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Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Tomorrow is just an advert for today
Sorry about the blog title. That phrase has been rattling around in my head for a few days and I had to exorcise it.
Moving on....
I've coined a phrase: RSS-Link (Lindy prefers RSSync which he came up with) which applies to a technique which is now possible with IPB 2.1.
I've set up an RSS export on my dev forum, and set up an RSS import on the IPS forums. I post in a certain forum on my dev board, and when the RSS export is updated, it's imported into the IPS forums.
Although replies and such are still handled locally, it's a neat little system when you want to share topics across two installations. In effect, RSS is merely a transport method for duplicating content. I guess that's what web development is all about. Don't expose the end user to the technology - just give them a nice interface and a will to use it.
RSS Link in action (.mov 2.9mb)
May 10, 2005 | Permalink
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Comments
Finally!
If IPB had this 2 years ago, I wouldn't had to f*** up two boards :p
Great addition!
Posted by: Franklin | May 10, 2005 4:36:48 PM
I guess that when you say "still" handled localy there might be a chance you'll make it possible to share also the replies(in both directions).
That would be an even nicer feature. I remember this being suggested by some other users to, not as RSS though, but this would be good.
Posted by: mikee aka Nicoo | May 10, 2005 4:58:17 PM
That one is nice :D keep up this nice movies that is so cool....
An they way, RSS Links is working is the boomb.
Posted by: Nuke | May 10, 2005 4:59:28 PM
RSSync sounds better :).
Posted by: Logan | May 10, 2005 7:39:42 PM
I agree with Lindy.
Posted by: Swords | May 10, 2005 7:56:58 PM
How would you pronouce RSSync? r-r-s-new-york-city??
RSS-Link is the better name.
Looks tops Matt
Posted by: Mike | May 10, 2005 11:45:11 PM
Now if the original RSS that posted the topic included meta data for a trackback link and that trackback link was used when a reply was posted.... hmmm ;)
Posted by: Chris Griego | May 11, 2005 5:23:17 AM
Well Chris Griego then Invision would be a glorified blog :-D
Posted by: | May 11, 2005 11:18:44 AM
I wonder how long it'll take for this feature to be ripped wholesale by an 'un-named' competitor. This blog seems to be a place of inspiration for some, which is nice.
Posted by: Matt | May 11, 2005 11:54:17 AM
Two points:
The first is the topic title. Wrong in so many ways, but for simplicity, or more accurately to not highlight how long I thought about it, I will leave it at that !
Secondly in terms of the idea transfer which seems mostly to be one way out of IPB, I believe an idea is one thing, but to take the idea, concept and template is something quite different.
I suppose one consolation Matt is it reflects on the good ideas you consistently move forward.
Posted by: Phil_B | May 11, 2005 2:57:15 PM
I strongly believe in the free-flow of ideas and concepts between competitors.
It pushes development faster and is better for the end user.
However, I don't think that one can simply port the implementation wholesale without at least putting your own touches to it or to enhance it someway.
Let's be honest, we've all taken ideas and concepts from other products; there's no shame in that. But, in most cases we've added something to it to develop it further.
What vB have done is simply take our idea, concept, logic, presentation and procedure and implemented it so blatantly that I actually consider it rude.
If they'd developed it and put their own touches then I would have filed it as "all's fair in love and development".
Posted by: Matt | May 11, 2005 3:46:08 PM
So true Matt! I think that goes with all *normal* developers.
Posted by: Lewis | May 11, 2005 4:24:56 PM
agreed, but cant you just trademark the process so if they want to follow the same path they have to innovate?
I believe inline moderation to be a big step forward and very different to the current method; I dont see why IPB cannot trademark such a process...
Posted by: Phil_B | May 11, 2005 5:24:43 PM
I don't really think that patenting everything is really a great step forward.
Just a nod in the direction of the creator is all that's required in most cases - or at least the effort of re-working so that its at least somewhat unique.
Posted by: Matt | May 11, 2005 5:30:26 PM
That’s one annoying thing I find about the internet – it’s so easy to copy/ use/ simulate others ideas. In business, especially in this case, they have the best of both worlds; using your features as well as maintaining their own.
