One has to wonder if the developers are even working on VirtueMart at this time. All I see is them moving posts from one forum to another because they are posted in the wrong area.
Look anywhere and there are TONS of problems with PayPal, Authorize.net, shipping rates, and I'm sure others if I poked around.
People are frustrated at the lack of support on a support forum and we aren't hearing boo from developers. Even the Support + Development area looks like a ghost-town with many things not addressed.
I know they are looking for help and it seems like JoomlaXplorer moves ahead and they say "The Demo Site is running VirtueMart 1.1 (http://virtuemart.net/index.php?option=com_jd-wiki&Itemid=109&id=new:whats_new)" while other projects like Letterman move away.
I guess I'd like to hear what others think and hopefully what developers think about having so many bugs after 1.0.7 without any progress to being resolved or the basic lack of feedback from the dev team?
This post isn't just here to point fingers and complain. If I knew anything about coding I would help but, like many of the users I picked Virturemart because it was simple and integrated easily. Is there anything us non-coders can do to help to keep the ball rolling?
Is Virtuemart Dead. What a bizarre question.
Honestly I have to say I think you might be reading into things. Being a developer sometimes you have to clean up your forums in order to keep track of what needs to be fixed and what not. And if forums are the area to post bug fixes and stuff then I would most likely suggest for those users to transfer it over to the bug tracker so that they can get fixed.
Being an open source project and really being only one developer on the project ( i am sure there are more ) it is tough to maintain such a large project. Not to mention I see that there are forum moderators....so they are prolly the ones maintaining the forums.
Just my two cents
Mod Note: Moving topic to "About..."
I wonder how many topic we already have about "Nobody answers, please you guys....what's wrong?".
Do you want to join the project and help us?
ciao, Sören
Quote from: tondelo on October 16, 2006, 20:36:31 PM
..Is there anything us non-coders can do to help to keep the ball rolling?
as steve already replied,.. just to add and to answer your inquiry..
- you might be aware that the lead dev is as much working on his time on dev and support.. not minding his day time work and school.
- moving of posts is not responsibility of the dev team,.. its the forum management team.
- its an open source project,.. dev team has their needs as well to bring food into the table ;)
how or what help can be done with non coders non doc writers?
the most i can do perhaps is go to index/main page and see on the left column for the screenshot shown below:
(http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/8001/screenshot001sy6.jpg)
other than that,.. staying in the forum to share knowledge and answer questions if you can. otherwise pls check this url:
http://virtuemart.net/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=71&topic=20188.0
on the title of the thread? IT'S SIMPLY ABOUT UNDERSTANDING AN OPEN SOURCE PROJECT :)
- g
Quote from: Soeren on October 16, 2006, 20:53:19 PM
I wonder how many topic we already have about "Nobody answers, please you guys....what's wrong?".
Do you want to join the project and help us?
As I've already noted, I'm not a coder, just a user of the software that knows enough to be dangerous.
If you look thru my posts you will see that I do try to help where I can.
You know I'm not the only one that feels this way since you started this post http://virtuemart.net/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=71&topic=21564.0
If you need someone to move posts around I'd be more than happy to do that ;)
Quote from: guilliam on October 16, 2006, 21:00:38 PM
as steve already replied,.. just to add and to answer your inquiry..
- you might be aware that the lead dev is as much working on his time on dev and support.. not minding his day time work and school.
- moving of posts is not responsibility of the dev team,.. its the forum management team.
- its an open source project,.. dev team has their needs as well to bring food into the table ;)
how or what help can be done with non coders non doc writers?
the most i can do perhaps is go to index/main page and see on the left column for the screenshot shown below:
(http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/8001/screenshot001sy6.jpg)
other than that,.. staying in the forum to share knowledge and answer questions if you can. otherwise pls check this url:
http://virtuemart.net/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=71&topic=20188.0
on the title of the thread? IT'S SIMPLY ABOUT UNDERSTANDING AN OPEN SOURCE PROJECT :)
Gulliam,
It seems odd to me that a product like a shopping cart that has so many documented, reproducable products like in payment modules can't put those at a top priority. I'm sorry but it's a shopping cart, why would new people coming to the forum want to run it if they see that people have so many problems with payment modules for a month now?
