Current Extensions Listing Directory at ICMS

Week ago I've started to reassemble my Downloads listing section on one of my sites (dedicated for reviewing open source applications and 3rd party extensions for them) in the new way, to be more sorted, clean view, local hosted downloads, easy to browse, search and use.

Here is an example how current addons site may looks - http://addonsbg.eu/index.php?option=com_zoo&view=category&layout=category&Itemid=107
This will be my section for currently presented modules on ICMS (only those in the news, addons.impresscms.org includes many outdated not well supported by latest core modules).

Current template needs some improvements and will do them in next week.

I wish to see this addons.impresscms.org to get such clean and sorted view :). And when u found the way I can help with maintenance of the files to be up to date, always.

So many times I've post to this forums for the subject local hosting or linking, but still not rule about this. Locally hosted files is preferable option, bcz author site may go down, sourceforge.net may get some problems (this happen very often last days).

Hi ep98,

I really appreciate the effort.

When is the last time you checked the addons site?
This weekend I've checked all duplicate files and made sure only the current ones were there.
Quote:
If there are problems with modules and the latest core we need to know about them. Are the problems reported? Would you mind reporting the problem in the bug tracker (trac) if it's not yet reported. The goal is indeed to have the modules in addons up-to-date and of course supported by the latest core.

Maybe we can work together on that goal.

I like the site that you made. Only realized it later on that it was made with Joomla .
And I don't know all the cyrillic letters, but that's a sidenote.

Thanks again for the effort. Contact me on PM, I have something for you.

the link is 90% in english

so duplicates gone, but linking remains (that's for sure)

Hmmm, Trac.... another help desk, will try a bug reports to the forum, and someone which know how to use this trac will move bugs to this Trac

We currently are in the process of an overhaul of the addons site - I would be very interested in using your templates if you are up for sharing.

I was looking to do exactly what you have already done - so if you are indeed interested in sharing it would save me quite a bit of time.

**Looks like its powered by Joomla! - so I guess that doesn't help.

Quote:

We'll convert it :P

Right - Like I said - that is pretty much exactly what I was going to do - if he had the templates that would have saved me a lot of time - but if I still have to actually do them - it doesn't really help.

To answer the actual question.

Yes - we understand that addons is a mess - it is in the process of being completely redone - and simplified - we are done acting as a graveyard for old X modules/themes/etc - and are looking to the future of this project and the addons that support it.

Locally hosted would be ideal - but it is at the discretion of the author as to where the files are physically located.

I'm hoping to be able to spend some time with MrTheme on this over the next few days... so any feedback you're giving us here [and anyone else's feedback!] is appreciated.

I have been looking tonight at a few of the different d/l sections around the net. Just trying to get some other ideas. I love how you can (Filter by compatibility) on drupal.

http://drupal.org/project/Modules

http://xoops.peak.ne.jp/md/repository/etc/downloads.php

http://xoopscube.org/modules/pukiwiki/?XOOPSCubeLegacy%2FModuleCompatibility

http://extensions.joomla.org/

http://modxcms.com/extras.html

http://nukecops.com/downloads-cat-2.html

http://www.typolight.org/extension-list.html
http://typo3.org/extensions/repository/
http://mods.tikiwiki.org/
http://silverstripe.org/modules
http://www.dotnetnuke.com/Development/Forge/tabi/824/Default.aspx
http://dev.cmsmadesimple.org/project/list/module

here are a few more... I am still trying to digest some of these ideas from other systems.

Typo 3 is really nice if you click thru you can get version history and what files are included.

Some good ideas being tossed around here - it is good to see the dialogue!

I just want to toss out some other thoughts
* Keep it Simple
Trying to categorize things doesn't always work - it may work for me, but you may think differently, especially if you are from a different culture. Drilling through 8 levels of subcategories to get to something is to much and some things could belong to several different categories.

* Think Globally
Similar to part of the above, things don't always translate well or possibly not at all. The simpler your categorization (or taxonomy, to borrow a Drupal term), the more likely it will be easily translated to other languages.

* Think Universally
At the most basic level, what is the addons repository other than a list of links? How can we leverage what has been learned by working on imLinks, imGlossary, the new image manager? Or, what about an extendable module - Drupal has CCK, which allows admins to define and create custom types of content? WF-Downloads + Formulize gives us a very extendable downloads module.

* Make it Personal
Putting this all together and making generous use of tags can provide a very flexible and appealing application. imTagging, once released, can provide a hierarchy, as well as free tagging. Enabling users to add their own tags will add a completely new dimension.

Content is only part of the equation, you also have to factor in presentation and usability, along with scalability and internationalization and localization.

That's all I have, for now.

I am working on something similar, oriented at 3D files. My main points in the design document were the use of tags, the possibility to define compatibility with different programs (in the context of an addon site, you could define a version with and one without IPF), and different versions of the same object under one header (it isn't because the last version is IPF compatible that all the former versions should).

This addon site should make it as easy and efficient as possible for site administrators to find the right module.

If people find the correct modules to realise their site idea without much tailored coding work, they will stay with iCMS. They'll even advertise iCMS as a flexible platform you can use to build almost anything.

If the modules cannot be found, the entire platform will get the reputation of being limited.

2 conclusions here : having modules that extend the core of iCMS is critical, but making them easily searchable is at least as important.

That's why I think everyone working on this is doing a great job.