I have just had something I’m working on patented and if it requires the same process I can see there being a cost constraint as well (infact anything involving lawyers has a cost constraint).
Anyhow, I look forward to 2.1…
Posted by: Phil_B | May 11, 2005 6:13:47 PM
Matt... it's looking nice. I can't wait to get my hands on it. About the competitor... I just looked over on their site and I can't believe how blatant they are being. They even seem to be saying their public beta will be about the same time as I hear yours will be.
As least you had it on the company forums first. Any way, hurry up and show those lazy bums who's boss.
Posted by: Myr | May 11, 2005 6:42:49 PM
So let me make an example.
Lets say someone develops a script with very small snippets and concepts of the same features in their script from yours. The snippets were sorta "copied" because they would be exactly the same as if they wrote it by their hand.
The concepts were developed themselves but did the same thing as where the idea came from.
Now lets say they copied a snippet that was somewhat large. However, they changed it and talored it to their needs and the snippet almost looks different.
At the same time, they gave total credit where credit was due for the whole process of all the ideas.
Explain to me which of those ideas are ok and which are wrong, if you could.
In my eyes, the last one would have to be determined on a case by case basis, I guess.
Chad
Posted by: Chad | May 11, 2005 9:23:02 PM
Perhaps you should keep all your new developments and ideas to yourself until the release, Matt. It would make it harder for vB to keep up if we didn't know the features until you released it, which would also give you an edge for a few months.
Don't get me wrong, I love the movies, but I think that being secretive on at least a few (major) features would be great.
Posted by: Danny | May 11, 2005 9:46:26 PM
I agree, he might just have to. After reading the announcement at vB, they practically just ripped all of Matt's ideas. It isn't fair, but I guess it happens.
Posted by: | May 11, 2005 11:54:22 PM
I'm not going to change my development ideals because a competitor took a cheap shot.
I'm pleased my humble "hobby" project often overlooked and ignored as a serious competitor by the self titled market leader has been such a rich source of inspiration.
When I read a post on their forums saying what a great idea in-line moderation or in-line editing is, I'll accept their thanks. ;)
Posted by: Matt | May 12, 2005 9:25:36 AM
Thank god for that. I love the way IPB is currently developed, and I check your blog most days. vB will steal your content anyway.
Posted by: Swords | May 12, 2005 10:56:39 AM
"What vB have done is simply take our idea, concept, logic, presentation and procedure and implemented it so blatantly that I actually consider it rude."
I suppose ripping ubb's linear thread viewing is rude to? Get over yourself, they coded their own php/mySQL/javascript just like you do, I'm sure you have taken just as many of their ideas as the have taken from you.
Posted by: | May 12, 2005 12:39:43 PM
Thank you for you well considered, knowledgable and balanced viewpoint anonymous vB fan.
Posted by: Matt | May 12, 2005 12:55:52 PM
After reading through the 19+ of mostly "moderated" pages over at vB I decided not to reply given the level of some of the replies.
Being influenced by many sources is a key to active development even if one of those sources is your competitor. The point here though is that vB have announced one of their top features (Inline Moderation) with it having the exact same look and function as IPB.
My opinion is that the hardest part (and were you make your money) in development is making the decisions of what should go into the software rather than the actual coding. Learning a language takes time, being able to make objective (and successful) decisions on how to move forward, given 1000’s of feature requests, determines a products long run success.
For me the bottom line is they have stole the latter and haven’t even given acknowledgement; rather they have denied it completely.
As a note I see a topic rate system as a small mod addition which has been heavily requested on every BB. The WYSIWYG editor has also been heavily requested but from what I understand it takes a very long time to make and hence other features were prioritized. Both of these are just ‘addons to the current environment’, the first one to the topic view, and the latter to the post view.
Inline Moderation and Inline editing are new concepts changing massively the way we use certain elements of the forum. Good to see IPB leading the way with the future direction of BB features..
Posted by: Phil_B | May 12, 2005 2:21:49 PM
http://files.vbulletin.com/3.5/ajax.html - Hmm, where have I seen that before?
They even stole the forum/thread marking idea. Damn I hope they go bankrupt!
Posted by: Lewis | May 12, 2005 4:06:12 PM
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