Question for the plugin creators..

[Former Member]

So does it majorly suck if/when you create a Plugin that 1) no one SEEMS to use [aka doesn't rate and/or doesn't post in the Support thread, etc.] or 2) seemed to be in high demand before you made it but then didn't seem popular once actually made or 3) was for a request and then the requester vanishes into the night? Or are you just kinda chill with it?

And what's your stance on feature requests [adding new things to your plugin or changing it]? Do you get annoyed when every post is a nitpick of multiple requests or do you enjoy the inspiration it might bring and ideas you didn't have before?

Just me being nosy. =)

[Wormopolis]

I assume nobody uses the plugin except the person who requested it. when I see it is been downloaded a bunch of times I am surprised. I dont really migrate towards high demand plugins. mainly because I cant provide the amount of support they probably need. look at how many pages of posts the top plugins have already. I dont really desire THAT much attention. I get aggravated when a single person constantly criticizes a plugin I wrote, usually telling them to just stop using it if its so bad. If I had written the money code, I probably would have exploded multiple times by now.

I never minded people adding requests to a plugin. Its why I leave all mine on Beta because sooner or later someone is going to come up with something that changes it again. all of the different options in colorsmear were suggestions over time from people that I just added into the plugin version all at once. if the suggestion just isnt doable, I will say it. if Its doable but would require a heavy rewrite, I might do it, but likely wont if its just going to cause more problems then increase value. if its something small then I might already be doing it in the version on the test board, but if not might very well be added into the next release. never bothered me at all. but people just have to keep in mind they get what they pay for, and plugin-mods are worked on like a new plugin would be - at the mercy of the author's free time.

the vanishing requester has been a recurrent situation on support for years. Its why we added the rule to thank the person who wrote the plugin for your request.

[P̌̓aͧś̀t̀u͒le͆o͂2̀3̃̓]

With all the trouble I have been through making my shop plugin, I have found the urge that when I'm finished I should make it user-friendly and editable and post it like the money shop plugin. I am using one of your plugins wormopolis and I like it, I hate that I can't just edit the source code though. I learned everything I know from using Todge's awards plugin as an example and taking it apart and digging through all of these old forum posts for snippets and studying. I couldn't have made my personal forum work with what I needed without snippets and input that you coder's have provided and the ideas and such that you spent coming up with. ? ??ƒ ?, You are a css master. It is evident in all that you do. Even if you don't get a personal thanks from all the people you create your plugins for. So many people today are too lazy to design the code, more or less thank the guy who spent 10 hours so it would work. But I thank all 5 or 10 of you who have made enough things to make even the beginner coder able to accomplish everything he needs. It's people like you that post, and Eton, That keep developers able to continue even if you aren't currently developing. So don't feel undervalued or under appreciated because I appreciate it. And those like me who will eventually come to this place in the future will probably thank you for the ground work that you have provided in making dreams come true, and for free.

[Former Member]

Wormopolis, I getchya. You probably published the most plugins in number thus far so I'm sure regardless of popularity you deal with a lot of support but I feel you always handle it well. If the person is being nice, you're nice and help them, simple as that. I've personally never had a problem with you and greatly appreciate that you pushed me months ago to take initiative and learn my way around coding instead of asking you stupid questions, truly can't thank you enough for that. I wish more people did what I did because of you and Tim Camara. For example, once someone explains what a div class is and where to put it in your mini-profile layout template, use that knowledge to apply to future situations instead of having to ask the same type of question again for the next plugin, yanno? Not that I'm some example to follow, dear Lord no, I ask so many support questions still and JavaScript remains so above my head despite constant attempts at learning it that I hope others to get much farther than me. x.x'

P̌̓aͧś̀t̀u͒le͆o͂2̀3̃̓, I know what you mean about the source code. I don't wanna mess with anyone's plugin and I do understand the desire to keep that private but I also know it'd be useful to help people learn. I just suggest grabbing the plugins that are open source, such as Jordan's. And your compliments are very kind, truly, but I'm not sure you mean them toward me because, alas, I have done no plugins. Just a plugin admirer. I've made a few personal Plugins but nothing I could release mainly because the coding is Dynamic Drive stuff, not really my own, and the Plugins I am capable of making are much easier accomplished with Layout Templates. Layout Templates are far more my bidding, I enjoy remodels and playing with the visible coding. If only JavaScript wouldn't elude me so =( I 100% agree with your comments, though, in regards to the plugin authors! There's only a handful of them compared to the thousands using their work and their plugins make so much possible for so many, they're really impacting a huge chunk of internet users (often with little appreciation). Hurrah to them!

Any other plugin authors wanna join in the conversation? Dun make me tag yo' names!

[P̌̓aͧś̀t̀u͒le͆o͂2̀3̃̓]

Javascript is more like a programming language. And programmers either have that mindset or they don't. Being able to program is sort of like being an artist. A natural ability is required or you will need tremendous studying.

