Download Page

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Robert
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Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 11:04 am
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

Download Page

Post by Robert »

The main download page seems to be http://blackboxframework.org/index.php?cID=home,en-us .
This page wants to be clarified.
We should make clear that the suggested / recommended / usual download is 1.7. It is ok to have access to 1.6 & the development versions, but these should be put into a side panel, or use a smaller font, or use some means to suggest that they are not the main starting point.

We probably should also clarify that these are Windows downloads, not Mac or native Unix.

It is confusing to have more than one version (zip, digitally signed) without advice about which to use. Make one the main suggestion, put the other into a side panel as a special, but unusual, option. Is zip the best for a beginner; don't Windows people expect some kind of installer (.msi is it?)?

The download link at the bottom of the page should also state that it is the same as one of the options near the top of the page, and identify which option that is.

I would also like to see the date and/or build number of the download displayed before I commit to downloading it.
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Josef Templ
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Re: Download Page

Post by Josef Templ »

A separate download page would be an improvement, indeed, I think.
It could also include important installation hints such as the /USE option
and a pointer to Edit->Preferences.
The /USE option currently is only for experts but it is important
for any serious use of BlackBox, not only for an installation
on a shared read-only file system.

-Josef
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Robert
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Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

Re: Download Page

Post by Robert »

The "Main page" ( http://blackboxframework.org/index.php?cID=home,en-us ) has become more confusing.

What is "1.7.1-a1? Is it build 740? Ivan posted a link to this at 1:55 pk (UK time) today. It didn't exist then.

Which versions are "Stable" - which are not?

How often do we expect "users", rather than developers, to upgrade? Which of the many versions on this page should a new user download? This needs to be clearly stated on this page. Maybe there is an explanation in the Wiki; if so we should post a prominent link to it.


In summary, I think we have an urgent task to clarify (and simplify) this page.

PS - Thanks, Ivan, for resolving the conflicts in 740.
Ivan Denisov
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Location: Russia

Re: Download Page

Post by Ivan Denisov »

Robert wrote:The "Main page" ( http://blackboxframework.org/index.php?cID=home,en-us ) has become more confusing.

What is "1.7.1-a1? Is it build 740? Ivan posted a link to this at 1:55 pk (UK time) today. It didn't exist then.

Which versions are "Stable" - which are not?
This link is the link to last unstable version. Now we are developing 1.7.1-a1. At the current moment it is build 740.
Ivan Denisov
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Re: Download Page

Post by Ivan Denisov »

Folks, I think, that is good idea. I just have no time now to make this experiments with it. Robert, can I give you access to our CMS ?
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Robert
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Re: Download Page

Post by Robert »

Ivan Denisov wrote:Folks, I think, that is good idea. I just have no time now to make this experiments with it. Robert, can I give you access to our CMS ?
Ok. I don't have much time, and hope that "Exprimenting with CMS" is not too difficult, but I'll have a go.

But I think we need to develop and clarify our release policy. Oms used to release a version every 18 months (or maybe less frequently). We have managed 1 "stable" release, and about 840 other releases. The infrequent release schedule was seen (by Oms, and others ?) as a good policy that appealed to their customers.

While I am not saying that we should hide these development releases from anyone interested, I think that we should only encourage the user community to use a few - possibly only the latest "stable" release.

If stable releases are infrequent (more than 6 months apart ?) there may be a compromise to give more people access to bug fixes, and minor upgrades. Oms used to release "patches", which comprised just a few files that users could optionally down-load to overwrite their existing files. Each patch would be advertised as solving whatever bug it does solve, so users could decide if it was important for them.

Another alternative (which is probably not a good idea) is to have a few down-loadable versions, but have these releases bother the user every week to allow an automatic "upgrade" just like every other program on my PC does.

These are just ideas - I am not arguing that we should go one way, or another. Except that giving normal users access to 840 versions, without any guidance as to which to use, is a bad idea.
Ivan Denisov
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Re: Download Page

Post by Ivan Denisov »

Robert, I think that we also should provide the link to the last patched version.
1. It is binary compatible, so user should not recompile the modules after upgrade from 1.7 to 1.7.1
2. Other unstable versions of 1.7.1 from master is stable enough, they are tested before voting anyway

For my friends and colleagues I recommend to use the last version.
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Robert
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Re: Download Page

Post by Robert »

The Zenario email says "Goto http://blackboxframework.org/admin", but all I can see is "Error 404 Not Found The requested URL /admin was not found on this server."
Ivan Denisov
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Re: Download Page

Post by Ivan Denisov »

Robert wrote:The Zenario email says "Goto http://blackboxframework.org/admin", but all I can see is "Error 404 Not Found The requested URL /admin was not found on this server."
That's correct link for login:
http://blackboxframework.org/zenario/admin/welcome.php?
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Robert
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Re: Download Page

Post by Robert »

I have made a first draft:

Go to the "Main page" http://blackboxframework.org/index.php?cID=home,en-us, and follow the link "Goto Download page".

- I don't seem to have got the title fonts correct.
- Please make comments here.
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