[webteam] radical simplicity

[Robert Martinez]

Matthew Wild wrote:
> On Sat, May 24, 2008 at 8:35 PM, Robert Martinez <mail at mray.de> wrote:
>   
>> Matthew pointed out correctly that we are drifting away from the key
>> questions somewhere else in the thread.
>> So I restart here.
>>     
>
> Good call.
>
>   
>> I have no complete overview of what is "broken" with the current system
>> (maybe somebody can put together a list with more precise drupal related
>> problems?)
>>
>>     
>
> Here goes:
>
> Missing clients in the clients list (probably same applies to servers
> and libraries). More than once client authors have complained about
> this.
>
> http://matthewwild.co.uk/screenshots/jabber.org_1.png
> Filters that are complicated, confusing, and don't work.
>   
Somebody would have to code a custom front end for that since the 
standard "expose filter" option tries to give all possible search 
options and does not offer to hide unneeded ones.
A workaround would be to provide selected pre-built views.
> http://matthewwild.co.uk/screenshots/jabber.org_2.png
> Errors.
>
>   
I removed the  date field of the clients. The error seems to be gone now.
The problem seems to be that the date module has been removed without 
prior de-activation.

> http://matthewwild.co.uk/screenshots/jabber.org_3.png
> Blocks that shouldn't be there. (I am aware that this was to
> work-around the Google Analytics module that wasn't working).
>   
Seome drupal caching does not let me know if the hardcoded script works 
as well.
So the block with the script will remain for now.
> http://matthewwild.co.uk/screenshots/jabber.org_4.png
> Libraries (happens with servers and clients too) with apparently
> missing data: http://matthewwild.co.uk/screenshots/jabber.org_beep.png
>
> However the data is not actually missing:
> http://matthewwild.co.uk/screenshots/jabber.org_beep1.png
>
>   
This may be due to some content type change without proper alignemnt of 
the corresponding views.

> Add this, to the fact that more things break each time Drupal is
> upgraded, compatibility with different modules, is lost, etc.
>
> Probably more things that I don't see right now.
>
>   
You are right about the modules. We definitely use too many. (I know you 
mean that core drupal is more than enough :P )
>   
>> My attempt would be to re-start the drupal page from scratch, this time with
>> all the aspects that made problems right from the start.
>> And more important: restart with somebody who likes to work on drupal has
>> some experience and time to do so.
>>
>>     
>
> You previously said we should not start from scratch, as the work to
> date would have been a wasted effort. While I didn't agree with that,
> I don't see why it makes sense to start again with Drupal, and not
> start again with something simpler, which we know won't be a potential
> source of unforeseen problems further on down the road.
>   
Starting from scratch would mean to rethink the whole structure of the 
content types and the strategy of what modules to use. I also don't want 
to do this alone again - last time I begged for some assistance, i won't 
do the same error again and start doing things just on my own. I will 
only restart this with some assistance.
As I mentioned before I'm also working on some theming.
So - starting from scratch could mean drupal 6, less modules, newer 
theme, and a new underlying data structure.


Robert