When is the new platform coming?

[F, Calla & Luca]

Months ago we heard DK was going to upgrade. We still are having trouble loading photos. Even getting a reply to print is problematic and slow. The gremlins are discouraging us daily. So I've been wondering when things will get better?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Amen to that, Joanne!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Ditto that Amen!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Absolutely. I hate FB. I never know where things came from, how they found me, if I should reply, etc. But I don't think Clark planned anything like that. Basically the same DK that works better is what I'do expect.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I'm always on a laptop or PC and and any issues have (thankfully) been rare. Could be browser, flash, or even server issues.  I manage another work related site and the problems we were having for about a month were traced back to our hosting company not the site. This tech stuff gives me a headache.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Since most of my difficulties are limited to DK, whether I am on my tablet or PC, I think it is the DK host that is the problem.

[Adina P]

It's not a new platform, exactly and I think (but you'd have to check with Clark).  And whatever buggy things you're experiencing now probably won't be better/worse with the change as they are unrelated things.  But again Clark will have to respond. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Looking forward to his response. Anyway, we can hope. Clark did say it would be faster.
http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/upcoming-site-re-design-i-...

[Adina P]

Well nevermind what I said then.  So scratch all my 'info' and I'll defer to Clark because I have no idea what I'm talking about. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Adina you are our fearless leader and one sign of good leaders is the ability to delegate :-)

[ClarkP]

TL;DR:  I'm not sure when the new platform will come to DK.  I will only roll it out once some of the basic features (search, chat, video embedding, activity feed, etc) are complete and functioning well on other production sites.  

Adina was kind of right and kind of wrong.  This IS a major platform upgrade.  Many things are improved.  Buggy issues will be solved.  It is an upgrade from the same vendor (ning.com) so I would compare it to an Operating System upgrade on your computer.  Major improvements but no lost data.  It should fix most browser/mobile issues.

Our goal is to keep everything good about the current site:  Forums, groups, photos, blogs, profiles, etc.  And it goes without saying that every single bit of our current content will be on any updated site.

The new platform rollout has been going on for 18 months.  I think it will be really good when it's ready.  It's just not ready yet.  I think I've been patient but this is beyond that.

The whole upgrade process has been rather frustrating.  Part of the issue has been corporate changes:  our platform provider changed owners three years ago.  The transition has been less than bump free.

I know that technical issues have been painful for some of you.  I hate that.  But I don't want to mess up the good things we currently provide for most members by jumping to the new/unfinished platform too soon.  We are looking out for the benefit of every member.

As of now, many features we currently have (on the older version platform) are not complete on the new platform with no given ETA.  The glacially slow pace of this rollout has tested us.  The old platform is working... kind of... and held together with baling wire.  So we want to upgrade.  But the upgrade isn't ready to the feature level we require either.  Aargh.

We hear your cries of pain... and just don't have a good solution yet.  I'm certain this will happen in the next 12 months... but I certainly hope much sooner.

Thanks so much for your patience.  Keep asking Adina for assistance if you are having problems.  :-)

/Clark
DK tech guy

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks Clark for your explanation. I hope you keep us updated from time to time. I will try to remember patience is a virtue.