That is why I posed the question.
As for the Donate button, I've used it a number of times on other forums because I've been very appreciative of the help the dev teams shows. Heck, just last week I slipped a template team $25 for doing a bang-up job on the latest template.
If I knew that by clicking on the donate button the Payment problems would be fixed for the community I'd do it but like I said, I've seen no comments in the forum, bugtracker, or anywhere that these are even getting looked at. And at least one other person agrees with me http://virtuemart.net/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=71&topic=21408.0
I think I understand an open source project but, like others, am probably accustomed to technical assistance that is much faster moving than here. I'm on a number of other forums where the lead dev's or dev team respond within hours or a day at the longest so I guess I'm spoiled and for that I'll appologize.
From what I've seen simple communication like "We're working on it" or "That will be fixed in 1.0.8 that comes out on xxx date" would go a long way.
Soeren and developers:
Once I am done with setting my shop (2000+ skus actually 3500+ products if you count all the attributes :D) I would like to give back to Virtuemart.
What would really help you guys out? More developers or $$? Be honest!! I want more people to use Virtuemart but now i am thinking if there aren't enough people to support it the $$ may not help. Also how much $$ would you like to have?
Quote from: spignataro on October 16, 2006, 20:46:36 PM
Is Virtuemart Dead. What a bizarre question.
Honestly I have to say I think you might be reading into things. Being a developer sometimes you have to clean up your forums in order to keep track of what needs to be fixed and what not. And if forums are the area to post bug fixes and stuff then I would most likely suggest for those users to transfer it over to the bug tracker so that they can get fixed.
I think that is bull - if they find a misplaced topic in a particular forum, it should not be just moved to a new topic, it should be moved to a new topic AND answered.
Quote from: peter0379 on October 18, 2006, 06:44:38 AM
Quote from: spignataro on October 16, 2006, 20:46:36 PM
Is Virtuemart Dead. What a bizarre question.
Honestly I have to say I think you might be reading into things. Being a developer sometimes you have to clean up your forums in order to keep track of what needs to be fixed and what not. And if forums are the area to post bug fixes and stuff then I would most likely suggest for those users to transfer it over to the bug tracker so that they can get fixed.
I think that is bull - if they find a misplaced topic in a particular forum, it should not be just moved to a new topic, it should be moved to a new topic AND answered.
Peter,
this is true and all but being a global mod at one of the most popular forums I can tell you it isnt completly possible ALL the time - honestly I cant answer all topics I move at all. I just move them.
I am not argueing what is the right way of doing things. But if a mod doesnt know the answer then why post something? I normally leave alot of those questions up to the development team or the proper team that takes care of them. Unfortunatly Virtuemart Project doesnt have a ton of people working on it which makes it a difficult task.
I hate to say this, but i am afraid its true. But unless Virtumart can get it right in terms of the many many posts regarding the Import of prodicts via CSV then virtumart is going to go the same way as the dianosaurs.
There are many many shops out there that owners are using instead of virtumart.....Why?...WELL i have ask a few and they have all said that until virtumart team sort out the csv import problems and the vendor problems, then they will continue to use their current programs i.e. X-cart and Cubecart etc. WHY?....because they say and I can understand what they mean, that they are not prepared to site down for hours at a time inputting manaually over 2,000 products, because the so called import does not work right and the vendors section still after all this time still has the same old warning against having more than 1 vendor.
You can see tons of post on the forum regarding the most import part of Virtumart i.e. the import via CSV, yet Virtumart seem to give it little value (WHY?). If you dont have products you cannot sell, and I know there have been many posts by people of have given some solutions, but with "your have to do this " and "you have to do that" which with the best will in the world, people just have not got the time to do.
All people want to do is put there products on a simple spreadsheet, import and its done.....its not rocket science, and there are so many shops out there now, that Virtumart is going to get left behind.
Virtumart would be a serious contender for any shop and the main program itself is the best thing I have seen on the web, so why spoil such a good program for the sake of 1 item, which the Vitumart team dont seem bothered with (sorry team its my impression based on the lack of posts on the subject by yourselves)
If Virtumart is to go ahead and be what i think is the best shop program on the web, then I would aks these questions of the virtumart team.
