It's close, but...

Happy New Year to Boonex team!

Just one question on Dolphin 7: Will the underlying code be restructured? Because the developers I have found to adjust Dolphin 6 to my own needs all told me that they would prefer not to touch Dolphin but instead use something else like Community Engine or Insoshi because it is based on Rails, has clearer structure and provides testing routines. Although all the functions of Dolphin would need to be implemented in those alternatives by hand - let alone Ray!

However I like Dolphin much more and I am more a friend of Boonex but in the end I am dependent on my developers and if they do not want to work with Dolphin, I have to follow them.

So, what can I tell them to convince them to work with Dolphin 7?

And regarding the saviour of our planet it comes down to extending globalization also to laws and other legal things in order to avoid exploitation of nature in poorer countries.

Sweet nice to hear it. yup im redy to participate :) cant wait

Nice update

The blog idea sounds great... it will be great to have an rss feed so ppl can keep track of (or monitor) the blogs (generally) or individual unity member's blogs.

____Green issues____
"What do you think BoonEx could do to become a substantial force in environmental protection and conservation initiatives?"

That is a much more interesting topic as the world needs to seriously look at this. Rather than planting a tree, why doesn't boonex use its "human" resources (rather than "financial" resources) to become a substantial force in environmental protection and conservation initiatives? When I say human resources, I mean all developers at boonex... rather than donations or planting trees.

Look at "greenpeace" or http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/

Boonex can use Dolphin 7 (or Shark etc) to launch a community site/portal (with a relevant domain name) that primarily focuses on discussing environmental/conservation issues... not just that, such community site/portal can also have an educational section for the younger generation. Boonex can use such portal to assist other organisations such as greenpeace in many initiatives. That is what I believe will make Boonex a real contributor as it will contribute proactively to change people's view of their world.

Does this mean that you will not release a BETA source code? I ask this because you say you want to incorporate Dolphin 7 into the new site, or will you just be incorporating a BETA vr? I really an looking forward to seeing the site, truly can not wait lol. So I was just curious if there would be a BETA release.

in think the green idea alot and we will share our ideas there too for shure, i wish you and your team a great new year with many creativ ideas and the power to move on . all the best for you all
PS: dolphin 7 sounds great but dont hurry if you need time to dev.
kind regards
gregor

I think that it will a better idea to join your effort to Greenpeace, WWF, Amnesty International, ATTAC (+Independent Media Center)... which are already worldwide well organized rather than to disperse your efforts...

Such worries about our planet are not any more subject of discussion here in Switzerland but simple choices in the ordinary life (to buy, to use... this product or not, to change "bad" habits, etc... )

why not form a little organisation kind of thing to support ACTIVE NGOs....there are many people like me who r already working on several issues like Environment, Road Safety...n few others...people can help us...

How? Boonex can allow us to have a system in which we can post about our project progress, along with photographs and some stuff to show that its true and not fake....then if people wish, they can suppport us in what ever way...

I plan to launch a Project at my small town to inculcate Environment awareness among students....and would be extending it gradually to villages...it would be a complete youth participation roject...and wud not only target emvironment but also other related issues....
In case,,u want to learn a bit, try searching for town 'Fazilka'. You will find that our town has made many initiatives like Car free Zones, Enviironmental fests...and lot more...

i'm not trying to advertiese..or something lyk dat...its that i'm not getting words to post my ideas....i'm full confused n just writing watever is coming to ma mind :)
hope i wud back again with a serious note...

C'mon guys .. atleast add some time estimate to that post - 2,4, 6, 8 weeks or something .. some rough benchmark...

The 'green' thing sounds good. My suggestion would be

- how about setting up a sms campaign, so that every person who wants to support the campaign, sends a text message like 'green' to some shortcode or some number. This way the site will be able to earn from the 1000s of SMS messages received and then use it to plant some trees or some other way.

- start a 'pledge' based service like 'http://www.pledgebank.com/' where ppl can pledge for environment related topics. Try to create widgets, which anybody can embed on their site and the users of that site can pledge as well.

Happy New Year to Boonex team!

