WOX (World of XOOPS) Newsletter # 12 (September 2008)

We continue to execute on our Plans for 2008. We'll need all the help from the whole XOOPS Community to make the 2008 Plans reality. But we are confident that together, we'll be able to make it. Remember - XOOPS is powered by YOU!!!!

01. New XOOPS developments

Current Releases

02. 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 Stefan Zagorchev (Stefan88) for his continues support of XOOPS users. Stefan has been XOOPS Member since Sept. 2004, so it's 4 years this month. During that time he's been always very helpful providing countless advise and support to XOOPS Users. Sometimes the people who provide this kind of support are overlooked, but they are the ones who keep the community going. We hear on so many occasions that the XOOPS Community rocks because it is so helpful! It is thanks to people like Stefan that we have this positive reputation, so this moth we would like to salute Stefan and all other people like him supporting XOOPS!!! Thank you!!!!

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

I'm from Bulgaria and live in Sofia.

How long have you been programming?

I started when I was about 10 years old with BASIC and Assembler on Bulgarian made Apple II clone.

What is your expertise?

IT.

What got you to XOOPS?

We needed a CMS software for a project back in 2004. So I tested most of the major CMS systems at that time. We needed a secure and flexible system and XOOPS was one of the few that offered this. The community was VERY helpful and that led to the final decision.

What do you like the most about XOOPS?

With XOOPS I can do almost anything I need to do. In short time. And the result is stable and secure site. One thing I miss is speed.

In what area of XOOPS do you contribute and why?

Because the support I got in forums is what bring me to XOOPS, now I try to help others the same way.

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

The next one

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

Movies and from last year photography. Also like to travel...

You favorite dish and drink?

Favorite dishes are too many From the drinks I like cognac and French wines from Bordeaux.

What about movies and music?

Movies are too many too. The music depends on the mood, but I really like Vaya Con Dios.

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

The world can be a very beautiful place, let's keep it that way

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

Don't know. But I would like to thank all the XOOPS developers and the community, who made the system what it is.

02. XOOPSers of the Month 2

This month we would also like to recognize Marc Desrousseaux (Marco) for his support and for testing/debugging of XOOPS 2.3. Thank you!!!!

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

I'm originally from the South of France (Hautes-Alpes, in the French Alps), but now I'm living in the North of France, in Lille (1hour from Paris by TGV , 1h20 from London by Eurostar).

How long have you been programming?

My first program was made with the BASIC language, on a Thomson MO5 in 1984, then TO7 / TO7-70 and then Amstrad CPC6128. Then I came naturally to internet and PHP in 1998.

What is your expertise?

I work in the IT world as an IS Auditor in a major DIY company, making security, applications and projects audits, and as well working on some IT governance issues. Besides that I'm also co-founder of Instant Zero, so I like creating websites with XOOPS, creating XOOPS modules, and helping our customers with their projects and the XOOPS Community via the Support Forums (Xoops.org and XoopsFrance).

What got you to XOOPS?

I have created some websites, made with PHP and MySQL, after 1999, but I found less and less time to devote to their maintenance. It was necessary to offer users more functionality, but I needed more time for other activities. So I looked for other solutions. By accident, I found XOOPS at the end of 2003. I can't remember how I came to XOOPS exactly, but probably through a Boomtchak article, and I choose XOOPS instead of Spip. In early 2004 I registered on XoopsFrance, and then on Xoops.org.

What do you like the most about XOOPS?

Its modularity, its ease of use, and its community. That's why I wrote the Xoops Manifesto some months ago. I would like us to maintain these strengths that made XOOPS a success, promote synergies through more team efforts, and to improve XOOPS so that it can better address needs of professional Websites.

In what area of XOOPS do you contribute and why?

