Let's get responsive

[Danny D]

Lets get this website responsive, responsive to mobile devices that is.

In 2001 when this website launched smartPhones didn't exist. Now that has changed , changed utterly a terrible beauty is born. Google now penalise sites that don't function on mobile devices.

This is what the website looks like on my iPhone 4S.


This is what the website could look like.


So , two questions:
1) Do we want to upgrade to the modern world ?
2) If yes how do we implement it ?

[Danny D]

Answering my own questions:

1) Of course we want this.

2) Upgrade to phpBB 3.1 which is responsive by default. phpBB 3.1 details on https://www.phpbb.com/about/launch/
Upgrading may be a bit of a chore. Does Durban have the time or the will ? Are there any others who would do it?

[Steve Camber]

I'm guessing from the lack of upgrade it's a mess internally.
I'm no stranger to a technical challenge and would be definitely up for it, but maybe there's someone with more website skills who can have a go?

[Danny D]

From a technical perspective:

Upgrading phpBB from 3.x to 3.1 is possible.
The phpbb theme we use hasn't been updated so we would have to go with another theme.

The route to go would be to get consensus to go ahead with this, organise a team/person, get access from Mark and do it. This, in my opinion is the real challenge

[manicx]

I recently upgraded another forum to phpBB3.1 and it is great. Found a nice template too. The upgrade is not something difficult but Durban may be the right person to answer that in terms of server capabilities. And also, we need to find a 3.1 template and someone with photoshop knowledge to make logo for new template.

BTW, it is not only the responsive feature of phpBB3.1 that rocks. The forum has a much better feeling and better features overall.

[Freshmaker]

Then let's go!

[durban]

the server should now be ok to upgrade this, in the past the issue has been the PHP/SQL links and the fact we were prohibited from using SSH.

I will have a look into this.

Also I designed a new theme about 5 years ago that was more responsive, I never updated it as PHPBB upgraded and personal themes become more difficult to setup.

Will have a look if I get a chance.

[durban]

Firstly I made KOG responsive by adding the phpbb modules a while ago to allow it to work with that Android/Iphone app...can't remember what that was.

However my next plan is as follows.

We are currently at 3.0.12

We are 2 releases behind 3.1 and then another 3 behind the current version.

the issue we have is that we have quite a few 'non standard' things in the KOA, and the themes we use (having the logo and stuff) are not generic so also need to be migrated. Also all the data has to be migrated to the new versions, its not just a case of fixing the php installs.

On top of that we managed to blow up the server last time (I say we I mean Nikos as I ran away once I saw the smoke!)

However I have a plan, a good plan I think...but will take a bit of time to do all the stuff around the edges.


I will offline the forum at some point (possibly this week, I dunno).

I will then install 3.0.12 using Installtron from within the server, and replicate the database into that version (yes I know its the same version...well spotted!)

I will then bring it up on 3.0.12 with the database backup but to a different location within the KOA, leaving this one turned off (backed up still both local and remote).

I will then try and use installtron to roll through the updates (which should also update the database as well...I bloody hope so anyway).

I will try and get it to 3.1.x and bring it online in read only.

If this has worked I will carry on rolling the updates up to the current version.

I will then enable 'auto update' so that we don't need to have this discussion in future or if I go all 'Alkis' and am never seen again.


I think this is a good plan, all those in favour?

It does mean I will probably need a bit of time to redo the header logos and colours and stuff, but maybe its time for a change anyway.

I will bring the actual forum up asap (hopefully the same day) it may not look pretty for a while tho but I guess thats ok - I don't want to put a stop to Danny's good work on the WC obviously.

regards,

Mark

[Danny D]

This is a great plan by a great man ! Go for it. I can assist in obliterating half the database should you require assistance.

[Danny D]

I believe the plugin you installed previously was TapTap or TapTalk.

Your plan sounds like quite a sensible approach.

The theme is secondary. We can quite happily get by with a temporary theme while Mark (?) tailors it. Take as much time as you need, even some downtime is worth the end result.

Bring us from 2001 to 2015 Master!

[Steve Camber]

Go for it. Just make a backup first

[Freshmaker]

As long as you don't go Alkis on us, I say GO!

[Danny D]

What dates do you have in mind for this Mark ?