Improved Code that Powers Your Website

The SimpleUpdates coding team have been busy this summer. We are ready to deploy this improved code starting this week.

Features in this update:
1) Improved session data handling and data refresh upon changes.
2) URL’s will no longer have a hash, avoiding issues with these in the URL’s.
3) Decreased code size, making it more efficient.
4) Four months of accumulated bug fixes since the code was frozen for these core updates.
5) Improved code update roll out speeds.
6) Sessions will stay open longer — up to one day.
There is now an option that you can check “Stay Signed In” which will hold your session open indefinitely.
These changes will make it more important to logout when you are using a public computer. Before sessions would expire in much shorter times. So, to avoid account compromise, remember to logout.

We will be applying these updates to all sites starting tomorrow and extending over the next two weeks. During the update process a specific site will be in maintenance mode and unavailable for under one minute. We plan the updates to be in the morning hours (9:00 am – 11:00 am EST) on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of each week. If you notice anything not working optimally, please send an email <support@SimpleUpdates.com> or call 269-473-3687 and let us know. Ideally you will not see any difference in the function of your website. All of these improvements are being provided at no extra cost to you, and are a part of our on-going code improvement initiative.

We are also accepting beta test sites for the newest version of the WYSIWYG editor. This is an extirely new version of the editor, built with more speed, and some real improvements that sites will enjoy. If you wish to be a part of this beta test group, you can signup at: http://Beta.SimpleUpdates.com/

Please keep sending us your ideas and suggestions on how to make SimpleUpdates the best CMS you could use!

Happy Birhday SimpleUpdates

Today, SimpleUpdates turns 8.0. we have just launched our new calendar module, along with months of work and improvements.

We have been talking for a long time in this blog and the email newsletter about calendar 2.0, and it is finally launched!

Users will also enjoy many additional updates and improvements that have launched along with the calendar code. So congratulations to the entire team on SimpleUpdates turning 8.0.

SU Module Builder

Hello friends,

Today I was introduced to a new tool in the SimpleUpdates.com CMS. This new tool aims to simplify and speed up the process of creating a custom module for SimpleUpdates by having the builder do all of the repetitive tasks of module creation. It is the brain child of our lead programmer, Matthew Leffler, and it has already been put to good use.

First, I should make sure you all know what we mean by the term “module”. This is a script or set of scripts that perform a special function as an add on to the core SimpleUpdates CMS. An example is the calendar module, the photo gallery module, and many others.

Back to the module builder. The key component of the module builder is the YAML file. This file allows you to specify the database tables, the fields in each table, and the inter relationships of the fields and tables.

SimpleUpdates is a MVC system, meaning there are Model, View and Controller files. These are all created automatically by module builder.

There are several view file options, and you are able to select which view files you want created.

With the YAML file defining the module fields, the heavy lifting work is completed automatically.

The module builder is a tool SimpleUpdates will use internally. At this time we are not sure of this tool would be helpful to our end users or resellers. The view files still require some layout customization. We will see how this progresses, and we all look forward to plenty of custom modules.

What custom module would you like us to work on for you?

iPad Launch

The much talked about Apple tablet “iPad” has been unveiled. This device will run the iPhone apps we have already been working on, and I think will extend the reach of the iPhone OS applications even further.

Stay tuned as we consider how this exciting development can be harnessed by the SimpleUpdates team.

Simple usability testing

I have talked about usability testing for some time, but the talk got bogged down in looking for supporting technology, and thinking I wanted statistical validation.

Matthew shared a link with me that is interesting, and I think is right on: testing with one person is 100% better than no usability testing.

Calendar 2.0 Beta Launch

it has been a long time in coming, and today we are excited to offer the Calendar 2.0 to any SimpleUpdates site who would like an early test of the new calendar module.

Contact Darryl at SimpleUpdates.com to be included.

Our goal is to launch the module to the network in early January 2010.

Snowy Day!

Today the snow was falling, and I spent a fair bit of time moving it around. I have discovered that a snow blower is a blessing and a curse. I can’t imagine moving the many tons of snow by hand (it was therefore a blessing), but after using it for most the morning, I have discovered some sore muscles (a curse?)

No…. It is good to get such good exercise, but I would not mind spreading it out a bit more evenly. (The volume of exercise that is.)

in the mean time, the SimpleUpdates staff were happy to be on the phone with you our customers than to be outside with me!

New welcome menu feature

The next time you are browsing your site, and you see something you would like to edit, try something new!

Login as you always would, and notice a new set of links on the top right of the welcome menu.

We have listed the recently visited page title, and an (edit) link so you can easily resturn to that page, or you can choose to edit with one click right off of the welcome menu.

Look for these welcome menu links the next time you login!

Google Wave preview

I have been playing with Google Wave thanks to an invitation from Lucian.

I have enjoyed working with it. My only technical complaint is that chaning into the settings wave seemed quite slow. (and making everything be inside a wave seems perhaps wave overkill.)

On first impression I think this idea would be good for a team communication / collaboration tool.

At present there are so few people signed up, that communication is slower than via email. (You have to login to check your waves, and at present it may be just another place to loging and check for messages.)

We will all have to keep an eye on this technology and see how it develops, and how many people stat to use it.

Calendar nearing completion

We have good news! Our completely re-written calendar module is nearing the beta testing phase.

We are starting now to work on documentation related to the module. We are excited about this upgrade, and are interested in a group of you who may want to beta test it for us. More info soon!