What do Joomla template users and devs really want?
Posted by: Tess Neale in feedback Dec 02, 2008
We've have had our feedback widget on Joomlajunkie.com for some time now and it's working really well. It's amazing to see so clearly what you guys want! Well, now it's time to give you an official follow-up!
After reading this blog post you will know what's on our developers' dashboard right now and what's been put into the backlog...and where your info can take the suggestion a step further.
YOUR TOP 5 SUGGESTIONS
1. Fast loading portal/magazine style template (32 votes)
STATUS: Planned and designed. Development starting soon and due to be released beginning of 2009.
Voices from the crowd:
"Make a template for Publishers who make magazines or newspapers", "...like portfolio.com or marketwatch.com","I agree with making a fast loading magazine template, but i think the design needs to be carefully considered. There are lots of news portal templates out there but none really look professional or appealing. I've had a look and these are 3 of the best news portals I've looked at. www.news.com.au | www.ninemsn.com.au | www.livenews.com.au"
2. Professional and fast shop template with many positions and layout flexibility (30 votes)
STATUS: We are reviewing this and discussing some viable options and virtuemart integration with forthcoming templates.
Voices from the crowd:
"If possibile with a wide module position to showcase products, from left to right, between the menu and the left+content+right."
3. The favicon component as a club extension (25 votes)
STATUS: We know this seems to be wanted by many and have been discussing it a lot internally, it is planned but we have no timelines as of yet.
4. More Tatami support for JJ templates (21 votes)
STATUS: Under review. We are discussing the addition of Tatami to all future templates as this suites the direction we are headed, providing many customization options in our new generation templates.
Voices from the crowd:
"Aurora was good, we want more!"
5. Really clean template (17 votes)
STATUS: Here we need some more input and clarification regarding "clean template". We've seen similar feedback in the forum as well, but would need more specifications from you. What defines a "clean joomla template"? Please let us know by commenting here on the blog - we're keen to find out more about this one. :)
...and some more ideas we found interesting.
Template for JomSocial (14 votes)
STATUS: This project has started and is currently in the design phase with some development just started, due for around first quarter 2009.
Voices from the crowd:
"Why don't you guys create a template for JomSocial, I am sure you know about them at www.jomsocial.com"
Iphone Optimized Sites (6 votes)
STATUS: Under review. We are still discussing this..... too many ideas, too little time. ;)
Voices from the crowd:
"With Iphone mobile browser being the most popular out there, is time for a template club to step up to the plate and start designing mobile themes. This will be the first step in the right direction thus increasing web traffic by allowing mobile users to access the site. As an expert in marketing I believe the first template club that build on this concept will clearly lead the mobile theme market."
iLuv template for Joomla 1.5 (6 votes)
STATUS: Under review. We are waiting for some more votes... cmon people give it some luvin and we will persuade the powers that be. ;) (Click on the feedback widget to the right)
Joomla module with Komodomedia's feed module (5 votes)
STATUS: Started. This is under development and will be released as an early christmas present.
Convert FlexPhotos and FlexPhotosLite to 1.5 (1 vote)
STATUS: This is planned for development and release beginning 2009... it will not just be a 1.5 convert, it will be based on the new 2nd generation template framework from JoomlaJunkie.
Explain more of the cool stuff on your site! (1 vote)
STATUS: Under review. Ok, here we need some clarification...exactly what is "the cool stuff"? ;) Let us know, by commenting here on the blog post, what you want us to explain or write/blog more about and we'll do our very best. :) Thanks.
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Really clean template, defined
written by Spacemonkey , December 02, 2008 What does that mean? Lots of whitespace, really nice font treatment, think Zeldman on a major diet. :-)Specifically for blogs, Scribbish is a real popular starter as it is tight markup, simple in design, and includes support for microformats:
"Its layout standardizes on a simple xhtml structure, blog entries are formatted using the hAtom microformat specification, and styles are separated into individual files which are included in the correct order, making it easier to control the cascade and to figure out ‘what-goes-where’."
To me 'clean' is not only a simple, tasteful design, but semantic markup that makes computers as happy as the people using them.
I like the way you think
written by Andrew Neale , December 03, 2008 Hey Mitch,Thanks for your feedback, if you have a chance, I would be keen to see some more examples of sites that you feel are "Zeldman on a major diet" hahahaha, seriously this will be very useful for future planning.
As you will be finding out very soon at the expo, and when meeting Chris, that we are working on some of the concepts you mention here. This is for our new generation templates we have been working so hard on that will be launching in the new year.... well kinda at the expo but we are still going to be tightening the screws some more first, but there will certainly be talk of it. There is lots of exitement here in the JJ camp.
The focus in the new gen templates is very much semantic code to allow us to re use elements and apply to multiple objects on the page. This means cleaner and less code with allot more power and control for the users!!
We are hoping that this will take the Joomla users to a place they have never been before when it comes to making Joomla websites, especially rapid website development with many features and customization options at their fingertips.
Enjoy the expo! Im feeling a bit bummed out about not being able to go anymore (long story). It would have been great to meet so many people in the industry whom I have always wanted to meet... maybe next time...
