Thanks everyone. Looks like a lot of reading ahead of me. But that's a good thing.

If this is posted to the wrong area of the forum - please move this post.

I have not found any modules that provide the capabilities I desire so I am thinking of developing my own. Where can I learn how to design and build new modules? Are there any tutorials or whatever available?

Thanks

My desires for functionality is probably a little weird. I want a site that is on, and accessible only from, my home LAN. Accessing a server from outside the home is a distant maybe. So I am not too concerned with security. I am more interested in features associated with entering, storing, and retrieving information. The information will most likely include typical home and family-related data.

The first capability I want is to record configuration changes for each of the computers on the LAN. Currently being (poorly) done using a word processing file on one computer. I would like to enter short paragraphs/lists of commands as data tagged with at least: date, computer node, and application. For example; an entry that yesterday I changed the configuration of MySQL on server X to accommodate XOOPS (I changed where MySQL database files are stored, added a MySQL user for XOOPS). Another entry for the same day and computer node would include what I did to install XOOPS and its configuration. I will want to be able to search and retrieve what I did to that computer as a tool to aid setting up other MySQL or XOOPS setups. Note that there is no need for collaboration, comments, notifications, etc. This is just some kind of log book or journal. I will want a WYSIWYG editor for creating entries that can accommodate command-line code.

I did install AMS - thinking it might be useful for for the above functionality - but it is not what I want. Getting it to work was, I think, and accident. I had no idea what I was doing because most of the terminology was foreign to me and it wanted information that I did not understand.

Second capability is a photo album. I have been using Coppermine. I noticed a XOOPS port of that so I downloaded that module and looked at the read-me file and the links in that file to see what kind of support I might get. The external links take you to a bunch of dating service adds - so I didn't try installing that module. Tried myalbum-p but that would not install. Results are "invalid default value for 'res_x".

Other functionality I want includes inventory, central contact/address book, birthday/anniversary, etc, databases. I currently use the videodb tool (www.videodb.net) to inventory and track videos (DVD, VHS). Is there a module like that, I don't mind having that feature as an external site if need be. Other home-realted functions I can't think of right now. I would like to have a Block (right term?) that announces upcoming birthdays and anniversaries driven from the either a contact/address book module or a dedicated anniversary database.

Another general suggestion for modules is that they should include "Help" - on-line help I mean. Maybe there should be a Core function that supports the presentation of Help files included by the Module developers.

Another area I am confused about is the versions of XOOPS. Why is the current version 2.0.18, when there is a version 2.2 and what is XOOPS Cube?

Sorry to be so long-winded. Didn't start out that way.

Today I downloaded and installed XOOPS (ver 2.0.18.1). The install was flawless. My hats are off to the Core developers.

After downloading three modules only one of which would install and activate I am confused on how modules are tested/certified for use.

I suggest that an improved certification or grading scheme be used for modules.

Modules should be required to include installation instructions, dependencies, and usage documentation. A demo site would be nice, too. A summary (paragraph) that includes "use this module if you want/need x-y-z functionality ...". I did read the XOOPS Documentation (Operation Guide). Good start, but is lacking. No real complaints to the author it just needs to be undated which I am sure it will.

This forum lists post dates without the year, so there is no way on knowing how old a post is. I assumed a date with no year meant -current- year, but this is April and we haven't reached September yet so a post date of month #9 is illogical.

I am out of time - life commitments. I will try other modules, but I hope I have better luck than I have so far.