Add-ons Site General Discussion

Anything to do with the Pale Moon add-ons website. (addons.palemoon.org)
Not for questions about add-ons themselves!
Forum rules
Important: This board is for specifics regarding the add-ons website (addons.palemoon.org) and not to report extension compatibility issues or discuss different extensions.
Please only post here when your topic is directly related to the add-ons website service so our moderators don't have to move your posts all the time...
New Tobin Paradigm

Add-ons Site General Discussion

Unread post by New Tobin Paradigm » 2014-08-19, 02:25

With the rapidly approaching v25 of Pale Moon that includes the GUID Change, We are getting to the point where we really need our own Addons site.

Of course I have spoken about this before and am taking responsibility it is now happening! However, we will need your help for development, modification, and reporting about current Firefox addons and Pale Moon specific ones. That is happening here: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=5434

This thread will be for general questions and laying out of goals for the Pale Moon Addons site.

The initial goals for the Pale Moon addons site will be as follows (First Generation site):

- Provide listings and hosting of Pale Moon specific addons including Firefox addons that have been specifically modified for Pale Moon
- Listing Known working out of box Firefox addons
- Simple Search of Pale Moon addons
- Provide ability to search amo from Pale Moon addons site (new window)
- Have the same visual experience as the rest of the Pale Moon sites

Future Goals (Second Generation site):

- Provide updates through Pale Moon addons site that also check AMO
- Categorized Search and Tagging and parsing of AMO results as well
- Direct user upload and management of addons via account system
- TBD

What should be in this thread:


- Questions about the new Addons site
- Suggestions for the addons site
- TBD

What should NOT be in this thread:

- Suggestions for addons (Firefox or Pale Moon) to be listed
- Issues and Support for the Addons site
- Compatibility Reports
- Anything Off-topic
- TBD
Last edited by New Tobin Paradigm on 2014-08-19, 03:28, edited 3 times in total.

New Tobin Paradigm

Re: Pale Moon Addons Site - General Thread

Unread post by New Tobin Paradigm » 2014-08-19, 02:27

Here is a preview of the template for the addons site ;)
Pale Moon Addons site
Pale Moon Addons site

mikeysc

Re: Pale Moon Addons Site - General Thread

Unread post by mikeysc » 2014-08-19, 09:15

This is probably obvious ... Make sure it's easy and pleasant for the extension developers to upload their addons to the PM site and you will probably get more of them to support PM directly.

[Also obvious but often ignored: Extensions is the correct term for the ones that add code to the browser; addons also include themes, plugins (external code) and services.]
Last edited by mikeysc on 2014-08-19, 09:52, edited 1 time in total.

New Tobin Paradigm

Re: Pale Moon Addons Site - General Thread

Unread post by New Tobin Paradigm » 2014-08-19, 09:33

mikeysc wrote:This is probably obvious ... Make sure it's easy and pleasant for the extension developers to upload their addons to the PM site and you will probably get more of them to support PM directly.
This won't be in the first generation addons site unfortunately. At this time I am going to use already present CMS software I have experence in to power the site.

It is planned for the Second Generation addons site to provide this functionality with a custom built from the ground up solution. But it is more pressing than ever that SOMETHING comes online in time for Pale Moon v25.

(This was of course in the opening post for target goals)
mikeysc wrote: [Also obvious but often ignored: Extensions is the correct term for the ones that add code to the browser; addons also themes, plugins (external code) and services.]
Yes I am fully aware of the different terms for different types of addons.

Parsifal

Re: Pale Moon Addons Site - General Thread

Unread post by Parsifal » 2014-08-19, 10:34

Pale Moon on the way to full emancipation with upcoming version 25 and its GUID change is a most pleasant information.

Having a dedicated Addons site is logical, taking the initiative and anticipating on Pale Moon's 25 deployment is wise and most welcomed.

Go, Pale Moon, go :)

access2godzilla

Re: Pale Moon Addons Site - General Thread

Unread post by access2godzilla » 2014-08-19, 15:17

Does the addons site you're using support the following things?

