I decided it was time for an update in some way or form so this time we’re talking MyBB again along with my recent commits and what else is happening.
We’ve recently taken on a few new team members whose input I greatly appreciate both on the forums and with the development of MyBB. I look forward to working with Michael, Michael and Luke for our future releases and their support on the forums.
Rewritten Javascript
Some know and others don’t. It was decided to rewrite the javascript in MyBB to incorporate a more ‘oop’ approach and further stick to our coding standards (Separate standards now exist for the javascript in MyBB)
It has taken a while, but I can safely say that this is complete and several javascript libraries now exist for different parts of the board:
- General
- Inline moderation
- Code buttons editor
- Posting pages
- Thread view pages
It was also decided that we would adopt some external javascript libraries into MyBB to make our lives easier, but also provide some functionality we would be requiring.
At first, Peter and I had decided that we were going to use script.aculo.us. After further researching, though it provided everything we wanted - including prebuilt auto complete and inline edit capabilities, it put a severe overhead on the pages. (We’re talking over 100 KB here).
A decision needed to be made. We opted for the very tiny moo.fx in which the base library weighs in at 4 KB, contains a stripped down version of prototype (Another javascript library - 7 KB), and the optional effects pack (7 KB). mad4milk also provide a super tiny AJAX library called moo.ajax. We’ll also be making use of this in MyBB.
Then finally there was the complete rewrite of the code buttons editor shown on posting pages. Finally though, no more separate templates for users editing with or without the editor - the toolbars and everything are automatically generated on the fly. Cross browser compatibility was a pain but I think I’ve got it all sorted.
The key thing to remember about MyBB is that all javascript on the client side of the board is completely optional. Those without javascript won’t see functionality they won’t be able to use (such as the quick quote - wait, that’s a new feature! and quick delete buttons)
Searching
Those with big boards would know that the search system in MyBB currently is nothing to be proud about and is fairly non-functional on very large boards. It had to be rewritten.
So now:
- Search results are queried for once in do_search and are then cached in the searchlog table.
- Searching is now AND by default. Users can perform and/or matching by modifying their search terms - ex, “Google or Yahoo”.
- Administrators can specify the minimum search term length.
- Search IDs (sid) are no longer integers. This means users cannot simply increase the sid by one to view another persons search results. They’re a unique md5′d string.
- Provisions have been put in place for fulltext and boolean searching with MySQL. This functionality still has to be written though (I’ll get to that at a later stage).
Installation
I’ve also given the installer a bit of love too. It may contain a few hints of the new Admin CP layout (Due to be released in a later version). Of course, no previews until the release.
And there you have it, a quick update of what is going on with MyBB and where we’re at.
Comments
Michele (February 26th, 2006, 4:15 am)
Very very interesting. I look forward to the next release, but when is it due?
Michael (kodaks) (February 26th, 2006, 6:22 am)
Sounds great, I like the new search function ideas! Cheers!
Belloman (February 26th, 2006, 3:58 pm)
Wow, sounds great.
Does this mean that there won’t be a new ACP in 1.2? I guess I can wait… but other than that, still sounds great. I can’t wait for the next release, and to see what you have done with it!
Tikitiki (February 26th, 2006, 4:02 pm)
updates are lovely… Is an “Inline Post Editor” going to be implimented? Because if it is, I dont want to pain myself with continuing to make it
Other than that sounds like alot of stuff has been happening. Glad to see MyBB is on the move and moving pretty quickly
Peter Akkies (February 26th, 2006, 8:00 pm)
1.2 is coming along nicely now, just some parts to write up and then I suppose we’re ready for some beta’s. I must say the new installer is looking great, Chris!
Musicalmidget (February 27th, 2006, 1:29 am)
I have to agree that the new installer is looking fantastic. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the old one, but the new one…wow!
ST (February 27th, 2006, 10:15 am)
Awesome to hear, really!
2 questions:
1) Caching seems to be the buzzword of 2005/2006. Will myBB cache templates and such to files?
2) Does (/ will) myBB have a search flood filter to avoid DDoSing?
Tikitiki (February 27th, 2006, 11:51 am)
How can you get in on the beta(s)?
Chris Boulton (February 27th, 2006, 12:44 pm)
We don’t want to rush the inclusion of the new Admin CP. We want it all well thought out and intuitive. So we won’t be seeing it for a while.
