Would you consider to make a XenForo version? (Kier Darby's new forum software)

[Alfa1]

While XenForo is still in its infancy, and not much is known about the hooks system that XenForo has, I do wonder if you are open to the idea to release a XenForo version of Vaultwiki?
http://xenforo.com/community/

[pegasus]

We are currently considering creating a version of VaultWiki for IPB in the future. However, this would be after the content type rewrite to make the transition easier.

While I am excited to see Kier working on a forum again, it depends how quickly XenForo takes to the market that will determine whether our port will be before or after the IPB port. It also depends if the plugin system that they implement offers at least the same amount of customization that vB3's did. While eval() has its extra overhead, it does allow you to modify anything in the current scope, which listener classes+methods don't really allow, unless they were written to emulate eval, in which case, I don't know if any performance is really saved... The best alternative I think is a file-based plugin system, where instead of eval() it just uses include() based on a registry of files, similar to how scheduled tasks are added in vB.

[pegasus]

Some reasons we have been hesitant to support even IPB: http://www.qualityposts.com/ForumMarketShare.php

While I am skeptical of the accuracy of that pie chart, it implies that the four main players are:

1. phpBB at < 77.3 %
2. vBulletin at < 19 %
3. SMF at < 2.3 %
4. Invision Power Board at < 0.6%

However, from my own browsing experiences, I'm inclined to agree with the numbers.
I am excited to hear about XenForo, and I guess it would make it to number 5.

However, from a shareholder's standpoint, it would make more fiscal sense to first port VaultWiki for phpBB, then SMF, then IPB, then XenForo. In order to do this, two things would need to be true:

1. The content-type rewrite would need to be complete. This would make most of VaultWiki's database content completely separate from main vBulletin data, with the exception of permissions and some other integrations.
   
2. To make code development easier, we would want a single branch that works on all forum software. The code itself would need to be refactored such that:
   
   1. Queries are formed dynamically. Joined default tables might have slightly different names and fields.
   2. Templates are parsed with a similar registry structure like vBulletin 4, so we call the class for whatever software we're running with relative ease.

[Alfa1]

PHPBB and SMF are free applications, so thats a totally different market. Admins may not be willing to pay for software.

[dvsDave]

I agree with Alfa1, it wasn't until I moved to vB from phpbb that I even considered buying an addon for my forums. @Alfa1 thanks for the link to xenforo, I'll be keeping an interested eye on this product.

[pegasus]

While I understand that not ALL phpBB admins will be open to paying for an addon:

• Commercial phpBB addons are not unheard of. I found a few doing some searches.
• Our stakeholders believe that due to the pure size of the phpBB base, even a small percentage (1%) being "in the market" could be a significant increase in potential client numbers for us.

However, the downsides:

• Paid phpBB addons are harder to find because of even more restrictive rules than vbulletin.org. Having an addon that no one can find is not good. We had that problem for a long time with the vBulletin-compatible release.
• Addons that use phpBB functions have to be released under GPL. I don't see how a product like VaultWiki would never call phpBB functions, especially when installing the product. I think there are some ways around this (like releasing phpBB-compatibility as a free extension to VaultWiki, but they still have to pay for VaultWiki itself). This would require VaultWiki to become extremely modular from a coding standpoint. I think we would have to do that anyway to add support for any other forum platforms.

However, as the days go on, I grow increasingly more excited about XenForo, and intend to do a port as soon as it's public.

[Alfa1]

Having an addon that no one can find is not good. We had that problem for a long time with the vBulletin-compatible release.

However, as the days go on, I grow increasingly more excited about XenForo, and intend to do a port as soon as it's public.

I think it would be useful to clearly voice this concern to Mike and Kier. Having a wiki addon for Xenforo will be much to their advantage, but it remains to be seen if they will provide any promotional platform to allow XenForo admins to find commercial addons. So far they seem against it, but are keeping their ears open.

[Mokonzi]

Perhaps there's call to move into encouraging a direct wiki within the software by default... perhaps an option for you there pegasus?

[pegasus]

We've begun rewriting VaultWiki to support integration with the 3 big commercial names, vBulletin, IPB, XenForo. See: http://www.vaultwiki.org/milestones/8/

Already added support for different template and plugin systems, but a database wrapper is a little trickier.

Because this will involve substantial changes to the code-base, our development site has been taken offline and moved to a local intranet.

[pegasus]

Just saw that IPB allows users to list commercial modifications on their site. Amazing.

[InformationNirvana]

XenForo 1.0 Beta Release (post is here)

We are targeting a release of XenForo 1.0 Beta 1 in the first week of October 2010, and a specific release date will be announced closer to this time. To be able to download the beta version, you will need to buy a license. There are no restrictions on who may buy a license or how many you may buy. Please note that beta releases are not supported and officially, we don't recommend running beta versions on production sites.

XenForo Prices and Terms

* Early Adopter Special Offer
The beta period will begin with a special offer period, during which licenses will be sold for $100 USD. After 24 hours, licenses will return to the normal price of $140. XenForo will go on sale next Tuesday, October 5th 2010, at some point during UK business hours. The special only lasts one day.

* Support and Updates
A license comes with 12 months of updates and ticket support. 12-month update and support extensions will be purchasable for $40.

Sounds like things are on the move at xenforo !

[Moses]

If you need beta testers for VW with XF I'm keen, I'll be buying the early adopter special and setting it up on a test blog, will be waiting for VW before migrating the live site.

[Moses]

I'm up and running with XF on my new forum, will wait for the XF port before moving over my main site (have a spare XF license ready though )

[sKippah]

83% Completed - Very good news. I will start to use xf as soon as i get some important Software for it
Important = VaultWiki

[Moses]

Where did you read 83% complete sKippah?