Thread

Derek,

If (as I think many of us assume) EllisLabs uses these feature request threads to assist you to decide what features to work on, can you take a moment to explain when it’s appropriate to add support for a feature request, and when it’s not?

I know these are not polls, but if we’re not supposed to add our support to a well-written request, how can you properly assess which features are requested by just one person and which ones have the support of many? Is there a certain maximum number of “yes, I think this is a good request” replies?

Or, for instance, if I hadn’t already expressed my support in this thread and was just coming to it now, should I start a new request, or make no request at all?

(My intent isn’t to drag out the off-topic parts of this thread, though I really am interested in getting closer integration of member templates with the rest of the templating system. If you’d like, we can split this part of the discussion to another forum…)

TTFN
Travis

If (as I think many of us assume) EllisLabs uses these feature request threads to assist you to decide what features to work on, can you take a moment to explain when it’s appropriate to add support for a feature request, and when it’s not?

We pay much more attention to stories of how a feature would solve a problem than we do the number of people replying to a feature request.  You must realize that many many users of ExpressionEngine never come to the forums, so this is not our sole measure of what our users want and need.  For those that do participate in the forums—three pages seems sufficient to me unless one has something unique to add to the thread, wouldn’t you agree?

Or, for instance, if I hadn’t already expressed my support in this thread and was just coming to it now, should I start a new request, or make no request at all?

No, do not start a new request.  Simply describe how the feature request would have helped you in the past, or what it would enable you to do in the future.

Brent Simmons’, developer of NetNewsWire, has a post that people who make regular use of the feature request forum would probably be interested in reading.  Keep in mind that some of it is rant humor, but he captures thoughts that are quite common among software developers.

Derek,

Thanks a lot!  This is actually really useful, both your reply and Simmons’ post.  I hope that others follow this good advice, too.

TTFN
Travis