To clear up a few holes on how MyNetwork actually works, here's a quick demonstration.
The MyNetwork Core, by itself, doesn't do very much - all it does is replicate the MyBB Template Engine and Plugin System. Why? Because of the multitude of plugins available for MyBB, and the amount of times templates and stylesheets are changed, I found it important to seperate what MyNetwork does and what other plugins do - essentially cutting down on compatibility issues and improving integration between MyNetwork and MyBB.
The Template Engine
I'm blaming Nickman for this, but the Template Engine is replicated simply to provide a system where you can alter templates without causing a plague to the MyBB Template Sets.
Screenshot of the MyNetwork Template Engine
It's impossible to assign the MyNetwork template set to a theme, and it's impossible to delete it without removing the Core. At the same time though, you're able to add, edit, revert and see differences between original MyNetwork templates and your changes. Basically, it adds default templates without affecting MyBB.
Modules, Features and Plugins
Because MyNetwork itself is a plugin for MyBB, and MyNetwork has plugins that plugin to other plugins that plugin to other plugins, it was important to differentiate between these. So, Modules and Features were introduced to make things a lot easier to understand. For example:
MyNetwork is a plugin.
|- Modules are installed to MyNetwork (such as Profile System, Messaging etc.)
|-- Features are then installed to a Module, such as the Profile Comments, Statuses and Instant Messaging
Simple? Good. Even simpler - a MyNetwork Module is basically a collection of other, smaller, plugins.
The MyNetwork ACP
Another problem that cropped up was the ACP controls. Nowhere in the current MyBB ACP was suitable to manage the Modules and Features that are available for MyNetwork, so a new area had to be made.
To provide an example, we'll take a look at the Core Module.
Core Module Overview Screenshot
The Module Overview works just like the Plugins page for MyBB. You can activate, deactivate, remove or install Features for the Module, and if really don't like a Feature, you can remove it totally from the server (pending server configurations). You can also view all the settings for every Feature installed just like the Board Settings area of the ACP.
You Fat ......
People are always worried about bloat software, which is where MyNetwork is in a class of its own. It's really fat, and weighs in at roughly the size of your average American. Joke.
The best thing about MyNetwork, in my opinion, is that you are the one that chooses what you want. You're in complete control. You pick a Module, then you pick the Features that you want to install with it. So, you don't get Relative Time when you just want Bookmarked Threads and Postbit Reputation. Even when you want to remove a Feature, or a Module, it can remove itself completely from your server if it's rivilled you that much. Oh, and you can download Features straight into your ACP - no uploading required.
And Finally...
...no, there is no release date for anything at the moment. With work being really busy, and other important side projects popping up, I can't definitely say when any of this is coming out. Over the coming weeks, more and more of MyNetwork will be added to this forum as a test to see if it works, and if it works well.
Hopefully, things are a little clearer now about how MyNetwork works and explains why it's taking so long to create (well, a little bit of an explaination anyway). It's a big project, and a big commitment - and big timescales come with that. Luckily, it's coming to a point where it's almost finished.
nothing happened for over a month now.
This is going to be awesome, congrats
