EllisLab CTO Derek Jones announced during EECI2010 that the next build of ExpressionEngine will be 2.1. This will be the first non-beta release and officially mark the end of the beta. The release date given at EECI2010 was “Soon” and today we’re updating the release date to “Near.”
The end of beta will mean some important changes at ExpressionEngine.com and we want to give the Community sufficient time to prepare. Here is what you need to know.
Leslie, no word about updates for 2.x beta users about licensing. From what i remember, 2.0beta would be licensed by version (instead of anual update fees) and 2.1 would probably be licensed anew. Do we need to buy new 2.1 licenses for current 2.0 installs and what is the upgrade path in the 2.x series?
I am hoping for a post-July 1 release, so I can claim to have nailed the official release quarter, as per this thread polling the community for predictions.
l worked up an informal time-flow of the 2.1 and 1.6.9 purchase, security, bug fix and support relationships for my own clarity and, pehaps, as a help to others - attached. Let me know if there are obvious errors ... that was part of my reason for the exercise.
What if any major add-ons aren’t available by the time 2.1 is out?
I’m looking at Structure and CartThrob.
Why would that matter? It isn’t up to EllisLabs to wait upon third-party addons. Anyway, 1.6.9 is receiving direct EllisLab support for quite a while, as explained. As well, 1.6.9 with all currently working addons should function smoothly for at least the next two to three years, barring some bizarre change to the Web.
I’m honestly perplexed by your comment; thinking I must have missed something. This said, will drop out of the thread, since it really is an EllisLabs announcement.
Leslie, no word about updates for 2.x beta users about licensing. From what i remember, 2.0beta would be licensed by version (instead of anual update fees) and 2.1 would probably be licensed anew. Do we need to buy new 2.1 licenses for current 2.0 installs and what is the upgrade path in the 2.x series?
2.1 is a free update for EE 2.0 owners. EE 2.x will have both free and paid upgrades and will follow a more traditional software model. Security updates will always be free. We’ll have more the free/paid upgrade path around 2.1’s release.
What if any major add-ons aren’t available by the time 2.1 is out?
I’m looking at Structure and CartThrob.
Structure is already in beta testing for EE 2 and I know that Chris and the CartThrob team are hard at work on a EE 2 compatible release. I also have it on good authority that Solspace’s Tag is well on its way to being EE 2 ready.
Bottom line developers have had well over a year to get add-ons prepped. We’ve been available to them, encouraged them, etc… Your best bet is to contact them directly and let them know you want X Add-on for 2 and what are their plans regarding such….
This is also part of the reason we’ll continue to provide EE 1.x with new EE 2 purchases throughout the rest of 2010. Again, we don’t want to force people, but we certainly want to make clear that once EE 2.1 is in, EE 1.x is officially a legacy version that we will be phasing out in as gracious a manner possible.
Edit: Also, Devot-ee’s EE 2 Add-on list is kept current, so that’s a great place to check to see what’s currently available and what isn’t.
At this point, could we have a reminder of the upgrading options & costs for current 1.* license holders? Is there a point to renewing a 1.* license at this stage for the purpose of upgrading to 2.1 or does it not provide any cost benefits?
Also, can you comment on whether an import option for Galleries will exist in 2.1 (and, if so, if Channels are getting any more functionality to make managing galleries easier)?
At this point, could we have a reminder of the upgrading options & costs for current 1.* license holders? Is there a point to renewing a 1.* license at this stage for the purpose of upgrading to 2.1 or does it not provide any cost benefits?
Basically if you upgrade from EE 1.x to EE 2.1 an active Download Account status is taken into consideration, just like it is now with EE 1.x to EE 2.0 Beta. We haven’t decided for certain if EE 1.x licenses that do not upgrade will need to continue to renew the Download Account in order to have download access. Right now we’re leaning that direction though.
It may be more accurate to say EE 2.x will not make use of Download Accounts, though Download Accounts may continue for EE 1.x licenses that are not upgraded. We’ll have made that decision by 2.1’s release.
Also, can you comment on whether an import option for Galleries will exist in 2.1 (and, if so, if Channels are getting any more functionality to make managing galleries easier)?
In terms of features, EE 2.0 and EE 2.1 are nearly identical. The purpose of the beta was to make sure the core system is stable, secure, and performs as expected. All work has been toward those goals. This means all critical bugs are squashed, reported stability and performance issues addressed, and security vetted. We’ve also done a lot of work based on add-on developer feedback to mature how third-party add-ons work with 2.x.
We’ll be addressing import options for the Gallery and feature improvements post 2.1 which is why, like everyone else, we’re excited that the beta cycle is nearing an end. The Gallery import options will be free. And yes, we know this will be frustrating for certain types of EE sites and I apologize for that.
Just a point of clarification. The way I read things, it won’t be possible to have a new 1.x license past the end of the year; only 2.1 licenses will be available. Correct?
Just a point of clarification. The way I read things, it won’t be possible to have a new 1.x license past the end of the year; only 2.1 licenses will be available. Correct?
Yes, after December 31st, 2010 it will no longer be possible to acquire a new EE 1.x license.
We’ll be addressing import options for the Gallery and feature improvements post 2.1 which is why, like everyone else, we’re excited that the beta cycle is nearing an end. The Gallery import options will be free. And yes, we know this will be frustrating for certain types of EE sites and I apologize for that.
Thank you for this information Leslie. Not great news when you’re stuck with a number of galleries, but hopefully the longer wait before I can upgrade will mean a few more compatible 3rd-party add-ons. I’ll just have to cross my fingers and hope that my planned site changes will go smoothly on 1.*
And thank you for letting download accounts apply towards 2.1 too. I imagine I will upgrade to take advantage of that even if I can’t actually use it until the Gallery import is released.
# We will continue to provide technical support for EE 1.x as long as there is sufficient demand for it. Realistically we expect this to be throughout 2010 and a good deal into 2011 at the least.
# EllisLab will provide six months notice prior to discontinuing EE 1.x support.
I think you are over optimistic about transition to EE 2.0 speed. It seems to me that for this transition to take place three, four or even five years should be expected.
EE 1.x has a large install base and those projects rely on many third-party add-ons, many of which are not converted. E.g. my project, although uncommon, relies on about 50 add-ons and only a couple of them are converted. I cannot simply stop the development work on the project and only do things related to conversion to EE2.0.
The same will be with other projects - they either are launched or are being developed and cannot be suspended simply because the transition to EE 2.0 must happen.
lets be honest - updating this EE site is no small task… and i do feel sorry for the people working on it! however, i sense this does mean that “near” means the EE version of “near” so August rather than July!
That aside - is the BETA version still getting build updates? so jumping in now would be a safeish move for commercial grade projects???
EDIT: Also is the CI site getting a facelift to bring it in line too???
Is there a point to renewing a 1.* license at this stage for the purpose of upgrading to 2.1 or does it not provide any cost benefits? 