It won’t cache templates to files - due to the current design of the template system. We plan to further the template system so that it has this functionality, in a future release.
Not at the moment. I forgot to include that in my updated seach script, but I can add it quite easily.
We’ll be contacting you.
In terms of the release, we still have a fair bit of code to rewrite so we could be a while.
Belloman (February 27th, 2006, 1:38 pm)
Okay, that makes sense. Good to hear that you want it to be well thought out, so then it’ll blow the old one away
So you’ll be contacting those who you think should be in the beta(s)?
Christian585 (February 27th, 2006, 4:37 pm)
About the Beta(s) can I get involved? I would love to help in any way.
Peter Akkies (March 1st, 2006, 4:30 am)
[…] Okay, so it’s still far away, but it’s how MyBB 2.0 should be in my opinion. After we release MyBB 1.2 soon (read Recently with MyBB by Chris to get an idea of what will be in), there will most likely be 1.4 release before 2.0. The 1.2 release will be a feature release; we have rewritten large parts of the code and more important, improved the structure of the code and improved the speed of MyBB. The next major release, MyBB 1.4, will be more of the same. The development team will continue bug fixing, improving code and adding new features. There’s also a good chance the new ACP will be included in the 1.4 release, but I won’t continue on that topic too much right now. […]
Tikitiki (March 1st, 2006, 2:31 pm)
Ok thats good. If the ACP isnt included in 1.4, I will be included in 2.0 (or 1.5 if their is one)?
Valerio (March 4th, 2006, 4:13 am)
Sounds good! I’m searching for a simple forum, to replace minibb for moofx forums. MyBB looks great!
John Anderton (March 4th, 2006, 7:13 am)
erm … nice few changes. Cant wait for the next release to check it out
lou_habs (March 9th, 2006, 12:36 pm)
Keep at it. Nothing better than news about mybb!
Hoping you contact me. Honestly, there wouldn’t be a better wish for me then to actually help out more than just reporting an important bug that can force people to post without their knowledge (which btw, was credited to wdz for I don’t know what reason)
Chris Boulton (March 9th, 2006, 12:57 pm)
Lou, which bug were you talking about? I wouldn’t have credited to WDZ unless there was some specific reason.
I have another update for here soon (regarding data handlers - and how much of a pain they’ve been to “get right”). Things are still coming along.
Oh yeah, fulltext searching is fully implemented now too.
Tikitiki (March 10th, 2006, 3:48 pm)
cool
Can’t wait. Are the ‘&’ (bitwise?) operators going to be implimented. I never really understood the difference between the two (’&’ and ‘&&’)
lou_habs (March 10th, 2006, 10:05 pm)
The one where people could post using an online script. Didn’t you fix this?
Chris Boulton (March 11th, 2006, 12:19 am)
Tiki, for this release - there most probably won’t be any use of bitwise operators. Such an implementation is a fairly large one - one we’ll be focusing on after 1.2.
Lou, Which one would that be exactly? The one where somebody could perform a GET request and post on the board? Or something else?
Paul (March 11th, 2006, 11:54 am)
This REALLY excites me. I’ve been a myBB fanboy since it was released in the pre-RC1 days. Back then it was actually not as good looking IMO o.o But, I really like how clean it looks now.
Just reading this makes me drool. Almost literally too. Just used 1.1 on a new forum, and it makes me want 1.2 with all those features! Especially the Quick Edit and stuff.
GREAT work so far though! I think myBB is the best free bulletin board script out there … eventually I see it as the best one out there, regardless of paid or not.
lou_habs (March 11th, 2006, 12:45 pm)
The get request thing. Was used against me.
Tikitiki (March 12th, 2006, 8:43 am)
that was fixed in one of the security upgrades
lou_habs (March 12th, 2006, 2:17 pm)
And Wdz was credited for me. I wasn’t. It should’ve been both of us
xiaozhu (March 14th, 2006, 8:17 pm)
MyBB 1.2 seems to be very exciting. I hope I can get to experience the Beta :p!
smethead (May 9th, 2006, 3:39 am)
Sounds pretty cool
But I hope there will be some modding for me left. PR2 had the Searchbots implemented, 1.2 will have numbered reputation points and Quick Quote. ARS and QQuote are two of my most downloaded plugins :/