Here are a few general thoughts of mine from the survey.
First, from a number of comments in the survey, some direct messages and emails - the forum software is simple with limited options. Trust me, I have looked at all the options and it is pretty basic. Sorry, I can't copy the top menu down to the bottom to make it easier to jump back to the top after a long thread (like every other forum can!). (Does your keyboard have a 'home' key?) Uploading pics is about the same process as anywhere else with a few differences, so really not much to improve there. BUT it is slow. See below. On the positive side the interface is clean and simple. As a famous Internet philosopher once said, "With power comes complexity." Be careful what you wish for. If you want more options the interface gets more complex. That might be good for you but we have to consider those who maybe don't use these applications as much as you do.
But my biggest issue with the current forum application is that it is maintained by a single developer as a part-time gig. Updates are infrequent and response in his support forum is very slow. The application is virtually a dead-end. There is very little future in it. It works for now, and we can continue to use it, but the developer could walk away from it at any time. We need to change - eventually.
The second major issue is speed. I have also heard this from many different directions. This is a combination of the forum application but more so with the internet hosting server. The server we are using has 2 CPUs, 4gb of RAM, and 60gb of disk space. If you have any kind of modern cell phone you have more RAM than this! While we are not hitting limits often the RAM usage stays about 75-80%. This is a major bottleneck of our user experience.
Our internet hosting service is on a 3 year contract that expires in August, 2024. I informed the board of directors at last year's rally that the cost of renewing or upgrading was coming up. I think it is worth considering upgrading or changing ISPs sooner than that and I have already begun to research alternatives. But that will be a major project (moving the website). Something needs to change...
These are the two biggest issues that I see facing us in the near future (2024). I have some other projects and changes, as well as some specific comments from the survey, but as I said, let's try to keep these threads to one topic at a time. Reply here or start a new topic if you want to change the subject.
Jerry
Jerry
I fly (and ride) to free my mind from the tyranny of petty things. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Thanks Jerry,
Knowing this i'd agree with your two concerns being the most important, and in the order you have them.
Had to laugh when I read "... Be careful what you wish for." I worked with a team of engineers from another country and we had a language barrier. When ever asking for a design enhancement that was the battle cry. Followed with "...You just may get it!" So yes, you are very right! lol
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
I just went window shopping for forum software and it looks like there are quite a few options. It looks like if you want a full commercial enterprise website, I saw some for $700/ month. I kind of don't think that's our neighborhood. And then others like phpBBB which are pretty flexible (and free) if you have slave labor for webmasters. So if our webmaster were to close his eyes, fly the car over a pothole, and wish for the perfect software/hosting/hardware for this website - even if what you manage to skim off membership fees does not cover the expense - I am certain that arrangements can be made.
Maybe a supporter membership level. I'm in.
Don't know much about the different softwares available. As a user I much prefer standalone sites like this, rather than something like a Facebook page.
phpBB sites seem the most user friendly to me. Here is one example i belong to:
NO face book.
You have my vote, Jerry, for any direction you want to take the site. It works the way it is, but no doubt "better" lays ahead. And if the current ISP could walk away at any time, we'd best be one step ahead. No time like the present!!
A few comments about forum software. Yes, there are many out there, but cost is a factor and I am a believer in 'open source' software (ie 'free'). I don't want to encumber our association with a major cost when there are free alternatives.
Panhead_kicker mentioned phpbb. It is open source and is a wonderful platform. I have owned and solely managed a motorcycle-related forum for over 15 years on phpbb (see www.romeoriders.com). But being so familiar with it there are a number of technical reasons I would rather not move to that.
Someone mentioned Club Express. That is a great, complete framework that includes a website, forums, membership management, mass email, payments, and more. I moved our local motorcycle club to Club Express 4-5 years ago and it is completely automated. It takes no effort on my part to maintain it, including signing up and renewing members. Awesome! BUT - it is a commercial platform with costs. It has a fixed fee, a per-member fee, and per-transaction fees. While that is affordable for our 130-member local club it is cost-prohibitive for the USCA's 800+ members.
For those with an interest in these things take a look at BBPress. It is open-source and was created and is maintained by the same company that does WordPress, our website framework application. It is popular, well-integrated with websites, and highly customizable. And free.
When the time comes to decide (in a few months, after some other projects) my intent is to implement it in parallel with our current forums as a beta test. IOW, run both at the same time so people can see and compare them. That way there are no surprises and no 'flash-cut' to a completely different experience. Another major consideration is how to import the existing database of 20 years of forum posts from our current forum into a new forum. There is a mountain of history there that I would not like to lose in the transition. That will be complicated and maybe some cost to outsource that. (We don't want any more 'deleted users'!)
Not to diminish the significance of this kind of change but a higher priority is the internet hosting service. That has a decision deadline that is looming and has a larger impact on our daily use in the responsiveness of our posts. Deciding on a new ISP and moving the website will be A Big Deal for me that will be completely transparent (hopefully) to you all.
I try not to post often as I don't want to distract from the main business here of providing assistance to new sidecar enthusiasts and the camaraderie of the old-timers who come to converse with friends. Most don't want to hear (too much) about how this sausage is made called websites and forums. But it is important to change and improve over time and I want to provide some information and context.
The importance can't be overstated of this place as the watering hole, the old western grange hall, or the neighborhood "Friends" bar and grill for sidecar people to meet and help others. It is my job to keep the lights on and keep the place neat and clean. It is your job to keep an entertaining, educational, friendly culture that people want to be a part of. I am honored to be a part of it with y'all.
Jerry
Jerry
I fly (and ride) to free my mind from the tyranny of petty things. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
I think the ISP is the more important piece right now. With a better server and a bigger pipe things will speed up. The forum software isn't bad but the speed is keeping some people away.
