WOX (World of XOOPS) Newsletter # 23 (August 2009)

Another very busy month for XOOPS! We finally have a design for a new XOOPS Website, and we finalized the work on XOOPS 2.4.0 Beta 1 release.

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

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 (iunderwood): $15
Kyoji Kato $15

Thank you so much for supporting XOOPS!!!!

02. New XOOPS developments

Current Releases

XOOPS 2.4.0 Beta 1 Is Released
Documentation on the API
Modules working with XOOPS 2.3
Modules working with XOOPS 2.3.x (Babylon by Xoops)
Language Translations of 2.3.x

03. XOOPSers of the Month

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 Ricardo Costa (Trabis) from Portugal for his support on our Forums, and his work on XOOPS 2.4

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

I'm from Bombarral, Portugal, you know, just beside Spain! .

How long have you been programming?

About 3 hours, just stopped to reply your kindly invitation. Well, I started coding when I was 10 or 12, can't remember. My mother gave me a Spectrum 48k, not so good as Wishcraft commodore, but good enough to learn "elses", "ifs" and other good things in life! I broke my Spectrum when I was 15 so... I've met the internet at the end of 2005, met XOOPS at the beginning of 2006. Started learning PHP in 2007. Started making modules for XOOPS in 2008.

What is your expertise?

I'm not an expert in anything I must say, what I do worst is what I do best. I'm a bad electrician, a bad guitar player, a bad poet, bad lover and even worst coder. You can call me a "wannabe developer".

What got you into XOOPS?

Luck, I must have been blessed that day. A friend of mine from a crackers forum opened a hosting company and offered me cheap space on a server. He recommended me XOOPS. I asked him why and still remember is answer - "It is very quick and easy to administrate".

What do you like the most about XOOPS?

Who said I like it? I love it, and I love it all, starting with block positions and ending in groups permissions. I've tried other CMS, I moderated sites with other CMS but you know, XOOPS was my first love. I have made a successful site with XOOPS from ground 0. When I started I could not tell the difference between an email address and an URL. XOOPS has given me a new life and I'm in debt to it. That is why I'm struggling to give back because of everything that this community has given to me.

In what area of XOOPS do you contribute and why?

I like to contribute in the forum and getting old modules back to life. I have missed support on my early days here and I know how important is to help newbies. I want to feel useful here so, I'll help every time I have the chance and (as a newbie I still am) will not hesitate to post my doubts here.

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

"Mytabs" is being a very grateful experience as a team work, but I believe my best achievement is still to come. I have great plans crossing my head everyday. If there will be a module of the year, you and me will make it.

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

I used to play in a band but not anymore, we have to make choices, time won't stretch. My hobby now is getting some sleep. I bet you know what I'm talking about.

You favorite dish and drink?

The dish-washer. I can't drink anymore, I had my share!

What about movies and music?

Matrix. I like psycadelic trance, black metal ... Nirvana, Doors, Sepultura, Bolero de Ravel, that kind of stuff.

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

I would turn red and say nothing.

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

Nice question. It could be anywhere, just plug me to internet and I´ll be where I want when I want.

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

As a poet that I am, I could not answer this any other way --> I would like to meet myself.

04. XOOPS Innovation Award

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

This month the Innovation Award goes to Eduardo Cortés (BitC3R0) from Mexico for his innovative work on XOOPS New Theme, as well as his previous work on EXM

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

I'm from the State of Veracruz in México, currently I live in Mérida, Yucatán for the last 13 years but I also have spent much time in other cities.

How long have you been programming?

Well, I'm not sure... I think that maybe 8 - 10 years... but really I had to learn programming because I had many ideas that I wanted to develop.

What is your expertise?

I think that I'm good in web design (CSS/XHTML/Javascript/PHP), I've programmed in several languages (VB, C++, C#, Java) but I think that my best skills is solving problems However, really, I do not consider myself as a programmer.

What got you to XOOPS?

Ideas, ideas and ideas... I have written several modules for XOOPS and have always focused on ease of use.

What do you like the most about XOOPS?

In the beginning (5 years ago) was its simplicity and ease of use, and Smarty (but not anymore...).

Why did you decide to work on the new look for XOOPS Website?

Because XOOPS needs it and I love XOOPS :)

Where do you get your inspiration?

Well, I think that I would like to change a little the design concept: more dynamic and modern... I would leave the common design (blocks, content, blocks) and show what can do with XOOPS. The demo of my design was only a preview what can be done, it really needs much more work.

Your EXM system is a very innovative and visually pleasing fork of XOOPS. How much of this can we expect to be merged back into XOOPS?

Well, it is a little difficult because one thing that I had learned with the time is that designers and programmers think very differently... I think that, thanks to my skills as programmer and designer, I've joined (not totally) both perspectives searching in all moment to do all much easier for everybody. Unfortunately, current system is very hard to adapt.

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

I think that "visual impact"... because, as they say in my country, "Love enters through the eyes".

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

There are not any yet, I'm still working on that...

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

I love photography, play my guitar, write songs, think of new ideas... and play baseball

You favorite dish and drink?

Beer and pizza (is there anything else? ) I like to taste different foods.

What about movies and music?

Music: good music, no matter the genre... Movies: action, comedy and sci-fi, but I do not have any specific favorites.

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

Stop the words... let speak to the actions... (Alto a las palabras... deja que tus acciones hablen...) Maybe there are better things to say but I'm tired to speak and listen words, this world need good actions

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

Anywhere close to nature, where I can see fields and breathe freely... It's a little philosophic, but I really wish that.

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

Anybody really, but I would like to walk the Road to Santiago some day... I think that all people are very interesting and we can learn something from everybody.