1. Are you currently working on correcting the CSV import/export problem?
2. Are you currently working on sorting out the Vendor problem?
2. What timescale do you have for a solution to be posted?
There are many forum members that are trying to help others out of problems which is great and is appeciated by all including me, when i have posted a problem, but come on Virtumart, you really after all this time got to address the major issues, or else there are other programs out there that people are going to turn to instead of this great product.
Just a quick note on number 1, I have started to work on the CSV import/export since I have problems with it ;) See this post: http://virtuemart.net/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=71&topic=18326.0
As for all the other points, I have no idea :D
I too have had major problems, and in fact I have tried myself to get things corrected, but i am now working on a solution with some programmers which when ready will be available for purchase by forum members, The reason for a charge for the componant is that there is a charge made by programmers to get this resolved, which is why I cannot offer this free.
However having said that, Virtumart themselves ought to be solving the problems I have raised if they dont want Virtumart to end up as a part working fossil. Lets face it would you want to own a new car that the gearbox only had 2 out of 4 gears working.....of course you would not.....but this is what we have at the moment, with everyone like you and me trying to solve what should be Virtumarts problem. I am now just waiting to hear from the Virtumart team as to their reply to my questions.
Good luck with your work, I will post here when the componant is complete. with a description of what it will do for memebers.
Guys, I dare to say most of you are merchants using VM, and as merchants you understand the ratio between cost and benefits offered by VM. If you are not happy with VM as it is now there are many options for you: Migrate to a different system, donate to the dev team, offer your coding/management/design/moderating skills to the project, develop your own product, etc.
The way I see it, the problems of the VM community will be solved only with the help of the community, so stop complaining and help somehow.
Tondelo...I have been participating in forums for a number of years as I move up the learning ladder. The worst forum is one that is a gallery forum just around the block where the moderators seem to have a contest as to which one can do the best to belittle the users of its software.
Personally, I have made 7 posts here (+ this one) and have received only one answer. the only products I have are my photographs; no vendors, manufacturers or anything else. I have a problem where my store logo is uploaded but won't display. Should be a simple answer as I know that I missed something. But, 2 days and a follow-up plea for help and no reply. Until I get a reply I am dead in the water. I guess one reply out of seven ain't bad, eh?
Alejandro
QuoteThe way I see it, the problems of the VM community will be solved only with the help of the community, so stop complaining and help somehow.
Please dont get me wrong, if you have read my posts or indeed others we have all said and still do that VM is the best thing that has ever emerged for merchanents, BUT my point was this, Virtumart has a problem of 2 areas.....The CSv import and Vendor problem, which despite tons of posts by members they seem to be failing to address.
Everyone is trying to help in the community, but my point is VM themselves seem to be doing nothing to resolve these issues. You only have to look through the tons of posts on the CSV import to see my point. All I am asking the VM team to do is answer the questions put so that everyone knows where they stand.
Yes the community does help where they can but why I ask do the VM team put out a product to which the CSV does not work and the vendor section has a warning which is still there, why have it on there at all until its ready and stable. Like I said before its like getting a caqr and finding only half the gears work.
I like many others really appreciate the community help and we all try to help each other I have no doubt. But you have to admit, it is frustrating when it seems that the VM team themselves seems to be taking little notice of an important issue which has received large amounts of posts.
As I said I have got so frustrated with this and with all the community trying to overcome the problem themselves, that I have engaged programmers to do the work to sort out the import and vendor problem. Once its been tested it will be offered to members who wish to take it up. I would have liked this solution to be free, but its costing a lot to get this done once and for all so there would be a charge for the componant/module at least to cover the cost.
The question really hurt....
Open Source is just a great thing to spent your free time. I think Sören is thinking whole day of Virtuemart and perhaps sleeps with it but he also needs to earn a living.
Virtuemart isn't dead, just check the SVN download. Almost every day there is an upload. Using our input in/on the bug reports, making fixes and reading the forum is a way to make VM better. And yes, it will take some time but I really really think it is worth waiting for the next release seeing VM getting better and better.
Just my two pennies.
