Ask Me Anything... About DU4

[dutch508]

Star Member EarlG (18,785 posts)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215726589

Ask Me Anything... About DU4

Hello everyone,

Since we're in the middle of our Summer Fund Drive, I thought this might be a good time to tell you about what Elad and I have been working on recently. (Actually, I've been tinkering with this since before I took ownership of DU from Skinner, but we couldn't really start working on it properly until this year, after the election.)

As most of you know, the current version of Democratic Underground -- DU3 -- was launched back in 2011. It was a huge undertaking for us and took a number of years to complete. We rebuilt the entire site from scratch, including the backend database. It was like building a new house from the foundations up.

The new iteration that we're working on -- DU4 -- is not quite like that. Rather than building everything from the ground up again, it's going to be more of a (long overdue IMO) visual overhaul.

Democratic Underground has been around for long time now, and people are well used to the way it works. Like you, I use DU every day, and so it was very important to me that when working on the DU4 design, I should do my utmost to make it "feel" like good old DU, while freshening up the look. So, DU4 is a bespoke design with entirely unique code written by Elad and myself -- we're not just grabbing off-the-shelf Wordpress-type stuff and calling it a day.

Think of DU4 not as a new house you're walking into for the first time; rather, as an old, familiar place that's just been painted and decorated for the first time in a while.

That's not to say that we aren't going to make a few new improvements. We've already gotten at least one long-requested feature up and running on DU4 (see if you can spot it in the pics below), and hope to have more.

WHAT'S NEW?

It's important to know that we're not changing a single thing about DU's underlying database (with the exception of any changes we have to make for new features). Pretty much everything on DU4 will work the way you expect it to, from posting, to journals, to your inbox, to whatever. And there are going to be no changes to the rules, or the Jury system. It's the same old DU.

Probably the biggest changes you'll see on DU4 are going to be a recategorization of the forums, and an overhaul of the site's navigation.

RECATEGORIZATION OF FORUMS

We have a LOT of forums on DU -- in my opinion, too many. We have a number of smaller forums that are barely used. DU is well overdue for a spring cleaning in this area, so that's what we're working towards.

What we're proposing is a slimming down of categories (we currently have dozens of topics that forums are scattered between) and in some areas, a consolidation of forums. That would occur where a number of little-used sub-forums could easily fit into a single broader, busier forum. We're a long way off this part of the project yet, so I won't share my current thinking on which forums to consolidate, but it's something we'll definitely be discussing with you down the road, before we make any changes.

I'll tell you our current thinking on categories though. The idea is to keep our busiest main forums separate (General Discussion, Latest Breaking News, and The DU Lounge), and then fit everything else into six categories:

Issue Forums
Forums which are about issues and politics. For example: Economy, Foreign Affairs, Labor

Culture Forums
Forums which are about typically non-political cultural topics. For example: Comic Books, Music Appreciation, Photography

Alliance Forums
Forums for groups of people who share a common heritage/culture/background etc. For example: Asian, Jewish, LGBT

Region Forums
All our state and country forums.

Support Forums
Forums for people who want to offer each other mutual assistance and support. For example: Bereavement, Mental Health, Seniors

Help Forums
A handful of forums for getting help and information about DU or general computer/Internet issues. For example: Announcements, Community Help, Computer Help and Support

SITE NAVIGATION

I really wanted to make things simple and easy for DU members to get around, and maybe find things that you wouldn't normally stumble upon, so the plan on DU4 is to break navigation down into two paths. At the top of every page there will be a button which says "Navigate" -- that'll get you directly to Latest, Greatest, the main forums, and the forum categories. There will also be a button which says "My Stuff" -- that will get you to, well, your stuff. Your posts, inbox, bookmarks, settings, etc. etc. etc.


Anyway, this might all make more sense if you take a look at it. What I have here are some photos of DU4 running on an iPhone. This is not a mockup -- it's actually a live version of DU4, running live content. (I've blurred out our staging server address.)

cosmetic changes and a reduction of forums...

great idea...

Star Member hlthe2b (87,103 posts)

1. How Very Very COOL! I love that it is new, but yet very familiar!

I look forward to perusing this thread a bit more closely, but KUDOS!

Star Member malaise (233,474 posts)

55. Thanks EarlG

Looks fabulous

Star Member EarlG (18,785 posts)

47. All URLs will remain the same

I don't want to get into which forums might be consolidated yet because we're a long way away from doing that. I drew up a tentative list a *long* time ago but I'd have to go through everything again, because I'm sure things have changed since then. We're definitely going to discuss any changes with everyone before we do anything.

I'll say that it's unlikely to be a major cull -- we do have a lot of smaller forums, but I have no intention of dramatically cutting down the list. It's just that there are likely to be some obvious candidates for consolidation/archiving.

 

[franksolich]

I wonder if Lord Marblehead's going to do something about the cooking and baking forum, which used to be one of the most active--and entertaining--of the small forums, until Lucinda let it wither away through her neglect.

[DUmpDiver]

The phrase Polishing A Turd comes to mind.

[SVPete]

Are you ever going to switch to a forum SW that doesn't scream 1997?!

[DUmpsterDiver]

>> The duke named earl said: It was like building a new house from the foundations up.

No, you flatlined lefty fool...you start with a leaky roof and add from the rafters down.  Too stupid to even engineer a coherent thought, much less a place where logic and Americans can hang out.  GD you are effing DUmb; even dumber than the skindick that made his cash off of the real DUmmys.

But thanks for helping your party of DUmbocrats scare off otherwise democrat voting minions.  GFY :->

[BamaMoose]

If he really wants to improve the site he needs to bring back the Meta Forum and quit blocking access to the hidden posts. Watching the DUmmie slap fights is the most entertaining thing his site offers.

[Ralph Wiggum]

OK, will the DUmp still be as bat shit crazy in DU4 as they have been since 2000?  Or even more f-ing crazy?

Those are the answers we inquiring minds want to know.

[Ferrance]

OK, will the DUmp still be as bat shit crazy in DU4 as they have been since 2000?  Or even more f-ing crazy?

Those are the answers we inquiring minds want to know.

It all depends on the midterms. If the GOP wins 1 or both houses of congress I expect the crazy to get ratched up to 11.

[Ralph Wiggum]

It all depends on the midterms. If the GOP wins 1 or both houses of congress I expect the crazy to get ratched up to 11.

Well as a veteran DUmp watcher since 2003, they're always freaking crazy.  Just varying levels from time to time.

[Ferrance]

Well as a veteran DUmp watcher since 2003, they're always freaking crazy.  Just varying levels from time to time.

I'm with you there. I've been lurking on that site for years as well because it's comedy gold. The best part is they truly believe the garbage they type with any moles being the exception of course.