Easy Button Creating a Social Network with Drupal 5 or 6?
I'm a novice or what I like to call "wanna be geek" who does not getting my hands dirty. I have test installations of Elgg1.0, Drupal 6, just rolled back Drupal 5 and have installed countless modules.
I think I'm on the right path with Drupal 5. I am concerned about future proofing BUT am more concerned to give users a FUN and EASY BUTTON experience.
My key goals:
- All user content behind a garden wall meaning custom access denied message for non members to all user content except a small amount of teaser content.
- Have almost all RSS buttons and links removed, tis a big hole in the garden wall.
- All function and more then a "Yahoo Group" (email subscribe, photo gallery, etc...)
- Close to Facebook style syndication of members activity. Actually if I could have facebooks platform to use I would be very happy!
- Segment groups of users for private access forums and or content.
- Make it fun with typical SN activities.
- Some users will use this site as part of there biz so it has also be accessible in a "non time wasting fashion" in and out quick.
I've decided interrogation Gallery2 into Drupal :)
Which forum to use is an issue. I got phpBB3 into Drupal 6. Am playing with Advanced Forums (and other plugs) with Drupal 5. I want a powerful forum BUT easy button access and two profiles may be confusing. Am about to try phpBB3 interrogation into Drupal 5. (phpBB3 only supports RSS with a mod) Don't really feel like paying for vB but might have to.
I've looked at, have installed or have on my to test out list, all SN modules listed as the ones to get.
Questions:
1. I wish I could use Drupal 6 but I am going down the path of Drupal 5 right now. Any one wanna stop me before I waste more time?
2. Any advice on which forum app to use.
AND thank you to all who have contributed to Drupal. Most who have who have contributed have given me many EASY BUTTONS!!!
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Depends on how big of a hurry you're in. We've hit a point where D6 is gaining serious momentum. I wouldn't start a new D5 site at this point unless I needed it before the end of the year. Panels is really the biggest missing module for me and it's in progress.
Bridges are a pain. I use G2 on one site because I really need the gallery features it provides that Drupal doesn't at this point. The same could be said for forums. If your forum needs are so great that Drupal just can't cut it, then look at a bridge. Otherwise, using Drupal for forums on a Drupal site is easier than dealing with a bridge and keeping versions in sync.
Michelle
See my Drupal articles and tutorials or come check out the Coulee Region
Thanks Michelle
Thanks for replying Michelle. I've been all over your websites analyzing Advanced forum and read many of your comments through out Drupal :)
I want to be in a hurry with my site. The timing is right as "stuff is hitting the fan" behind the scenes of my target group of users.
Yes the bridges are a pain. The G2 bridge works pretty good with minor glitches. I've been a fan and a mod on phpBB boards for years. I'm looking at more options. Once I get close to production I'll have a copy test site to share with Drupal Users. The real site will be member only and I'll piss off the members if I let outsiders in :)
Marc
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Yeah, it's a bad time to be in a hurry. D6 is so close to being usable but just not quite there yet. (For contrib, I mean. Core is fine.)
G2 is pretty good as far as bridges go but I still miss having the content be actual Drupal content.
If you decide to use Drupal's forum, I'd be interested in your input on making moderation better. That's something I plan on tackling in a few months.
Michelle
See my Drupal articles and tutorials or come check out the Coulee Region
KK
I'm deciding to use the Drupal forum and avoid bridge cons. Will let you know how moderation turns out although my group should pretty well self moderate. Also deciding to stay with Drupal 5 right now. I can't predict when my site is going to launch but the sooner the better. If D6 is ready before I am then I'll switch back up to it. There's just to many things missing from D6 and this is my 1st Drupal site so I want to play it safe.
Currently I've lost User Badge and User Titles from displaying next to forum posts and comments.
With my RSS concern of content leaking past the garden wall I switched RSS feeds to "Title Only". I still have to figure out how to remove RSS feed buttons, but that got put lower on my to do list.