The data migration to the new forum feels solid, so we're now ready for the beta testing phase to begin!
The new forum is at:
https://forum.paravia.com/
The Getting Started Guide is at:
https://forum.paravia.com/t/getting-started-guide/707
What can I do?
- Create a new account via the "Sign Up" button on the forum homepage using a valid email address. Pick your favorite username, as this account will carry over when we go live.
- Explore the new forum and get comfortable with the basics: categories and tags, reading and navigating posts, and creating topics and replies. If you create new test topics using the "Sandbox" tag in the Meta category, I'll make sure to delete those before we go live.
- Post any feedback about usability and style in the "Plans for a New Forum" thread on the new forum. I'm especially interested to hear if there are aspects that make the new forum difficult for your personal use or things you do in the Chat Area that you can't figure out how to do on the new forum. I will do what I can to correct the most urgent issues before we go live, and schedule other requests in the future.
What happens to the Chat Area during the beta test?
- The Chat Area remains the authoritative place to get news and updates. Janny will continue posting news and updates in the Chat Area during the beta test.
- Janny, herself, will not be reading the new forum until we switch over. You should continue to post in the Chat Area if you want her to see your post.
- I will frequently sync new posts from the Chat Area to the new forum so nothing will be lost. This means that you could ostensibly switch over to the new forum early if you wanted to, and you wouldn't miss any news.
What happens to data in the new forum after the beta test?
- There will be no more database rollbacks. Any accounts you create, preferences you save, or posts you make will carry over when we go live.
- I will delete any posts with the "Sandbox" tag in the Meta category when we go live.
- I will not be migrating any new posts back to the Chat Area.
How long is the beta test?
The length depends on how much feedback I receive, and how long it will take to address the critical issues. I'm envisioning 1 week if everyone takes to the new forum like ducks to water, and up to 3 weeks if we need more refinement.
What are the other phases?
- A soft launch (1 - 2 weeks), where we stop posting in the Chat Area. The new forum becomes the authoritative one but we don’t announce it beyond the regular visitors here until we’re sure that all of the kinks are worked out.
- A hard launch, where we archive and delete the Chat Area, redirect all links and bookmarks, and live in the future!
Please say something if anything is scary or unclear. I'm probably providing way more detail than necessary in these nerd posts, but I want to make sure that every step we take towards a new permanent home is well-telegraphed, and that the place we end up is welcoming, active, and inclusive.
Regards,
BU