I am using Virtuemart as a catalogue only and the first two sites are using it for an open information project. I have been publishing my glass research as copy lkeft for 6 years now. Until recently everything has been jhtml but time runs by and more people want to share information so Joomla/Virtuemart offer a faster way forward.
Secondly, I am planning a subscription site which will also uses Joomla/VM in catalogue mode and will happily contribute some cash, not wealthy in fact unemployed and living of savings, but I need this product working. So please can the developers give an indication of how money can help. I am learning PHP but will be some tme before I can contribute that way.
For example I would like the additional images and browse screens combined, if I paid someone to do that would that help the project as a whole? Not all the users fully understand how open source software projects work.
I love virtuemart when it was still in Phpshop version.
The advantage of joomla CMS intergration make it shine in e-commerce system.
However, it looks like Virtuemart had not release any new version for a long time.
Just kind of worry if this project still alive? Is the admin still doing his acquaintance job?
I wanna donate this project but the Paypal is in Dutch. e-mailed the admin soren about the difficulties of donation through Paypal for other country half an years ago, but no reply yet.
Guys, don't you also have the same feeling worry about the life time of this project??? ???
If this project is dead, I will need to seek other project instead ASAP. :-[
Please be more specific as to the specific purpose of the development you have referenced and its projected completion. Also, please provide the projected cost, since I believe if this is really worth it, myself as well as the community can purchase it for the good of all.
While I agree with you to some extent, I do not see a huge amount of posts upon your profile. Likewise, I see little more than mere complaints posted by you within this thread and virtually nothing specific to offer up front to get the progress you seek underway.
Stand and take the lead. Otherwise, sit back and continue your complaints merely to have them fall upon def ears.
Quote from: chrisdevelop on October 22, 2006, 13:02:56 PM
I too have had major problems, and in fact I have tried myself to get things corrected, but i am now working on a solution with some programmers which when ready will be available for purchase by forum members, The reason for a charge for the componant is that there is a charge made by programmers to get this resolved, which is why I cannot offer this free.
However having said that, Virtumart themselves ought to be solving the problems I have raised if they dont want Virtumart to end up as a part working fossil. Lets face it would you want to own a new car that the gearbox only had 2 out of 4 gears working.....of course you would not.....but this is what we have at the moment, with everyone like you and me trying to solve what should be Virtumarts problem. I am now just waiting to hear from the Virtumart team as to their reply to my questions.
Good luck with your work, I will post here when the componant is complete. with a description of what it will do for memebers.
Quote from: pcinvent on December 23, 2006, 15:57:23 PM
I love virtuemart when it was still in Phpshop version.
The advantage of joomla CMS intergration make it shine in e-commerce system.
However, it looks like Virtuemart had not release any new version for a long time.
Just kind of worry if this project still alive? Is the admin still doing his acquaintance job?
I wanna donate this project but the Paypal is in Dutch. e-mailed the admin soren about the difficulties of donation through Paypal for other country half an years ago, but no reply yet.
Guys, don't you also have the same feeling worry about the life time of this project??? ???
If this project is dead, I will need to seek other project instead ASAP. :-[
The tremendous advantage this store has over others is the Joomla Framework, which enables highly extensive software applications to be integrated into the platform. This includes the Joomla CMS, which should be used as a source for keyword focused content, which can virtually eliminate the need for advertising through search engine derived traffic.
I must agree, the Paypal button upon Virtuemart as well as other projects like OpenSEF lead to foreign currencies. Donating a simple case of beer can be somewhat difficult.
I wish I knew how to program. As someone above mentioned about themselves, I (we) know just enough to be dangerous.
You can certainly pay for an Ecommerce solution with professional support. I myself am trying to save money and I like being able to add enhancements or adjust things on my own. I used osCommerce prior to my current version of my site and am much, much happier with Virtuemart. It has it's problems, but all in all it's a great product.
I applaud Sauren and the other developers for their work. We just need a few more to assist them. :)
I don't know of any other projects - even commercial - that are as accessible, supportive, extensible and as easy to use as the Joomla / Virtuemart package. And you're right, the Joomla / Virtuemart package is much cheaper and is far easier, modular, modifiable and easier to change the look than osCommerce.
