No.
Discourse is one of those modern JS abominations that will gradually, just like most of the modern web has done particularly over the past seven years or so, become incredibly bloated to use on slower connections/devices. Not everyone who is interested in the Pi has the hardware/bandwidth to keep up with the modern Internet, and heck, the Pi itself would probably crash on big threads due to the fact it uses infinite scroll.
phpBB is better than most of them, it keeps things simple, traditional and easy while still having a decent design (as of 3.2, it's definitely improved since its past self). Discourse feels like it's trying to make forums into bloated social media service design, which will steer away old members most likely.
Re: Should the Pi Forum switch to Discourse?
Being able to access the main website and forums using a Raspberry Pi to me is an obvious requirement that sometimes seems overlooked when the artists get to work. While the phpBB database design may not be the best, loading an entire thread (even dynamically) into the browser does not sound like a useful improvement.
If there is a change, I would recommend the people involved exclusively use the Raspberry Pi (preferably a Zero) as their daily desktop computer during the design, development and testing.
Re: Should the Pi Forum switch to Discourse?
Agreed.
It's absurd that the Raspberry Pi website is not tuned to the Raspberry Pi!
No Javascript. Or at least very little. I actually like Javascript as a language at it is very useful in web pages. But a forum should not require it at all.
It's absurd that the Raspberry Pi website is not tuned to the Raspberry Pi!
No Javascript. Or at least very little. I actually like Javascript as a language at it is very useful in web pages. But a forum should not require it at all.
Memory in C++ is a leaky abstraction .
Re: Should the Pi Forum switch to Discourse?
It's the animated 'GIF' or video as GIFs have become that bog downs Pi (and my RPi Desktop laptop) maxing then out at 100% sat watching the front page.
Why!
Luckily on Vivaldi you can make them only loop once, unfortunately Vivaldi seems to have become more of a hog than Chromium of late.
On a Pi3B/(+)
Why!
Luckily on Vivaldi you can make them only loop once, unfortunately Vivaldi seems to have become more of a hog than Chromium of late.
On a Pi3B/(+)
-
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Wed May 15, 2019 2:14 am
Re: Should the Pi Forum switch to Discourse?
I stumbled on this topic and the sheer around of misinformation is mind-boggling, so decided to register and respond.
You can also use the search at the top within any topic and tick the box to search within the topic.:
The URL increments as you scroll too, making it easy to share the position within a topic.
Links you directly to [reply 11,171 of 15,419](https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/wow/t ... 6463/11171).
This is... completely untrue. You can search within the browser, the last 20 posts are in-memory and searchable in the usual fashion just as any paginated topic would be.Heater wrote: ↑Fri Feb 15, 2019 6:02 amDiscourse does that infinite scrolling of threads rather than chopping them into pages of 20 or so posts.
That means:
1) When you are on a thread page you cannot search it in the browser for anything you might like to refer to or quote. It's likely not in the page.
You can also use the search at the top within any topic and tick the box to search within the topic.:
This also isn't true, Discourse retains your last read-to position, and even if you scroll back up it adds a back button to the topic navigation, allowing you to easily return to where you last read to. When you revisit a topic your progress is still synced to that location.
The URL increments as you scroll too, making it easy to share the position within a topic.
Discourse serves a flat version of topics up to Google, everything is crawled correctly and search results take you directly to the relevant post, rather than the top of the page where a post can be found. So for example this search hit on Google for WorldofWarcraft.com:
Links you directly to [reply 11,171 of 15,419](https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/wow/t ... 6463/11171).
I usually rate the topics I read here, it's odd to find a technology-centered community that doesn't bat an eyelid when one of the members gets it so wrong.
Re: Should the Pi Forum switch to Discourse?
Discourse is actually really good, but there are quite a few forumesque applications that have evolved far more than maybe what we have.
I say forumesque as what is a forum is less defined now like Slack and others mix up methods and actually are much more than just paint.
Dunno if its just me but the DuckDuckGo search here currently seems to suck eggs big style, forum works generally, bit mweh, but the search...
I say forumesque as what is a forum is less defined now like Slack and others mix up methods and actually are much more than just paint.
Dunno if its just me but the DuckDuckGo search here currently seems to suck eggs big style, forum works generally, bit mweh, but the search...
Re: Should the Pi Forum switch to Discourse?
I do prefer the older php style forums, but that's mostly due to the fact that it's what I'm used to.
I do also use a few Discourse forums, and while they are functional, it still feels off. Maybe it feels slow, or feels confusing as It's not what I"m used to, but if all forums go to Discourse then it's a case of adapt or die.
It's a shame Discourse doesn't have some sort of classic mode which could make it more like the php style forum to use, and while I don't hate Discourse forums, I don't really enjoy using them either.
I do also use a few Discourse forums, and while they are functional, it still feels off. Maybe it feels slow, or feels confusing as It's not what I"m used to, but if all forums go to Discourse then it's a case of adapt or die.
It's a shame Discourse doesn't have some sort of classic mode which could make it more like the php style forum to use, and while I don't hate Discourse forums, I don't really enjoy using them either.