Ok Well first of all thank you for this>

''We don't want to rush it out of the door this time, so PLEASE be patient. '''

i will but please shout out something Big man
honestly I think that everybody are tired of all updates and updates and updates

Booonex Clients Need Somethind Stable
Like Phpf and others

Thks

Guys, I agree with Michael and the others who have posted similar opinions - there are LOTS of good NGOs out there concentrating on environmental issues that could be supported instead, this sounds like a huge distraction. Boonex could contribute much more to society by concentrating on getting some good software out the door and their primary mission of "connecting people". This delay is now impacting our businesses. I took the November estimate of "a couple of weeks" to heart. Right now, I have a business customer who wants a Dolphin site, but I don't know whether to install the current version and go through the long process of modifying it for business, or if I should just wait for Dolphin 7, and then to an upgrade. Time estimates like "soon" don't help a bit. Could we at least know if it will be in January?

I 'am in the same train as Caltrade, also I have two Clients for who a Dolphin site is planted. I know also that Boonex want a stable version on the market. But also I say give us some idea how long before we can experiment with version 7. Else I have to buy several mods...

Thanks for the update, can't wait :)
I like the idea on the "Green" and think that having a environmental blog is a good idea for sure.
Maybe have the blog entries as "Title", "Enviromental Experience", "Protect the green video" following their post.
Making things unique is by far what the dolphin/boonex team is good at...keep it unique and different.
Am i way out the poop shoot with this???

I would just like to point out that by providing a working, easy to install, administer and configure community software Boonex is already helping with the "green thing" and many other projects as well.

That software has the ability to be the glue that binds people together as a community, to provide the means to Unify people and allow them to congregate and communicate easily.

I have a plan to use Dolphin to create a community that plants seeds of hope in the hearts of people who are less fortunate than others, to share knowledge on such things as organic food production, microfinancing, low cost habitats and encourage people to help each other have the best life they can.

It's wonderful if we can all do our best for the poor, take care of the environment and build a more positive world and I encourage every one to give their best efforts any way they can.

For instance if you build software make it the most functional and easiest to use as you can. If you are a farmer, produce the best food you can grow, if you are a carpenter build structures you can be proud of.

If you are a web host be the best web host you can be, answer support tickets and keep your servers on line and trouble free.

Provide the services you agreed to and not just offer excuses or promises of what is coming soon.

Let's encourage each other, teach each other and all do our very best at what we are good at. That should be our main goal in life.

If we can plant trees, save dolphins or give to feed and educate the poor let's do that too, but what ever we do let's all do it in a positive, whole hearted manner.

Too many irons in the fire at one time tends to distract from the main chores we have to do and nothing gets done.

Just my opinions.

I agree with Caltrade and Killerhai. Lets get Dolphin 7 out of the door and allow those members who wish to get involved with the ecological efforts or not, a choice. Do not lose focus on your primary objectives.

Agree with Stuart038,

When Donald Trump encountered a negative net-worth of $900 million and was asked about learning from mistakes/failures, he summed his problems up in one point – losing focus.

Boonex group, asks yourselves this, are you a non-profit environmental orgainzation or a software company foremost?

We are your seeds, so nurture us first ;-)

I agree with boonhick....

It is good to have corporate social responsibility but, is this your main objective? Let's focus first on something great then everyone will follow you then.

Happy New Year!!

I'll try to answer all of the comments above in this post...


1. CODE.

Yes, the underlying code is being restructured. Dramatically.

- Most importantly, almost everything is moved to separated modules - great thing for developers - no need to mess with Dolphin code anymore - just write new modules and go. 99% of the code is moved to the modules now (finally a proper separation).

- Improved caches and database requests handling - better performance.

- Classes everywhere.

- All-new flash apps integration system for easy "one-click" installation/integration.

- Modules interoperability tools for easy integration of separate modules (ex: add "comments" to your new module easily)

- Orca and Ray Widgets are being integrated as parts of Dolphins rather than as standalone systems.

- The whole system is getting a layout and functionality makeover - we're trying to have a unified interface and UI patterns.

There's a lot more, and I hope we'll start showing it soon.


2. BETA.

We will definitely release a beta version. This time we plan to run beta development as long as it may be needed to release a REALLY stable version. moreover, starting from Dolphin 7 we're going 100% open-source, inclding Flash-apps, so we'll be looking for community help.


3. OUTSOURCING THE 'GREEN' ISSUE

We do that already and we'll be doing that more, but our resources are limited, while our potential is not. I still believe that BoonEx can also contribute to the environment in it's special and very effective way. We're at a unique position, which should be leveraged somehow.


