I have read some of the threads in this topic and, if I may add, it is not quite the answers users should wonder about.
4images was first released as a basic photo-album on this site. Then, it has evolved gradually day-after-day. Then, more came in (generally speaking - no matter which sections on this forum).
Then, many more features were announced & published (and that includes 4images release version itself from the DEVs).
Meaning, the real questions to reflect on are the followings :
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Do we really need a new version release of 4images ?-
Do we require additional features as part of the core rather than using independant intergration of each MODs ?-
Will the current caching modulation handle all (or most of) the already published MODs on this forum (especially the quantity that has already been published) ?-
Will my users, on my site, wonder when the version number will change ?-
If there's a new version release involved, will it affect my templates and all the MODs I have intergrated already ?There could be more questionnings involved but let's jump into the answers right away :
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No, we don't. Why ? Since 4images can already handle almost unlimited solutions from web programmers.
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Absolutely not. It will only slow up the script as the actual releases (and patching modifications) can already fit up into the current version (except for the exception of using mySQL 5 at the moment as I'm currently looking into that).
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Definitely not. It is good to admit that the current caching module is a pretty good one. Althought, if all these were intergrated as part of the core, it would really slow up the loadings.
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Some might, some might not. In a way, let's hope they don't. Why ? Well, it's simple. Some of them might even be using 4images and has just registered on your site for a specific reason. Meaning, this user will also know what "could" (not will but "could") happend if there's a new version of 4images involved since he could definitely read this thread as we speak.
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The official fact is here. Between 4images v1.7 and 4images v1.71, problems were discovered when 4images users tried to load their templates with 4images v1.71. In the end, all seemed to be corrected. Althought, one problem remains. Most of the published MODs are only meant (or has simply been programmed & tested) under 4images v1.7 release. Meaning, numerous users has recently reported that some of the MODs they've tried to intergrate were only working under 4images v1.7.
To conclude, if there was a new 4images version involved, what would be the next problems ?
- Will the MODs fully works under the new version ?- Will all the patches I installed, from the Bug Fixes section of this forum, be intergrated / remained on the new version ? (Unlikely).
In the end, it would only result a fresh start of what has been already accomplished since the beginning.
So, I guess - the real question is :
Would you be willing to make that sacrifice after what all users when through already in order to build their album ? And, if you were, how many would follow ? How many newbies looked forward to complete their site(s) for the first time ?The latest 4images's version is currently
v1.71 and should remained this way. It already gives us an opportunity to use it unlimitedly (or almost) and the way we, each, expected to own.
Since it's the case, we should take the advantage of what we currently have and go further rather than considering a new start. A great deal has been accomplished during the past few years (even if I was here for a whole year myself) and I must say that a huge difference were made since then.
Hopefully, you will all understand my personal point of vue.
Best regards & Merry Christmas to you all.
TheOracle.