[Shorty]

Dec 18, 2013 17:42:11 GMT -8 ₪» ⅀ ƪ Ƒ «₪ said:

So does it majorly suck if/when you create a Plugin that 1) no one SEEMS to use [aka doesn't rate and/or doesn't post in the Support thread, etc.]

Not at all. Like wormo said you create for one person who asks and don't expect it to used by many, and when it is its cool. But if no one posts in my support thread, honestly I'm okay with that. It means everything is working and I don't have to fix anything. LOL.

Dec 18, 2013 17:42:11 GMT -8 ₪» ⅀ ƪ Ƒ «₪ said:

2) seemed to be in high demand before you made it but then didn't seem popular once actually made

It doesn't really bother me. Like I said I'm good with the one person who requested it being the only one who uses it. I don't do it to make popular stuff. I do it because I enjoy doing it and I like learning more.

Dec 18, 2013 17:42:11 GMT -8 ₪» ⅀ ƪ Ƒ «₪ said:

3) was for a request and then the requester vanishes into the night? Or are you just kinda chill with it?

Don't think that's ever happened to me. But I wouldn't like it.

Dec 18, 2013 17:42:11 GMT -8 ₪» ⅀ ƪ Ƒ «₪ said:

And what's your stance on feature requests [adding new things to your plugin or changing it]? Do you get annoyed when every post is a nitpick of multiple requests or do you enjoy the inspiration it might bring and ideas you didn't have before?

Feature requests are nice. It makes the code something people will actually want to use. It's what they want so let them have what they want. Its for them to be begin with. Like Wormo said if it can't be done or it would be too much work and I don't want to do it, I'll say so, that shouldn't discourage anyone from posting their request.

[RedBassett]

While I haven't written any plugins for a while, mine have all been super-specific low-demand things. I really don't care how many people use them, as none were major projects for me.

As for learning from plugins, I keep the plugin's actual source uneditable, but most of my plugins are hosted publicly on GitHub, so people can look them over or fork them if they like. I've been in a bad habit of keeping most of my major projects closed-source lately, so I figured I would open-source the smaller plugin projects.

[Pebble]

Dec 18, 2013 17:42:11 GMT -8 ₪» ⅀ ƪ Ƒ «₪ said:

So does it majorly suck if/when you create a Plugin that 1) no one SEEMS to use [aka doesn't rate and/or doesn't post in the Support thread, etc.]
or 2) seemed to be in high demand before you made it but then didn't seem popular once actually made or 3) was for a request and then the requester vanishes into the night? Or are you just kinda chill with it?

And what's your stance on feature requests [adding new things to your plugin or changing it]? Do you get annoyed when every post is a nitpick of multiple requests or do you enjoy the inspiration it might bring and ideas you didn't have before?

Just me being nosy. =)

Just my personal point of view... 
I code & write plugins because I enjoy it! Sometimes its Poker, chess, bejeweled blitz3 , soduko , etc , etc  or coding..... ( or other things away from the laptop! )
So, from that point of view it doesn't matter if its not the most popular plugin.... But it is nice to see other people using it.
When v5 came out, it was all new and interesting and I had the time to write plugins but have to admit that at the moment real life is super busy and I don't have the time for the support that goes along with adding a plugin to the proboards library. I have maybe 30 or 40 plugins over at IOD and another 5 or 6 that are written but not released. The reason for that is that the IOD members tend to be regulars and not 'hit and runners' , I know their level.....  Some I can say 'Do that' and others need a walk through. Both are fine, but I like people to learn from what they are doing, the same as I did. Not just blindly following instructions.

I like the request part of it. Sometimes there is an idea that I really like and gives me inspiration. The same goes for suggestions of improvements. ( that doesn't include ' I want to center this and move it 3 pixels down and then..... that just bugs me! )

I also have no idea how a RPG site works so that just loses me! 

I think in general, and I'm sure this goes for most people that write plugins, If the request is detailed and interesting, it's more likely to get a response. If the coder has to dig for info, then it's likely to be overlooked ( and we all hope Wormopolis  will take it on! )

[Wormopolis]

pfft.. I have to take a vacation in order to completely focus on a larger plugin at this point.

[Former Member]

Is it still considered a vacation then?

[Texas]

I normally don't care how much my plugins are used. I really haven't written that many, and I'm fairly new at programming. But most of the requests I fill are relatively small and generally are for a single persons specific use. (with the exception of the Gold Shop ) I don't really mind people criticizing my work either, usually it's for a good reason, and if it's not, well there are just people like that in this world. What really does annoy me though, is when people find a problem with my code (or think they've found a problem with my code) and then go immediately give me a one star review, without ever coming to me. And then when the problem is fixed ( if there was a problem in the first place ) they won't go back and at least remove their review.