4. FOCUS

I absolutely agree that "sticking to your knitting" is the way to go. This is the idea behind Dolphin 7 actually. We decided to concentrate on one, single, most important product now - bring everything together, simplify, improve, polish, make it accessible, make it affordable, make it great.

Functional and reliable Dolphin is the most important and the most powerful step we can do to achieve the "green" goal and it will continue being the major focus for us.

When talking about "green" thing, I try to find ways to conveniently "USE" Dolphin as a tool for spreading awareness and achieving "green" goals; and we're looking for actions that can in return help us in the process of DOlphin development, improvement and popularization. For example...


5. EXAMPLES

Based on your suggestion, I can already think of a few changes...

- Free licenses for communities build for positive cause: NGOs, "green" communities, or even communities supporting other "green" organizations.

- We're developing a "hall of fame" directory of good Dolphin-based sites, and "green" sites could get a special featuring.

- Turning BoonEx.us into a "green" community (?). We have Unity for discussing the software, and BoonEx.us has no specific goal/meaning, so why not?

- Occasional newsletters with ideas sharing and BoonEx "green" pages promotion. I believe that a positive meaning can be a great uniting force for the community and could intensify collaboration. It's a great feeling when you know that you do something for money AND for the environment at the same time.

- Fill default Dolphin package with "green" content - articles, links, etc. Some default content gives good understanding of how the system works, but can be easily removed, if need be.


See, we can do something without loosing or changing focus. I'm sure you have even better ideas ;)

I am concerned that Boonex will use Dolphin as a platform to force there green views on the rest of us. I do not want to have to find another software platform as I think Dolphin is excellent.

I have this strange feeling that free licenses, granted more than a year ago to contributors, are going to be deprecated if we do not include a 'green' idea in our sites.
If all coding is being restructured, what happens to existing websites ? Can we upgrade ? Can we import existing members and functionalities into the new database ?
And finally, all the effort and cost we put in mods ... can we still use them when we decide NOT to upgrade to 7 ?
I'm just a little bit sceptical about all this 'good' news :-)

hey can we expect the ability to add jpegs to the whiteboard (drag n drop would be great) also replace countries with places or at least make it editable fom the admin menu....Dolphin 7 sounds so good

Only You must decide - upgrade or not. But I like our current result much more than 6.1.4 :-)
Here realized many new features .. so possible you will not need to purchase some paid mods at expertzzz site. Just because many was realized in current version.
About upgrades. After final release will published (as always) upgrade script.
Usually - what is upgrade? - Just transferring existed information into new structure. I sure it will possible.

Alongside with Bonnex main vision, I think the focus here should be how to make Dolphin "the ideal software choice" for non-profit organizations who want to create professional cohesive communities with minimum budget. Communities that will have great positive impacts in addressing Enviromental issues in the likes of Climate Change / Global Warming.

Saving Non-profits orgs. from troubles like software /development costs, Saving them cost of hiring skillied labour / office space, as communities can easily be managed by voluteers at home.

The Green page in my oppinion should be dedicated to showcasing online communities that are using Dolphin as their choice to make lasting positive impacts on the Environment.

Possibly Dolphin can provide a free full software licence for registered Charities working on Environmental issues, just as some others sites like GoinOn.com are doing even though Dolphin's features superceeds it.

Apart from the OpenID / Open Social feature available in top social networking softwares I was also wondering if the Multi-site functionality will be part of Dolphin 7 such that a Community site that has several sub - community sites or regional sites will be able to share or use a single database/central resources even though the sub-sites are installed seperately on other sub-domains and have their local content. This will make it easier for users of that community to have only a single login id while navigating to meet users in other regions of that Community's site.

ning.com, yuku.com, cyloop.com is one example that i think you may already know it. Take the advantages.. Please more explore it.

Don't understand me wrong. I'm pro environmental issues and I don't have a problem to link to greenpeace and others. But making this a condition to get a free script is in my opinion putting pressure on Boonex members.
This might just turn against Boonex.

