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Beta 1 – 4.1.0 – Release

YS Yellow Swordfish
Yellow Swordfish
Member
Member since Nov 2008
16,437 posts
Aug 15, 2009 · 4:14 am · Edited

I propose we release Beta 1 – Sunday 16th August. Tomorrow.

We still have a small few outstanding problems (bugs) to fix up but I don't think any of these are show-stoppers but they do need addressing.

I can spend whatever time I have today preparing the 'theme' pages and the new forum and can wait until the last minute to take the latest build from svn.

I can update the 'countdown' box today with the date.

The preparatory tasks marked as completed are:

  1. Test slugs in non-English/Latin languages [Andy][DONE]
  2. Rationalise upgrade script into less blocks [Andy][DONE]
  3. Test in all browsers [Steve and Andy (PC & Mac)][Mac DONE *see note]
  4. Update Splash Panels [Andy][DONE]
  5. Remove redundant code [Andy][DONE]
  6. Freeze strings and build PO files [Andy][DONE]
  7. Rebuild Database Schema documents [Andy][DONE]

The preparatory tasks NOT marked as completed (although some of Steve's may well be!) are:

  1. Test in wp-debug mode [Steve]
  2. XHTML Validation [Steve]
  3. Test new configuration (location) options [Steve]
  4. Test and clean up all standard skins [Steve]
  5. Review and check all admin on line help [Steve & Andy]
  6. Minify Javascript [Andy]
  7. Documenting Functions (especially new functions in files previously documented) [Steve & Andy]

HELP: There are many items of Help that are now out of date – often simply because many admin panels have been moves around. I suggest when we knock this task off one of us takes the admin panels and the other the online help. Thought?

PACKING JAVASCRIPT: I have always felt that this is best left until either a final beta or gold release as I feel sure we may need to make small changes during the beta – so I am content to release unpacked scripts at this early stage.

LANGUAGE TRANSLATIONS: I fear I am going to have to handle these in the same old time-consuming and frustrating way and will almost certainly have to write my own 'plugin' to stat to automate some of the process. So – assuming we go beta 1 tomorrow I will then need a fair amount of time distributing the language files and chasing up volunteer translators.

HAVE I MISSED ANYTHING? AND DO WE AGREE TO GO FOR IT? !


5 Answers

New Answer
MP Mr Papa
Mr Papa
Member
Member since Dec 2006
19,448 posts
Aug 15, 2009 · 6:11 am

didnt know there was a way to mark those as done…

but, for the ones listed as not done, 1, 2, 3, and 4 was all completed, but it was a month or so ago… we were going to get this sucker out there ealier but ran into issues…  I will try to take another pass through some of them today…  1 and 2 could be daily tasks Yell

I had thought tasks 5 and 7 would be worked on during the beta…

have we ever released minified js?  didnt think so – might need testing…  what about minified css?

I saw your quick note about thinking the forum method for language files wasnt going to work but didnt really explain why… its your call, I dont really know whats involved…

I was going to take a look at the search for admin subs/watchs today, but will put in on the back burner for another quick pass through…

Is the plan to still alter the group/forum structure here?

Think its time to get the 4.1.0 beta out in the wild!

MP Mr Papa
Mr Papa
Member
Member since Dec 2006
19,448 posts
Aug 15, 2009 · 6:14 am

what about the wiki?  we had talked about releasing/outing it in concert with 4.1…  Is that the beta or the final?  dont know that I have a preference…

YS Yellow Swordfish
Yellow Swordfish
Member
Member since Nov 2008
16,437 posts
Aug 15, 2009 · 6:29 am

I totally agree the remaining tasks do not need to hold up beta release.

No – we have never packed our script. Do you prefer 'minified' to 'packed'? If so I wpould be interested in the reasoning. I do recall someone once claiming on the WP hackers list that minified was faster but I have never come across any confirmation of this…

Can you minify CSS? Well – we could do that for the admin CSS of course. Happy to…

On the support forums I was still planning to go for a new Group just for beta. I don't think i can get the translations working with a forum so that will have to go. Which would leave, for now, just the one forum in the group.

And as to the wiki – I would be tempted to give it a low key mention perhaps in the accompanying blog post for beta 1 but not make a big noise until we have at least the 'upgrade' and 'getting started' sections in place…

I will update the 'countdown' box with tomorrows date…

MP Mr Papa
Mr Papa
Member
Member since Dec 2006
19,448 posts
Aug 15, 2009 · 10:08 am

didnt know there was a difference between minified and packed… thought they were interchangeable…  dont know enough about it to care Yell

as to css, on reference site:  http://www.minifycss.com/

and its sometimes called compressed css…

just let me know if you need help setting up the new structure here…

have completed the debug run and validation run once again…  going to take break and then give the discussion plugin a try on the wiki…

YS Yellow Swordfish
Yellow Swordfish
Member
Member since Nov 2008
16,437 posts
Aug 15, 2009 · 11:02 am

I'll look that up…

As far as I am aware 'minifying' script just removes all of the comments and white space – compacts it. 'packed' I believe will also change all of your variable names for short, one letter ones and stuff like that…