dark and foreboding.
Note that all of them use only two colors in their sites (not counting the multicolor phpbb logo). Everything is a shade of one color or the other.
I know these colors can be adjusted. I'm just focusing on the default colors and wanting them to be very pleasing, because I think most people don't change them.
One feature that FF has that none of these have is the ability to collapse forums. Not sure how important that is to you guys.
Do you have any other fora that you've seen that you like the design of? Post links!
|
|
|
Re : Giving FUDforum a new look |
Fri, 02 August 2013 16:54 |
|
I don't think the issues that people are having with vBulletin have anything to do with its default skin, though.
There are a few consistencies between the ones you point out:
- The use of blue as the other color (except your custom skin)
- The use of rounded corners
Interesting that XenForo uses that yellow/orange color instead of a gray variant as their other color.
XenForo also gives some interesting ideas on other modules we can put in the plugins column. (Who's Online, Forum Stats, Social Media)
|
|
Post by Parrot is ignored |
Re: Re : Giving FUDforum a new look |
Sun, 11 August 2013 22:09 |
|
I am in final negotiations w/the developers now. Once we agree on scope, etc, I'll have something to show you. Thanks for reaching out!
|
|
|
|
Post by joferma0 is ignored |
|
|
|
|
Re: Re : Re: Re : Giving FUDforum a new look |
Tue, 14 January 2014 21:00 |
|
Any new developments or mock ups ready to show? If you need any funding drop me a PM. I'm no developer but I have a sandbox for testing for anything that comes along.
Cheers!
|
|
|
Re: Re : Re: Re : Giving FUDforum a new look |
Tue, 18 March 2014 17:34 |
|
OK, officially contracted the guy last night. I've got high hopes here. He's very experienced w/developing for vbulletin. (Couldn't find anyone experienced in fudforum dev.)
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Shaman is ignored |
Re: Giving FUDforum a new look |
Wed, 19 March 2014 15:46 |
|
Alright. I've got him working on it now. It'll take him a while to wrap his brain around the tempting system, of course. My goal is to have this new template really take FUDforum into its next life. I think it's a great forum system that just looks really old.
|
|
Re: Giving FUDforum a new look |
Wed, 19 March 2014 18:43 |
|
cpreston wrote on Wed, 19 March 2014 15:46I think it's a great forum system that just looks really old. The forum runs like a tank, like my half million mile 30 year old Toyota truck, one that could sure could use a new paint job.
|
|
|
Re: Giving FUDforum a new look |
Mon, 31 March 2014 02:34 |
|
cpreston wrote on Thu, 20 March 2014 06:36Nailed it!
Sounds like you are making good progress.
Can you maybe share the new theme with us so we can test it as well?
|
|
Re: Giving FUDforum a new look |
Mon, 31 March 2014 02:45 |
|
As part of the new look, i also felt that FUDforum needed a modern logo as well. I gave the project to the folks at design crowd, and this is what they came up with:
http://www.designcrowd.com/vote/fud-forum-logo-poll
PLEASE VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE LOGO.
AS to the actual template/theme, I will definitely show it when I something to show you, yes. I plan to first share the mockup once he's done w/that. (He is to prepare a mockup first.)
It should be weeks now.
|
|
|
|
|
Re: Re : Re: Giving FUDforum a new look |
Tue, 01 April 2014 21:27 |
|
The winner of the logo design content, after all the votes are counted, is... (Drum Roll)
The Cheetah!!! (Actually colors will be matched to our final theme.)
It actually was my personal favorite, and the one I would have picked if it was just up to me. Luckily the populace (and naudefj) agreed with me.
i know some of you picked another logo, so let me sell you on this one. The thing that FUDforum has over many of its competitors is speed. This logo advertises that speed every time anyone sees it. That's what I asked for in the contest. Show me a logo that emphasizes speed. When I saw the cheetah, I was like... Yes!
Alright. It will be a while before we see this logo anywhere, as the theme is still being developed and will take a while. But at least you can see it when you want.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Re: Re : Re: Re : Re: Giving FUDforum a new look |
Wed, 01 October 2014 17:49 |
|
OK, now I finally have an update. I thought I had a developer on it, but he quit on me. Then it took me a while to find another one.
Now I have a new guy on it and he's actually worked with FUDforum before.
Yippee! I've asked him to give me a mockup first before he starts developing. I'll let you see it for comment when that happens.
Hey, Frank, I'm looking for the tips for when you're making your own template but I'm not finding them.
|
|
|
Re: Re : Re: Re : Re: Giving FUDforum a new look |
Mon, 20 October 2014 15:11 |
|
Here is the mockup of the new look. What do you think?
A few things to note:
1. The main menu has been moved toe the left the way most other programs are
2. The angel and text logo has been replaced with a place to put your actual logo. There's still room for a banner and the search bar.
3. Note the boxes on the right. Those will be plugins that can be enabled/disabled and displayed on the left or right side.
4. Colors can change. Right now he's using the colors of the logo.
5. The design would be fully responsive.
6. The login menu option has been removed in favor of putting the actual login up there.
This is just a mockup, so if you have suggestions now's the time.
|
|
|
|
Giving FUDforum a new look |
Tue, 21 October 2014 07:34 |
|
Well, I must say this mock-up looks cool !
Will there be a way to have forum icons next to the "bulbs", too ?
For some reason, I tend to like them.
Will it be possible to see how a thread look like, with user info ? Will it be kept on top of each message or pushed on the side, or perhaps it will be user-choosable ?
What sort of plug-ins will be displayed on the side ? Newly-developped ones, like top posters or 5 last messages or something else ?
A footer to include other info would be most welcome, too
For overall style sake, the boxes on the right should have the same window decoration than the categories.
Keep up the good work
|
|
|