I've been playing with 6.1.4 on a test server. I am impressed with the features and functionality. This software does everything I need it to do. But I am NOT impressed with the performance and bandwidth consumption. Even on a dedicated server, this software is a resource HOG. I have been anxiously waiting for Dolphin 7 to come out. I see the code is going to be restructured so hopfully, it is a lot more server resource friendly. I have a few people who are going to want this software as their CMS, but I have been putting off building their sites because there is no purpose in buying licenses for 6.1.4 (and then later upgrading) when 7 is "supposedly" right around the corner. Please at least give us a time frame or something! I am half tempted to just purchase phpFox and develop the sites on that. I'm running out of time and patience.

I think the whole focus must be, to bring out a script that is uniqe to others and a very good after service. The whole "green" issue, I think is not the first option. Not that I 'am against this, but thats must have a second place and then take a organisation who has the experince already in the world.

I think Dolphin is generally a good product but with small defects, which makes little training.
I think you should work on two products in particular, one tied to those who wish to have a platform, "Free" with some basic characteristics open source product and another addressed only to those who wish to make your business whit products.
I believe you wanted to develop this with Orca but unfortunately still have no information on ...
I want a product that I guarantee its functionality with millions of unique users per day, millions of sailing contemporary possibility of subscriptions vary depending on the type of customer, direct and immediate access to the account and the percentage of subscriptions inscrições daily, monthly and Annual for clients, etc ... all options that do not serve those who wish to open a website Free.
Furthermore, I would like you did a division of products according to the requirements of the site, you see better, you should make a product that has the characteristics that already has with Dolphin plus the possibility of interchangeability between the various parties in the sense that if I want to enter a site where only music and films I could do with a record-independent primary site.
Or if you want to do a site Classfield do the same thing with a self-registration and a method of self-payment, so too for a site for events. maybe it's just my need and not the other members of the community Boonex but for me it would be exceptional ...
What do you think?

Will the new version still have age and sex integrated through the system? Right now, it is almost impossible to remove and requires about a half dozen mods. I'm hoping the new version will be more "general purpose" that could be of use for both non-profits and business.

Thats a very very good news AndreyP, dolphin must containt most of the addon availaible on expertzzz because its a waste of money to buy addon from there.... i buy a lot since the first version of dophin and each time boonex upgrade the dolphin script... i have to make a choice... stay with the older version and keep the mod i buy on expertzzz.... or upgrade my dolphin and loose all the money i invest in the mod because most of them arent compatible with the new version... so i think that the best mod availaible on expertzzz should be buyed by boonex... and this way integrated in the dolphin script... or propose it as an official mod that boonex will upgrade the mod each time they upgrade dolphin.... this way... webmaster like me will stop loosing money by buying and buying mod or template...

and i forgot to talk about the language.... same thing... each time a new dolphin version is release... you have to buy again and again the language file... why dont make like MOST of the script you found in the web and included at least the french and spanish language...

and about the green thing... thats a good point for sure... but like some other user already said... you should work to finish the upcomming version of dolphin before start a new green project... and i dont think to plant ONE tree for each license sold will make the difference...(do you think sell a million license??)
but adopt a dolphin... yes maybe.... more significative...
but to encourage non profit organisation by using the dolphin script for free its a good idea too...
in regard of my project to use the dolphin script... as an gay dating website... i project to gave at least 50% of the revenu to a aids foundation.... its not green.... but human...

I respect the environment very much but the point of the software people want to know about, please Unboonex we want an estimated time as in when the heck will it be available. You say soon and it's coming. But since November people have been waiting.....
I in particular might have to worry about my expiration date from my web host. I sent you a private message and no response. Do you care about your customers?

Again when will it be a week, month, 2 months, 1 years, tomorrow ? When is soon ?
If you don't respond to your customers it's like saying screw you we make software and that's it.
Don't give that impression on people like I'm getting right now. Thank you and would like a response.

Peut être il serait bien que chaque webmaster réalise un site sur un thème écologiste.
Que tous les sites puissent être reliés entre eux pour former une communauté mondiale.
Afin d’élaborer des projets commun avec tout les membres de tout les sites.
Par exemple : nettoyage de plage ou d’espace vert.
Que tous les membres intéresser par ce projet le réalise le même jour.
Il serait aussi possible de collecté des fonds commun pour réalisé des actions plus importante.