- Coordination: A few developers are working on the same extension; they all can edit the properties of their listing.
- Version management: Users should be able to list previous versions and developers should be able to add changelogs/release notes with their releases.

If these two things are supported, you're good to go. Reviews and such are not really important at this point of time.

Also, when is v25 coming?

Parsifal

Re: Pale Moon Addons Site - General Thread

Unread post by Parsifal » 2014-08-19, 15:58

access2godzilla wrote:Does the addons site you're using support the following things?

- Coordination: A few developers are working on the same extension; they all can edit the properties of their listing.
- Version management: Users should be able to list previous versions and developers should be able to add changelogs/release notes with their releases.

If these two things are supported, you're good to go. Reviews and such are not really important at this point of time.

Also, when is v25 coming?
Coordination for an extension? Aren't you mistaking AMO with Github? As I understand it a Pale Moon Extension Site would rather be on the style of AMO than Github. No?

access2godzilla

Re: Pale Moon Addons Site - General Thread

Unread post by access2godzilla » 2014-08-19, 16:17

Yes, AMO supports this. Check out the listing of Downthemall to see what I mean.

Parsifal

Re: Pale Moon Addons Site - General Thread

Unread post by Parsifal » 2014-08-19, 16:22

access2godzilla wrote:Yes, AMO supports this. Check out the listing of Downthemall to see what I mean.
DownThemAll is an example of several developers for one extension, but their work is done internally, AMO is not offering a coordination platform. I don't get your point, I may be missing something.

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Lootyhoof
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Re: Pale Moon Addons Site - General Thread

Unread post by Lootyhoof » 2014-08-19, 17:12

I like it. Will there be any moderation to the addons submitted, or at least a way to report bad ones (i.e. malware)?

Supernova

Re: Pale Moon Addons Site - General Thread

Unread post by Supernova » 2014-08-19, 17:31

Good point from access2godzilla about releases note. This is what I look at first when there is an update for an extension (not all developpers use it but when it's here it's good)

access2godzilla

Re: Pale Moon Addons Site - General Thread

Unread post by access2godzilla » 2014-08-20, 01:12

BTW, is there a live version devs could experiment with (analogous to beta versions of software)?

New Tobin Paradigm

Re: Pale Moon Addons Site - General Thread

Unread post by New Tobin Paradigm » 2014-08-20, 02:08

access2godzilla wrote:Does the addons site you're using support the following things?

- Coordination: A few developers are working on the same extension; they all can edit the properties of their listing.
- Version management: Users should be able to list previous versions and developers should be able to add changelogs/release notes with their releases.

If these two things are supported, you're good to go. Reviews and such are not really important at this point of time.

Also, when is v25 coming?
Lootyhoof wrote:I like it. Will there be any moderation to the addons submitted, or at least a way to report bad ones (i.e. malware)?
The First Generation addons site will be kind of primitive as far as accessible functions for most people. Keep in mind at this stage it is more important to get a place up and running with content and information for v25. Most things will be done manually and only by Binary Outcast, Those with Developer and likely Moderation status in Moonchild Productions and those who step up for independent addon development specifically for Pale Moon.

The technology I will be employing for the First Generation site will be an off the shelf CMS and FTP solution with somewhat of an AMO type of experience for the front end.

The Second Generation site will be one that is built from the ground up which will over time gain everything an addon site should have for developers in an AMO (Remora and Zamboni) way. But these suggestions everyone is giving helps construct a more long term road map and idea of what you would want from such a custom solution.

Like all things this will be an on going process and in the short term front end useability will have to take precedence over most of the advanced back end AMO-like features. Remember users will be the ones needing the site to be up and present I and BinOC will be at the forefront of administrating this site.

Also, in the beginning we must be careful until rules and policies can be established about what exactly gets put up on the addons site as well as staff responsibilities and the like.

Like Pale Moon it's self it won't be something accomplished in a day but it WILL be accomplished and we will need all of you wonderful people to help make it happen.
access2godzilla wrote:BTW, is there a live version devs could experiment with (analogous to beta versions of software)?
Not at present. As stated above, the First Generation site will use off the shelf solutions so things will have to be done mostly manually in the beginning. This is a compromise (to get a useable site up in say a month or so rather than a year or more) in order to serve end users.

