WordPress Shuttle ~ Update
Fellow 9ruler Greg over at Airbag Industries has posted about the lack of design in the WordPress Administration User Interface. I thought it prudent to address his concerns while at the same time try get everyone up to speed on the Shuttle project.
Personally I think it’s just wrong to criticize a completely open source project like WordPress as though it owes you something, unless of course you’re prepared to do something about it. WordPress is not the vision of one person, but the collaborative efforts of thousands. The fact of the matter is that when someone doesn’t like how WordPress does something, or know that they can do a better job, it’s well within their right to do just that. It’s not frowned upon, but actually encouraged and aided whenever possible. Greg isn’t saying any new here, countless others have voiced this opinion, except some have chosen to do something about it and help the community by contributing.
It’s very funny that he should mention the fight between the developer and the designer. I experience this every day, only it’s between the engineer and the architect. I will say that most fights/arguements come between the designers on the team rather than from the developers side. Joen, Michael and I are constantly bickering over 2 pixels!!! That’s when the rest of the team keeps quiet as the three geeks go at it, explaining the virtues of keeping things compact or not.
The shuttle project is ALIVE and kicking. In fact it’s hasn’t been this busy since we announced the project back in December of last year. The esteemed Bryan Veloso has also been added to the development team. We’ve recently finished a great milestone in the project after MUCH coming and going between us. Many people ask about showing what the interface is going to look like, and while NOTHING would make me happier than to show EVERYONE what we’re up to, I’ve got to make sure I don’t because the mock ups change on a weekly basis, as we work through things between us. We’re currently on version 27 of the main write up area. Expect several mammoth posts crossing over several blogs when this is done, but until then, know that we’re on top of things. It’s not the fastest process by any stretch of the imagination but it’s getting there.
If you’ve downloaded the latest beta or played around with a blog on WordPress.com then you’ll see a few changes from the current 1.2 install. Subtle things like the blue colour now found in the admin panel, the moveable sections in the sidebar, or the increase/decrease textarea. While these are still not styled properly the fact that they are part of the design is not a mistake, it’s due to the give and take over several months.
I’m looking forward to this. If it’s anything near as polished as your site it should be great. Any idea when we can expect some restyling? A cropped tease would be lovely…
I hope it includes the cool form styling you have here. hint hint. ;)
24/9/2005
I’m with you all the way, Khaled. Indeed there will be mammoth posts once it goes live :)
Craig,
bq. I hope it includes the cool form styling you have here. hint hint. ;)
If I get my way (which currently seems to be the case), forms and buttons will be completely unstyled, for quite a bulk of reasons. The main reason being that Wordpress is a web application, whereas Khaleds pretty site is a portfolio and blog. One has other requirements than the other :)
24/9/2005
Ah well. I figured it wouldn’t be on account of web app performance issues among other things.
These forms just feel lovely and welcoming. :) I’d be tempted if I was redoing the interface to include it and see if real world it caused problems. I’m guessing with all that additional javascript you guys have been adding in may gobble up all that bandwidth goodness and thus we’ll have to miss out on some prettiness for function. As well as to ease adding of additional functionality for style challenged developers. :P
Anyhow, keep us posted on the happenings, I look forward to seeing the results.
24/9/2005
Craig, Shuttle is easily the hardest thing I’ve had to work on, simply because it’s the brainchild of the past of WordPress, taking into account what Matt tells us about the feedback he gets from users, and the MASSIVE egos of those other two danish guys (we’ve got to find a way to keep those guys under control, lol).
Eventually when we write those posts, I think you should get the task of get of writing about the forms Joen :).
25/9/2005
Khaled said it very well. Then again, such collaborations are fun challenges.
As for the forms, Indeed I do expect to write up about just that :)
25/9/2005
When will you publish to public to download ?
Thanks!
26/9/2005
Viking,
If all goes well (which it does), Shuttle will not be available as a standalone.
It will be an integral part of the next Wordpress, version 1.6.
26/9/2005
Ahh yes, Shuttle the bane and joy of all our existences. I think there is a certain wisdom to actually releasing a teaser of what we have at the moment. Not a screenshot or anything, but some isolated areas of the genius that is Shuttle.
People have been waiting patiently for many, many months for something to happen. Lets reward them a little. I will move this to our design list for further discussion.
26/9/2005
Hehe…I say tease everyone! :^)
I’m looking forward to this a lot, but I’m willing to wait patiently and be blown away when I see the results. Sometimes screen grabs and the like build unreal expectations, so use them sparingly, if at all! Well, maybe just a little peek would be nice!
26/9/2005
Chris, a simple feature list of expected goodies would make a lovely tease. Either that or simply more open discussion of what Shuttle will actually be, do, and when thats likely to be showcased for Pressers.
I’ve read that Shuttle was initiated back December 2004, expected for release in May, it would be nice to know what has been accomplished since then.
So far I’m seeing those drag and drop and interface changes, but only really on the write page Khaled spoke of. Is there where focus has been in getting right?
I had a play recently with everything over at opensourcecms.com that creates content. So far WordPress 1.6 is becoming by far one of the easier to use there. Is this mostly as a result of the Shuttle work from you guys?
26/9/2005
Awesome, Khaled. I’ve been anticipating it’s release ever since I heard about Shuttle from the Bonsai. You guys really need to convince Chris to stop listening to Natasha Bedingfield and get his stuff together, else I’ll come knocking (on IM) and let loose a fury of…
Yeah, anyways, good luck and keep us posted.
27/9/2005
bq. You guys really need to convince Chris to stop listening to Natasha Bedingfield and get his stuff together
I know what the hell is that all about :) lol.
27/9/2005
bq. I know what the hell is that all about :) lol.
Hey, the guy is bleeding his heart out! I’ll bet my hat that you guys also have “guilty pleasures”. Come oooon… You know you wanna confess!
27/9/2005
I’m trying to think what kind of guilty pleasures I have, but I’m drawing a blank right now. I guess it’s just the idea of having a ‘guilty pleasure’. I enjoy loads of things and don’t care shouting about every single one of them, regardless of what other people think, therefore I never feel guilty about something that I enjoy :).
27/9/2005
I like the logo of the Shuttle. Very cool. :)
29/9/2005