Well, I started to help through the forums on the French Speaking Community, aka XoopsFrance. I was also in charge of the module repository, and in parallel, I was helping module developers in debugging their modules and translating their modules into French. I helped Mith with maintaining of the module Dev.Xoops.org area. Then I decided to help in debugging the new releases of Xoops Core after the 2.2 branch was declared as not recommended. I released the Module QA Checklist, to help module developers to improve quality of their modules. We will restart this effort in few weeks. I will also update the Xoops TimeLine as soon as the 2.3 final will be released, as well as the Xoops Portfolio. Now I'm still focusing on Core, since this is the area where we have a lot to do. I'm convinced that with this new releases, XOOPS will attract again new developers and talented people. We have to facilitate and prepare for that situation.

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

The Instant Zero modules. We had and have a lot of fun with Hervé in dreaming-up and then developing innovative solutions for our Clients and also the XOOPS Community. I will release soon a new version of the GoogleMaps module : after having played with JS and the GoogleMaps API, this new release will make a better use of the XOOPS API with some cool new features.

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

Hiking, tripping, trekking, being with friends, making a press review with Google News.

You favorite dish and drink?

Dish and drink I don't know yet from around the world

What about movies and music?

I like movies with a strong ambient music and nice images, as Gladiator or the Thin Red Line. Most of the time I go to see French comedy films. Regarding music, I do not have any preferences, it can be very eclectic but has to incite to dance. When I was a student, I regularly worked as a DJ spending some long nights spinning dance music. I also played 10 years piano and clarinet.

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

I'm traveling around the world for my work (most of the time in the EU, Russia, China, Brazil), and I like to visit several places, and to compare cultures to each others. I've no preference. But during my trips, I take the opportunity to meet other XOOPSers

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

Some of the explorers of the North and South Pole, and historians who are specialists of the Middle East area.

03. 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 award goes to Jerry Pfeiffer (tank1955) for his cool Video Tube module

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

Born, raised and still reside in Central Illinois, USA

How long have you been programming?

Started programming in the early 1980’s so roughly it’s been about 25 years

What is your expertise?

Although I love writing web-based software my real expertise is industrial controls and automation.

What got you to XOOPS?

I stumbled across XOOPS when I was trying out all the different listings under CMS category in Fantastico (through CPanel)

What do you like the most about XOOPS?

As far as the code, I believe the structure is designed in such a way that it promotes developers’ creativity. The possibilities are endless. But if I had to select just one thing I would have to say it is the people that make up the XOOPS community. Everyone I have encountered has been helpful and has made me feel very at home.

Why did you decide to develop Video Tube?

I guess I would have to use the old cliché here, necessity is the mother of invention. One of the sites I operate is a community website (Classy International) and the users wanted a way to embed videos in their personal profile pages. After I wrote the code, the response was so positive I decided to give making it a XOOPS module a try.

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

Over my 35 year career in the electrical/electronics field there have been so many projects in which I have been involved, it is very difficult to pick just one. Probably my most impressive achievement was development of software to control 53 material-handling and spot-welding robots to bring full automation with diagnostics to body shop fabrication for a major automobile manufacturer.

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

Enjoy traveling and home remodeling/renovation.

You favorite dish and drink?

My wife makes Lasagna like no other and like any good developer, that stays up coding ‘til the wee hours of the morning, I have got to have my coffee.

What about movies and music?

Love action movies. There is nothing like watching Chuck Norris walk into a bar with about 40 bikers and in the end Chuck is the only one left standing.

I enjoy any music that ROCKS. Nickelback, AC/DC. Ozzy, etc.

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

I think I would play a clip from the Montgomery Gentry video, You Do Your Thing … I’ll Do Mine.

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

I can’t think of any time in history that is more exciting than the present. The rapid advancement of technology, conflicts and resolutions, living on the edge and wondering what tomorrow is going to bring.

This month we would also like to recognize Herve Thouzard (hervet) from Instant Zero for his awesome Olédrion eCommerce module. Herve is also the author of the best XOOPS module for news (News), in addition to many other cool modules, and a big supporter of XOOPS for years! Last month, Herve received "XOOPSer of the Month" (read his interview here) Award for his dedication and endless support for XOOPS. Herve, you ROCK!!!