68 replies to this topic

[kymation]

@Harald Ponce de Leon -- I agree on all points. Having separate v2.x and v3.x is probably a good idea as well.

@Juto -- Modules require the oscTemplate class to work, plus a few other bits. The modules are all 2.3.1, so some additional changes might be needed to get things to work with your "not quite" version. See the Modular Front Page Addon.

Regards
Jim

Edited by kymation, 10 April 2012 - 08:20 PM.

[burt]

Harald Ponce de Leon, on 10 April 2012 - 08:07 PM, said:

Hi All..

Back on topic regarding requests for commercial support, what are the thoughts of:

1) Adding an extra forum channel for all commercial requests, or extra channels for v2.x and v3.x
2) Allowing members to post enquiries for free
3) The forum channel(s) are private so topics from other members are not seen
4) Community and Corporate Sponsors can view all topics in the forum channel(s)
5) Questions can be posted as replies - offers can be sent via PM

All excellent ideas.  For Point 1, probably 1 channel, but have people post their version number in the title of the request?  Point 2 is very important to maintain as free of charge.

Quote

The issue of "certified developers" is a different matter. This post just focuses on requests for commercial support and something that can be done now.

I can see that a certification system could be problematic.

[DunWeb]

@Harald Ponce de Leon

Quote

1) Adding an extra forum channel for all commercial requests, or extra channels for v2.x and v3.x
2) Allowing members to post enquiries for free
3) The forum channel(s) are private so topics from other members are not seen
4) Community and Corporate Sponsors can view all topics in the forum channel(s)
5) Questions can be posted as replies - offers can be sent via PM

I think this is a suitable solution.  However, I think that anyone who is going to offer paid service should be required to be at least a community sponsor.  If developers are going to make a profit from being on this forum, they can also support the project as a sponsor.  Just a suggestion.


Chris

Edited by DunWeb, 10 April 2012 - 08:27 PM.

[Harald Ponce de Leon]

Hi Chris..

DunWeb, on 10 April 2012 - 08:26 PM, said:

I think this is a suitable solution.  However, I think that anyone who is going to offer paid service should be required to be at least a community sponsor.  If developers are going to make a profit from being on this forum, they can also support the project as a sponsor.  Just a suggestion.

That's covered in #4 - Community and Corporate Sponsors will be able to view all topics. Members will only see their own topics.

Kind regards,

[DunWeb]

Harald Ponce de Leon, on 10 April 2012 - 08:31 PM, said:

Hi Chris..



That's covered in #4 - Community and Corporate Sponsors will be able to view all topics. Members will only see their own topics.

Kind regards,

Oh ok Harald, thanks for the clarification.


Chris

[Biancoblu]

Harald Ponce de Leon, on 10 April 2012 - 08:07 PM, said:

Hi All..

Back on topic regarding requests for commercial support, what are the thoughts of:

1) Adding an extra forum channel for all commercial requests, or extra channels for v2.x and v3.x
2) Allowing members to post enquiries for free
3) The forum channel(s) are private so topics from other members are not seen
4) Community and Corporate Sponsors can view all topics in the forum channel(s)
5) Questions can be posted as replies - offers can be sent via PM

The issue of "certified developers" is a different matter. This post just focuses on requests for commercial support and something that can be done now.

Kind regards,

This is an excellent idea in my opinion, both for developers and potential clients. This will make a great addition to the community.

[Harald Ponce de Leon]

Hi All..

Two forum channels have been added for commercial support enquiries for the v2.x and v3.x forum categories.

Forum members can post their enquiries in the channels and can only see their own topics in the channels. Community Sponsors and Corporate Sponsors can see all topics in the channels.

Please report enquiries made outside these channels so they can be moved to the appropriate channel.

Kind regards,

[DunWeb]

Hi Harald,

Will the Community Sponsors be listed on a separate page, similar to how the corporate sponsors are currently listed on the tabs?   Perhaps a new tab can be added for Community Sponsors ?  This way members can see a full list of Community Sponsors.  Just an idea......




Chris

[Harald Ponce de Leon]

Hi Chris..

That will be done for the new website. Links have been added in the forum channel description that point to the forum member list filtered to show Community Sponsors, and to the Corporate Sponsors on the website.

Kind regards,

[DunWeb]

Thanks Harald.



Chris

[kymation]

I am quite happy to have been proved wrong. Thanks Harald.

Regards
Jim

[GemRock]

not sure how this 'commercial support' or 'channel' or 'sub-forum' (or whatever fancy word one may come up with) means. i shall wait and see. does this 'commercial support' only open to the currently a handful of 'community sponsors'? some of whom look very much like purely online business owners who have no interest or expertise in technical support be it either 'commercial' or 'free'.