Re: Should the Pi Forum switch to Discourse?
That might be a good idea, keep the existing system for Zero to 3's.Perhaps start afresh with the Pi4 at the latest and just get on with it from there.
Have a new one for Pi4.
How much different will the 4 be?
The volume of users for the Pi4 maybe much more 100 million users

And if it is Desktop replacement capable, maybe a entirely new audience.
I'm dancing on Rainbows.
Raspberries are not Apples or Oranges
Raspberries are not Apples or Oranges
Re: Should the Pi Forum switch to Discourse?
Yesss. Alienating one's customer base is the best known recipe for successful product launch. Especially if the product or the experience it provides is innovative...
"S'il n'y a pas de solution, c'est qu'il n'y a pas de problème." Les Shadoks, J. Rouxel
Re: Should the Pi Forum switch to Discourse?
Discourse that bad?Yesss. Alienating one's customer base is the best known recipe for successful product launch. Especially if the product or the experience it provides is innovative...
Perhaps just double up on the existing arrangement?
I'm dancing on Rainbows.
Raspberries are not Apples or Oranges
Raspberries are not Apples or Oranges
Re: Should the Pi Forum switch to Discourse?
We have no plans to change the forums right now. A new server was installed a month or two back which has improved performance, but its still stalls occasionally when banning users (ie spammers). On the whole though it's not too bad.
Principal Software Engineer at Raspberry Pi (Trading) Ltd.
Contrary to popular belief, humorous signatures are allowed.
I've been saying "Mucho" to my Spanish friend a lot more lately. It means a lot to him.
Contrary to popular belief, humorous signatures are allowed.
I've been saying "Mucho" to my Spanish friend a lot more lately. It means a lot to him.
Re: Should the Pi Forum switch to Discourse?
Missing "NO" ?
PeterO
Discoverer of the PI2 XENON DEATH FLASH!
Interests: C,Python,PIC,Electronics,Ham Radio (G0DZB),1960s British Computers.
"The primary requirement (as we've always seen in your examples) is that the code is readable. " Dougie Lawson
Interests: C,Python,PIC,Electronics,Ham Radio (G0DZB),1960s British Computers.
"The primary requirement (as we've always seen in your examples) is that the code is readable. " Dougie Lawson
Re: Should the Pi Forum switch to Discourse?
Principal Software Engineer at Raspberry Pi (Trading) Ltd.
Contrary to popular belief, humorous signatures are allowed.
I've been saying "Mucho" to my Spanish friend a lot more lately. It means a lot to him.
Contrary to popular belief, humorous signatures are allowed.
I've been saying "Mucho" to my Spanish friend a lot more lately. It means a lot to him.
Re: Should the Pi Forum switch to Discourse?
My (snarky, I apologize) remark had nothing to do with discourse itself, it relates to community "social amplification" and "influence" as they like to say.
RPT will launch a new product, they will say over every possible outlet: "It's the best we've ever made. Come and get it."
And almost everybody who hears that thinks "Yeah, sure. I'll think about it."
Friends and family (the existing community) will be the 1st to give it a try, out of faith. Once enough of them say "Gee. It IS the best I've ever bought", the product will gain momentum.
People can't be in 2 places at the same time, so spawning a new specific forum, splitting the family, would not be a good idea, esp. at launch.
The only realistic way is to shutdown one and start another. And migrate as much posts (the user experience proofs) as possible.
Last edited by epoch1970 on Fri May 17, 2019 10:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
"S'il n'y a pas de solution, c'est qu'il n'y a pas de problème." Les Shadoks, J. Rouxel
Re: Should the Pi Forum switch to Discourse?
Maybe this will now "put a lid" on the discussion.....
"Don't come to me with 'issues' for I don't know how to deal with those
Come to me with 'problems' and I'll help you find solutions"
Some people be like:
"Help me! Am drowning! But dont you dare touch me nor come near me!"
Come to me with 'problems' and I'll help you find solutions"
Some people be like:
"Help me! Am drowning! But dont you dare touch me nor come near me!"
Re: Should the Pi Forum switch to Discourse?
No, not yet:
We no have ? We now have not ? We not have plans ?
The road to insanity is paved with static ip addresses
Re: Should the Pi Forum switch to Discourse?
That would explain why I have not seen that message "we are very busy...." for some time.We no have plans to change the forums right now. A new server was installed a month or two back which has improved performance, but its still stalls occasionally when banning users (ie spammers). On the whole though it's not too bad.
How many users can the system handle at once?
I'm dancing on Rainbows.
Raspberries are not Apples or Oranges
Raspberries are not Apples or Oranges
Re: Should the Pi Forum switch to Discourse?
Put the 'no' in the wrong place, sorry. Updated (again). It's "no plans"
Principal Software Engineer at Raspberry Pi (Trading) Ltd.
Contrary to popular belief, humorous signatures are allowed.
I've been saying "Mucho" to my Spanish friend a lot more lately. It means a lot to him.
Contrary to popular belief, humorous signatures are allowed.
I've been saying "Mucho" to my Spanish friend a lot more lately. It means a lot to him.