ECJC released 1.1.8 with a Joomla installer for those familar with osCommerce.
I dont know, i tried osCommerce when doubting VM, but i couldnt get away from VM.
I think they need to release J! 1.5 and VM 1.1 .... like now
Quote from: UglySign on January 29, 2007, 03:06:44 AM
ECJC released 1.1.8 with a Joomla installer for those familar with osCommerce.
That's milestone of progress for the ECJC project.
QuoteI dont know, i tried osCommerce when doubting VM, but i couldnt get away from VM.
Going from Virtuemart to osCommerce is extremely difficult to logically do - if not impossible. But if you've been using osCommerece for a while and happened to dabble with Virtuemart one day, it can still be tough for the hard of heart to break their bond with os when only considering a few minor features they might loose if they were to migrate to an easier system, such as VM, which can do only with hacks. It's good for us that the competition doesn't realize the benefit of such a powerful package as VM's big brother, Joomla.
The language problem with Paypal is well known and Paypal provide the additional code needed for correcting the problem (I think it is a weak solution as 'I think' it hard codes to English). But the language issue only causes a problem until you sign in when it switches to the account language.
<input type="hidden" name="lc" value="US">
Quote from: Fidel on January 29, 2007, 05:54:24 AM
Going from Virtuemart to osCommerce is extremely difficult to logically do - if not impossible. But if you've been using osCommerece for a while and happened to dabble with Virtuemart one day, it can still be tough for the hard of heart to break their bond with os when only considering a few minor features they might loose if they were to migrate to an easier system, such as VM, which can do only with hacks. It's good for us that the competition doesn't realize the benefit of such a powerful package as VM's big brother, Joomla.
I am very glad to read this comment, Fidel. As an impressed newbie to VirtueMart, I must say that I am very excited about the possibilities I see. While I am hopeful that development of enhanced features and modules continues at a healthy pace, it woudl seem to me that if there is a function that does not currently exist for VirtueMart, it wouldn't be a very difficult thing to commission a PHP programmer to create it . . . am I wrong?
Mind you, I am not an expert in PHP programming and/or integration of scripts with exisiting applications. However, isn't the very essence of "open source" the ability to create improvements, enhancements and new functionality? This being the case, there are resources out there where one can commission such work at pretty reasonable prices . . . http://www.scriptlance.com comes to mind as a very robust community of international programmers, designers and coders who are anxious to bid on/receive such projects.
Just my two cents worth .... for now.
8)
TOM
Quote from: TomC on May 16, 2007, 20:50:45 PM
While I am hopeful that development of enhanced features and modules continues at a healthy pace, it woudl seem to me that if there is a function that does not currently exist for VirtueMart, it wouldn't be a very difficult thing to commission a PHP programmer to create it . . . am I wrong?
Nope. You're absolutely right.
QuoteMind you, I am not an expert in PHP programming and/or integration of scripts with exisiting applications. However, isn't the very essence of "open source" the ability to create improvements, enhancements and new functionality?
That's exactly what the open source community seems to be about to me. It is very forward thinking. Joomla appears to be at the forefront and Virtuemart is a powerful sidekick.
I have to commend Soren and the other developers for all their hard work and continued support (the moderators included). I think Virtuemart will only continue to grow as Joomla does.
I can tell you firsthand that having a modular design is much, much better than many of the alternatives. Paying for a proprietary system on a webhost can be an expensive lesson, if and when you decide to go to a better/different host.
I am new to the forums and I want to chime in in support of the VM project team, from top to bottom.
Our company (after being in business for more than 12 years) is in the process of building a new eCommerce site with an extensive online catalog (literally thousands of items with variants). Virtuemart is the best product for our needs, bar-none.
No it isn't perfect. The forums haven't answered all of our questions directly. BUT, with a little creativity, a little knowledge, this system is EASY to figure out. Most of the issues I see on the forums seem to be from folks who modify stuff without understanding how they are affecting the rest of their installation or not understanding how the system is designed.
As far as issues regarding CSV imports, try using the recommended CSV Improved plugin for Joomla! It works, if you use it correctly.
Open source rocks and so do the Joomla and VM teams. As soon as our site is making money, we will certainly donate to both.