Ken

[Harald Ponce de Leon]

Hi Ken..

Any forum member can post their commercial enquiry in the new channels, whether it be a small job to have something fixed urgently or to help develop a new shop with customizations.

Forum members will only see their own topics in the channel. Other topics from other members are hidden.

Only Community Sponsors and Corporate Sponsors are able to see every topic from every member and can contact them to offer their services.

Not all Community Sponsors are developers - those that are, are more than capable of providing direct technical support.

Our users now have the following options to receive commercial support:

• Corporate Sponsors
  
• Commercial Support forum channels
  
• Live Chat

Kind regards,

[14steve14]

I am just suprised that has been sorted so quick.  It took months and months of complaints just to get a but of text to say version 3 was for developers only.  Lets hope that the newest version of oscommerce comes along just as quick. Usually things take years to get moving.

[GemRock]

Hello Harald

thank you for the reply. it now seems i understand it quite correctly, ie, this 'commercial support channel' ONLY opens to community sponsors (and the other kind of sponsors most of whom would not have much interest) with regard to offerinng/accepting job openings/requests. eg, a member John Doe wants to hire someone to do a bit of work on his webshop and he posts a fee-paying request/enquiry, then only John Doe and *community sponsors* can see John Doe's request. other 99.9% of members are irrelevant and will always see the 'commercial support' with zero topic and zero replies despite now at least John Doe has posted an enquiry, because they are neither John Doe nor 'community sponsors'. or i am missing something?

the relevant pages of this website seem to have the need to revise to reflect the unique privilege/advantage of being a sponsor.

....wonder why some are so keen to have this channel on...
Ken

Edited by GemRock, 12 April 2012 - 12:35 PM.

[burt]

GemRock, on 12 April 2012 - 12:32 PM, said:

...

To give more choice to the community.

Users of osCommerce can now find the professional help they need, if they wish to do so, via this forum (the best place to find an expert in osC) rather than have to go to some external site and pick up a developer who has no clue what they are doing.

It's all about choice.  There is nothing stopping people from doing what they have already done, and going to "lance" type sites.  

What this new channel will cut down on is people who ask for professional help being spammed via PM.  Those who don't have the required privileges to view the forum need to pay a few euros per month to be able to do so, and that small cost goes towards whatever Harald wants to put it to, be that site costs or beer or cake.  Everyone is a winner, other than those developers who choose not to spend 10 euros per month to view the topics.

[GemRock]

well, not sure this 'commercial channel' forum  would be the best place to find an expert in osC. i reckon 99% of those who have the expertise and have proved themselves to be among the best osc experts through the years on all the traditional 'channels' albeit not sponsors.
pitty it only costs a few £s to be a sponsor. imho, an insult to the community/receiver. had it be 10 folds plus of that money, i could consider to be a sponsor.
yep, one could choose to pay more but is it fair? no.

Ken

[spooks]

I do wonder at this commercialization at this stage when it is very evident to me coming back here after my long absence how much quieter the forum is.

As it is reading the replies of some they're effectively saying here's a little snippet, pay me and I`ll give the whole story.

Too much commercialization could be the final straw to osC.

[GemRock]

i suspect 'community sponsors' would find them compete with people from the east, who would soon register as a 'sponsor@ (while its still cheap!), and then bid for the jobs on offer with the lowest fee yet reasonable coding skills (yes there are no shortage of good developers from that part of world - you know where IT/software jobs have been 'outsourced' to dont you?). abused is the word coming to mind.

Ken

[cannuck1964]

These new forums should be extended for hosting services etc as well.

In regards to the certification of developers, well what will make a developer certified? A test? Previous experience with osC?  Education? Code development (even if done poorly)?

Certification is an interesting idea, but unless you have a set of controls, on going skills upgrades and liability issues (if Harald certifies a firm, does thsat make him liable as well?) this idea really is a non starter.

The idea of members posting requests in these new forums has been an idea talked about for 10 years (imagine I have been around that long now, wow).  I see two sides to this, as Harald should attain something for this (he is working on the project and I do not see others offering to cover his wages), and to ensure it is of service to the community at large.

Yes users can go to other places, but these other places generally mean you will not find an osC coder who really specializes in osC and related technologies.  Coming here is the logical choice for finding developers who really specialize in osC.  I used to be here daily, but my life has been pretty busy lately and I have found less time here (and maybe facebook had an impact too) but I know where my roots are from and always like to come in when I can and offer an opinion or two on interesting topics.

So, I am glad Harald has decided to create these two new forums, I think it will bring balance and help to those who need it and those who do support osC.  I also think Harald should monatize the service as he is offering something to these shop owners and they are the direct recipients of his work, his generousity and the community at large.

cheers