WOX (World of XOOPS) Newsletter # 26 (November 2009)

Date 2009/11/7 10:10:00 | Topic: World of Xoops (WOX)

WOX - World Of Xoops
Welcome to the November 2009 issue of WOX (World of XOOPS) Newsletter  (see here previous versions

As always, as the first thing in each newsletter we wanted to express our gratitude to all of you who have donated money to XOOPS Foundation! We truly appreciate your trust and support! 

In October our most important event was the release of XOOPS 2.4.0. Also Wishcraft is back with several new and updated modules.

Highlights of the last month:

  • XOOPS 2.4.0 FINAL Is Released
     
  • XOOPS wins Grand Prize in OSS Challenge in Korea
     
  • XOOPS Innovation Award - for people who create something very unique and innovative for XOOPS. This time the award goes to Lucio Rota  (luciorota1) from Italy for his innovative work on modularized XOOPS Image Manager
     
  • XOOPSer of the Month Awardis given to XOOPS members who show extraordinary dedication to XOOPS, and go the extra mile for XOOPS. This month, we we'll have a first time ever a team award, and it will go to members of the CK2 Club from Taiwan for their extraordinary work together as a team, and showing us how a XOOPS User Group could look like!  
     

Summary


Yes, the XOOPS 2.4.0 is FINALLY out!!! The BIG "Thank You" goes to Trabis, the Lead Developer for this release, who did a terrific job! We also thank all developers who contributed to this release! It's a team work, and the more of us contribute, the better XOOPS will become!!!

This month we saw a huge number of new XOOPS-based sites, some of them showing extremely cool and creative designs. We hope that this is a sign of the ease of development with XOOPS and that more and more new users will try and love XOOPS!

Check out updated news from around the world - it's always nice to see activities in local XOOPS Websites. Please keep us posted about new developments, so we can keep the worldwide XOOPS community updated!!!

Remember - XOOPS is powered by YOU!!!!

01. Donations

Back to top
Donations

If you like the XOOPS system, and would like to give something in return, you can make a donation to the XOOPS Foundation! Simply use the XOOPS Donation System and use your PayPal account or your Credit Card to donate .

Your donation will be used to promote and advance the use and development of the XOOPS system. The XOOPS Foundation is a registered not-for-profit organization in the USA, dedicated to promote XOOPS! All donators will get the Friend of XOOPS rank here on this website. Thanks to all the Friends of XOOPS for their donations and continued support!

If you wonder what is happening with XOOPS money, please read the 2008 XOOPS Financial Report

This month we would like to acknowledge following donors:

  • Ian A. Underwood: $15
  • David Zies: $25
  • Daniel Keppler: $25
  • Ivan Kosak: $20

Thank you so much for supporting XOOPS!!!!

03. XOOPSers of the Month

Back to top
Our "XOOPSer of the Month" Award is given to XOOPS members who show extraordinary dedication to XOOPS, and go the extra mile for XOOPS. Sometimes they do something spectacular, but most of the time they just do something everyday, but by doing it day-in and day-out, they make a BIG DIFFERENCE in life of XOOPS community. And we thank them for that!!!

This month, we would like to recognize CK2 Club (news) from Taiwan for their extraordinary work as a team, and showing us how a XOOPS User Group could look like! 

Where are you from, and where do you live now?

We are all from Taiwan, a beautiful island once called "Formosa" by the Portuguese in the 16th century. It lies off the southeastern coast of mainland China and in the middle of Japan and Philippines. Maybe you have heard of Taiwan, maybe not. In addition to the world's tallest building Taipei 101, Taiwan has established many world's top industries like personal computer (ACER/ASUS), bicycle (GIANT), footwear, tennis racket, textile and etc. The forest and marine ecosystems are abundant and the people here are very kind to foreigners. If you have a chance to travel in Asia, we sincerely invite you to visit Taiwan. Our club is located in Tainan City, a traditional city famous for its historic constructions, culture and cuisine in the southern part of Taiwan. Most of our members live in the south part of Taiwan and some come from the eastern Taiwan.

How long have you been programming?

Most of us have 1~3 years experience in programming and some others are just starting, using XOOPS as the learning tool.

What is your expertise?

We mainly study on new module development, theme design and other free software. Most of our members take it as a hobby, but there are few of us who apply it to their jobs and some even use it to make a living.

What got you into XOOPS?

Because XOOPS is easy to use and is rich in resources. Also quite a lot of people are using XOOPS here in Taiwan.

What do you like the most about XOOPS?

XOOPS is easy and quick to install. Moreover, there are plenty of ready-made modules and themes for use.

In what area of XOOPS do you contribute and why?

We have started to provide some useful and free modules. In addition, we help our local users to set up their websites with XOOPS.

What are you major achievement as the CK2 Club that you're most proud of?

This year, three members of our club (including Tad, our instructor) have developed a school software system for the Tainan Community College. This school software is a large, complex and full-featured system. The fact that Tainan community college is willing to use it indicates our developing capabilities have reached a reliable level. In addition, many modules developed by us got very positive feedback and appreciation from a lot of users. This is what we are most happy about.

What are you goals for 2010?