Maybe it would be that every webmaster has a site on an environmental theme.
That all sites can be linked together to form a global community.
To develop joint projects with any members of all the sites.
For example: cleaning beach or park..
All members interested in this project realizes the same day.
It would also be possible to collect fund for carrying out more important.

about that "green" page..
a web page will NEVER save the world..
just make a 1-2% donation of the sold licenses and profits to some -really- poor people.. THAT will actually make a difference.. NOT some "dandy" page and caption..

anyways i just want to thank the dolphin developers for letting us folks aim for the sky with the free licenses! that is really inspiring..

@ Andrew

If you choose to add a french language file to your next version, I will help ;-)

cool michelswiss.... hope boonex will...

And (as common)
I think that even Boonex, nobody, haven`t right just steal ideas of another guys. I mean that steal code of another guys or ideas will bad to our reputation.
So we can`t just get all good ideas at expertzzz site and realize this in our dolphin. It will like crime.
So I sure that only our boss - Andrey will choose way of dolphin evolution. Dolphin will have only own, new way of new modules - that will of course unique

Smansakra and me are giving to Boonex the mod Members Pages Customizer ( http://www.expertzzz.com/Downloadz/view/4454 ) if you can use it, fully or partially, with Dolphin 7 ;-)

i dont said steel the idea.... i said buy...


by the way... another question out of the discussion... what is the script that use boonex for this blog??? i really like the feature that put the member avatar beside each reply... i try to find a blog script like that over the web... and i cant :( thats for one of my other website.... thx

any screenshots with the new dolphin? pleaaase? :)

oh and.. will dophin 7 be a more shared hosting friendly?
i had a lot of problems installing it and make it work as it should be..

OK, I've tried to answer some of the comments, but have very limited time now - will try to answer others shortly.

In general, just a few points:

- Green thing will not and should not push any conditions or requisites for getting or keeping a license. We're trying to ease and simplify licensing, instead.

- We're adding lots of new features and some mods will become obsolete, but we're not copying and are not going to copy or buy others' works. Dolphin is going to grow naturally, according to feature suggestions and market trends.

- We'll be providing everything possible to minimize upgrading troubles.

- Time frames are NOT defined now. It can happen anytime from 2 weeks to 2 months. Every time I get the next build - I have to order yet another round of changes - too many things to fix and re-write. Moreover, we're trying to change the approach - instead of rushing out a raw version - we want you to start testing an already stable product. I hope for and rely on your patience and support. It's a huge update, the biggest we ever had, yet we're trying our best and we will show a early alpha very soon, and then we'll talk :)

Some problems with dolphin 6 :
Using linux server, config iptalbes protected Ping of Death and protected Scan Port, SYN flood .... all translation will be remain, footer do not be hided,can't upload media ...
Hope dolphin 7 will fix

Thank you, Unoboonex you put a huge smile on my face. I'm sure that you and your staff are working hard and know that you will make the best available software.

God Bless.

Thanks Unoboonex,
This is fair. Now we know something :)
I hope you get it all together and ofcource how more stable the beta how better.

Thanks and success to the team.
I will setup a dutch support site at this time.

Hello Andrew :-)

In my humble opinion (IMHO), here are the main points you should reconsider:

- ergonomics (users often are lost while browing a Dolpin site - missing links in several pages which could allow the user to return to the profile he/she is browing, dead end)

- templates system (code that affect template is dispersed in too many files outside the templates folder)

- members pages customization could be easily improved (see my mod http://www.expertzzz.com/Downloadz/view/4454)

- languages files (more than a single english language file is needed - spanish, portuguese, french, chinese, russian...)

- a text at the top or bottom of most of the blocks/pages to give some explanation/incitation to the user will be welcome

IMHO these are basic features Dolphin/Orca/Ray has to come with...

As for me I agree with you about not to focus on any time frame but about the stability of the script ;-)

Thanks Andrew for being straight to the point. This makes it more clear to all of us. As for the deadline : I agree with most of us that a stable version is prior to a rushed out beta. I'm very curious for what is going to come. And I'm sure it's going to be very good :-)

Please, tell us something about migration from 6.1.4 to 7
:-)

Thanks
Davide

can you add some more money making features such as classifieds - make some thing similar to backpage.com or oodle.com

I sent you an email with an address to check out.. i am not ready to launch it yet but it will be a great thing to help with the green efforts. Otherwise I would just post it here.