---

This may seem disappointing to some expecting a ready-made fully featured solution out of the gate but that sort of thing requires alot of time and planning to not get into a trap of a million features where none of them actually work well. As a progressive project with milestone based goals we can over time reach an AMO level of capability in the long term while satisfying smaller more pressing needs now.

Once the basic First Generation site is online it will be populated progressively as the Second Generation custom solution is planned, designed, and developed.

---

Please continue your questions and requests, as previously stated, they are essential to reach the goals for the type of site you want and need in the longer term.

New Tobin Paradigm

Re: Pale Moon Addons Site - General Thread

Unread post by New Tobin Paradigm » 2014-08-20, 06:54

Here is another (albeit mocked up for the recoded from the ground up Pale Moon site template) of the addons site.

It has a flexible width of 95% of the browser viewport between 800px (the fixed width of the Pale Moon site) and 1200px (which happens to be the width of the content area of Binary Outcast). It also features CSS Generated banner background and PNG moon and wordmark with alpha transparency. As well as a completely CSS and DIV/SPAN layout.
Near-Final Template Preview
Near-Final Template Preview
Off-topic:
This template will also form the basis for the new Forum skin 8-) However, that will have to wait till the addons site is launched.

11ryanc

Re: Pale Moon Addons Site - General Thread

Unread post by 11ryanc » 2014-09-05, 20:23

Matt A Tobin wrote:Here is another (albeit mocked up for the recoded from the ground up Pale Moon site template) of the addons site.

It has a flexible width of 95% of the browser viewport between 800px (the fixed width of the Pale Moon site) and 1200px (which happens to be the width of the content area of Binary Outcast). It also features CSS Generated banner background and PNG moon and wordmark with alpha transparency. As well as a completely CSS and DIV/SPAN layout.
addonssite-preview.png
Off-topic:
This template will also form the basis for the new Forum skin 8-) However, that will have to wait till the addons site is launched.
Looking good so far. Any chance the 1st release of the website can include some sort of Promoted, or "Featured" selection of addons as well?

New Tobin Paradigm

Re: Pale Moon Addons Site - General Thread

Unread post by New Tobin Paradigm » 2014-09-05, 20:29

11ryanc wrote:Looking good so far. Any chance the 1st release of the website can include some sort of Promoted, or "Featured" selection of addons as well?
Pale Moon specific addons are promoted because we actually will have comprehensive categories for them. The rest are added to one page of "Known working Firefox addons" as we can build that list.

But how you are thinking of it.. It would have to be a manual and deliberate choice.

11ryanc

Re: Pale Moon Addons Site - General Thread

Unread post by 11ryanc » 2014-09-05, 21:05

Matt A Tobin wrote:
11ryanc wrote:Looking good so far. Any chance the 1st release of the website can include some sort of Promoted, or "Featured" selection of addons as well?
Pale Moon specific addons are promoted because we actually will have comprehensive categories for them. The rest are added to one page of "Known working Firefox addons" as we can build that list.

But how you are thinking of it.. It would have to be a manual and deliberate choice.
I see. So should we expect the release of this extensions website by the time PM 25.0 Final is released?

New Tobin Paradigm

Re: Pale Moon Addons Site - General Thread

Unread post by New Tobin Paradigm » 2014-09-05, 21:39

That is the hope. It shouldn't be too far off from that..

11ryanc

Re: Pale Moon Addons Site - General Thread

Unread post by 11ryanc » 2014-09-05, 21:51

Matt A Tobin wrote:That is the hope. It shouldn't be too far off from that..
K then. Best of luck with everything, looking forward to the end result ;)

New Tobin Paradigm

Re: Pale Moon Addons Site - General Thread

Unread post by New Tobin Paradigm » 2014-09-28, 13:47

A little preview because it is very much related to the add-ons site. The "Discover Pane" or Get Add-on's section in the addon manager needed some updating.. Namely replacement with a different page that it loads.

Here is a preview ;)
discoveraddons.png

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