plots2: the Public Lab 2.0 website

Planning and information page for the near-complete rewrite of the Public Lab website on a new platform, with a whole new look. The new website (which we hope you are using already!) is at:

PublicLab.org

This project is specifically intended to address many issues with the current website, which we've outgrown in many ways. The new website will (and may already):

boast more usable, friendly, but also more powerful interfaces
simplify and refine common tasks like posting research notes and filtering spam
enable faster development (based on Ruby on Rails and Twitter's Bootstrap frameworks)
completely revise and streamline "following" other contributors or specific keywords, with email alerts
work on tablets, smartphones, and in recent versions of Internet Explorer

However, in order to minimize disruption to your use of PublicLaboratory.org, and to build on user feedback and input as we go, we've launched a "beta" website, first, which uses almost all of the same URL paths as the existing site -- the idea is that you should be able to substitute "publiclab.org" for "publiclaboratory.org" for any page.

Features

These are now divided into 8 categories which we are tracking on Github:

Look and feel
Finding stuff
Authoring and editing
Everyday use
New and growing users
Legacy features
Power users and admins

A smattering of exciting features is listed here; also see the gallery at the bottom of this page

new simpler/faster note posting form
vastly improved advanced search
fast and easy auto-complete search
faster, nicer wiki revision interface](http://publiclab.org/wiki/revisions/plots2)
revamped integrated subscriptions interface (you must be logged in)
events and mailing list info for place pages
recent notes, wiki pages, and active contributors per topic in page sidebar
easy tag-based pages
"follow" and "star" for each page
new simplified/improved wiki editing form
sorting and prioritization of notes and pages by popularity metric

Timeline

Nov-Dec 2012

review of web survey and additional brainstorming & refinement of plan
build out of read-only site
variations on sidebar design, different navigation paradigms, advanced search and site-wide look & feel
pilot log-in system

Jan-Feb 2013

subscription management and test email system
drag & drop file upload testing
integration of Google Groups
commenting tests

Mar-Apr 2013

initial tests of research note and wiki posting
registration testing
SpectralWorkbench and MapKnitter integration with post templates
probable Beta site launch for wider public testing
archive display and interface design

(we are here, and more or less on schedule!)

Apr-May 2013

beta testing, bug fixing, final feature adds
heavy push for "trying the new version" through alerts on old site
reviewing feedback and if all goes well, switching over to the new site
spam filtration interface
staged "helpful hints" system which grows with a user
optimizations and scaling, slashdot-proofing

June 2013

shutdown of old site (fingers crossed!)
slow migration to native database

Alpha tester group

Many of the more adventuresome and patient of you have joined the "alpha user group" (so named although we've now moved to beta). We ask folks in this group to:

subscribe to the "plots-alpha" Google Group (below on this page) to be part of ongoing discussion and brainstorming
respond to occasional requests for input, such as jotting down your thoughts on a new page design or process
check how specific pages render in specific browsers & devices, and upload screenshots
try out new interfaces and provide constructive criticism

We try to keep these sorts of requests to once per week or so at a maximum. The benefit of joining the alpha user group is that you'll have a greater say in how the new Public Lab site is designed and implemented -- so if you're opinionated about or dissatisfied with the current site, please join!

Read more detail about the alpha testing program and sign up

Sign up for the alpha tester list here:

Visit this group

Thanks for your patience with the current site and here's looking forward to a newly refreshed PublicLab.org website!

Bug reporting

Report bugs on Github (or email web@publiclaboratory.org and we'll enter the bug for you) at:

https://github.com/jywarren/plots2/issues/new

Gallery

Place page sidebars with list subscription & upcoming events

Autocomplete search, sorted by type

Like/follow buttons on most content

Completely new simplified authoring forms with preview and easy formatting

Fast and easy spam moderation

Recent contributors on a given topic

Integrated subscription management

Migration

These are the needed steps to migrate the entire old site off PublicLaboratory.org and make the new site the default. We are planning to do this at the end of May or start of June 2013.

Pull new openid code to publiclab.org
Set old.publiclab.org to point to drndl server
Batch migrate MapKnitter.org users to new openid auth, test
- test users who do not have an account on PublicLab.org
- test users who do have an account on PublicLab.org
- test completely new users to MapKnitter.org
Repeat above tests with SpectralWorkbench.org users
Set PublicLab.org openid client to point to old.publiclab.org, confirm that it works
Test #3 again
Point PublicLaboratory.org to PublicLab.org (set TTL to 5m/300ms 24h ahead)
Change Google Analytics codes for PublicLab to point to PublicLaboratory.org stats
Hold onto your pants and await load issues and bugs