For 2010, we hope to create more easy-to-use and practical modules in international versions, such as a new school system or a shopping cart system. Also, we hope to go out for a tour that all club members can join together in the coming year.

How often do you meet, and what are you typical meetings about?

We have regular member meetings on the last Sunday of every month. Generally speaking, we arrange one or two courses for members to learn new techniques. At the rest of the time, we have free talks, chat and eat some local delicious food.

What is the biggest challenge to keep a User Group such as CK2 Club going and keep the members engaged?

To find an interesting topic in the complex techniques is the most challenging part. Too complex coding discourages the novice and too simple programming are unattractive to the experienced members.

What would be the most important advise for somebody starting a XOOPS User Group in their city?

Just do it. It just needs one person to take the initiative. In addition, there must be clear objectives for the Club.

What are your hobbies, when you're not coding?

Our club members have different kinds of hobbies such as watching movies, reading books, traveling, shopping, go sporting....when we get together and are not coding, we chat, have refreshments or a meal. Also, we plan to go out for a tour together but the time is not yet determined, because all of us are too busy.

What dish and drink would you recommend to somebody visiting Taiwan?

We recommend Oyster omelet and Bubble Tea, it is delicious and you can find it in any night market.

Who is the person that you would like to meet and why? 

phppp! He is really an excellent programmer. Moreover, we could talk with him in Chinese

04. XOOPS Innovation Award

Back to top

Our XOOPS Innovation Award is given to people who create something very unique and very innovative for XOOPS! We are clear that XOOPS can only succeed, when we push the limits of our creativity, imagination, and innovation to "infinity and beyond" . And therefore we would like to recognize people who create this "WOW!" effect, when we see what they've done. The XOOPS Innovation Award is not a monthly award, i.e. theoretically, there might be a month where we won't give one, but we certainly hope that this will never happen

Xoops Innovation Award Xoops Innovation Award

This month the Innovation Award goes to Lucio Rota (luciorota1) from Italy  for his innovative work on modularized XOOPS Image Manager  

Where are you from, and where do you live now?

I'm from Italy, i live in Montello a small village (3000 souls) near (about 15km from) Bergamo, in north Italy

How long have you been programming?

I started programming when I was 15, with my good old commodore 64, in Basic and then in assembler (an hard byte by byte programming...)

What is your expertise?

I studied Pascal and C at school and I started my HTML, PHP, javascript experience at work. I work for a small no profit OGN (Caritas Diocesana Bergamasca); some year ago we needed to upgrade our internet site and so I ended up doing it...

What got you to XOOPS?

I was searching for a good CMS, an a friend, Alessandro Maestroni, told me about Xoops...

What do you like the most about XOOPS?

I think there are a lot of good open source CMS... I like Xoops because it's very easy to learn, because the distance between ideas and reality is very short...

Why did you decide to work on the modularized ImageEditor?

I think that xoops need a more efficient image manager... first step is to modularize it and then...

And what about your MultiEditor?

I needed a more efficient editor managing tool... it is still a "ultra-beta" work... I don't now if I'll find time to go on...

If you could add one feature to XOOPS, what would it be?

Last Xoops releases are good works...

Wish list:
- a common admin interface for any module (same icons, similar menu, ...), this way Xoops will have a more professional look
- a more cooperative nity, for example it will be great if someone join with me to create an Editor Team... working togheter is better then working alone

What is your major achievement in programming that you're most proud of?

My Xoops works, really... , I have a small sitehttp://luciorota.altervista.org/xoops/ with some of my works.

What are your hobbies, when you're not coding?

I 'm an husband and a father. I have wonderful wife and daughter (6 years). Mainly I spent my time with them... sometime I play music with friends or I go out for trekking (ther are wonderful mountains near my home, The Alpi Orobiche). When I can I travel, I like travel...

You favorite dish and drink?

Dish: spaghetti, pizza, Asado Argentino with chimichurri ..... slurppp!!!!
Drink: beer, wine grignolino and natural water

What about movies and music?

Movies: Mad Max serie
Music: I like music (I play guitar, bass and drum with some friends). I like Buster Poindexter, Silvio Rodriguez, John Cougar Mellencamp, irish scotch and english folk music, classical music, country ... only I don't like disco music (sorry)

If you would have a chance for a 30 seconds commercial with a message to the world, what would you say?

Stop wars... absolutely useless, history teaches...

If you could choose a place and time to live, what would it be and why?

I like travel, every place on earth is good for me... International Space Station (ISS)... I would like to experience zero gravity

05. New/Updated Modules

Back to top

06. New Hacks

Back to top

07. Security Issues/Alerts

Back to top

08. YAXS, Sites using XOOPS

Back to top

09. Tutorials/Add-ons

Back to top
Tutorials andAdd-ons
  • None this month

10. New/Updated Themes

Back to top

11. New Translations

Back to top
Translations

We are still looking for more translations!!! Can you help? See the list here

12. News from around the World

Back to top

13. Local support sites

Back to top

14. How to contribute

Back to top




This article comes from XOOPS Web Application System
https://xoops.org

The URL for this story is:
https://xoops.org/modules/news/article.php?storyid=5084