Do You Believe a New Forum Software Will Attract More Users to Bitcointalk?

[cabalism13]

In my end I don't think many will be attracted unless the old forum will be unusable just like the old one, I guess that's the idea but it can't be possible when there's a lot to be fixed. If Both will still be running expect this to be a ghost town just like what I saw on Yobit Forums even though they had a campaign. JM2C

It can take a lot of time and money to migrate to a new forum or forum software.

actually it is already. And we even don't know what's the update now, it's been months maybe or a year already since the last time I saw Theymos posting about the New Forum. I wonder if they're still up to it or just put it on hold, or maybe it is theymos whose only been doing all the work that has to be done.... Just Maybe.

[1715469865]

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[Pmalek]

It can take a lot of time and money to migrate to a new forum or forum software. Although it seems possible, but if users are given the option to stick with the old forum then I'm pretty sure bitcointalk.org will still have a large user base.

I don't think you will be given that option. If and when the new forum goes live and becomes completely functional, my expectation is that theymos would want everyone to migrate and use the new site. This forum would either be locked or deleted altogether. It wouldn't make sense having a divided community and some members posting on the old while others post on the new forum.   

[Welsh]

It can take a lot of time and money to migrate to a new forum or forum software. Although it seems possible, but if users are given the option to stick with the old forum then I'm pretty sure bitcointalk.org will still have a large user base.

I don't think you will be given that option. If and when the new forum goes live and becomes completely functional, my expectation is that theymos would want everyone to migrate and use the new site. This forum would either be locked or deleted altogether. It wouldn't make sense having a divided community and some members posting on the old while others post on the new forum.   

You could potentially sync them up, but that would just be overly complex. The thing is; everyone will hate the new forum software when it launches, then over time they'll likely prefer it. The truth is; despite my love for the simplicity of SMF it is outdated, and a lot of things could be streamlined especially by avoiding PHP whenever possible. The only problem with that is; SMF isn't exactly easy to modify. Plus, I'm assuming theymos' has been overseeing much of the development, and it can be coded to his exact specifications, which means it could be easier in the future.

The easier option would be to create a theme for the new forum software, which resembles this forum somewhat, but with the new features, and streamlined features incorporated into it. That would likely ease the transition, but as all humans tend to hate change, there will likely be a lot of users not liking the change at first.

[Pmalek]

You could potentially sync them up, but that would just be overly complex. The thing is; everyone will hate the new forum software when it launches, then over time they'll likely prefer it.

You will get two opposing lines of thinking on that subject:

• The old-timers who have been here for years and maybe from the beginning, will hate having to adjust to a new forum with all its changes.
• The younger generations will appreciate a more modern design, more features, and maybe a mobile-friendly forum.

But once everyone realizes that Bitcointalk has turned a new page, they are likely to accept it. Assuming, of course, that the new forum is indeed better than what we have now.

[Welsh]

But once everyone realizes that Bitcointalk has turned a new page, they are likely to accept it. Assuming, of course, that the new forum is indeed better than what we have now.

Yeah, to me there's not much new innovative things that you can add to a forum. I think its probably based on the suitability to the team behind it for modifications. Building it on a new language is probably the best thing to come from this, like I said PHP is a nuisance. Looking at the specifications its mostly just quality of life things, and what this forum already has. However, it should at least be easy to tinker, and add functionality to in the future if necessary.

[ShowOff]

actually it is already.

Thanks for telling me, I really didn't notice.

And we even don't know what's the update now, it's been months maybe or a year already since the last time I saw Theymos posting about the New Forum. I wonder if they're still up to it or just put it on hold, or maybe it is theymos whose only been doing all the work that has to be done.... Just Maybe.

It's reasonable to think that they are simply delaying or waiting for the right time to launch it.

I don't think you will be given that option. If and when the new forum goes live and becomes completely functional, my expectation is that theymos would want everyone to migrate and use the new site. This forum would either be locked or deleted altogether. It wouldn't make sense having a divided community and some members posting on the old while others post on the new forum.

I'm not going to argue because this is the most likely thought to prevent the division of users. No choice will be given and all users will migrate and try something new although some of them have a strange feeling at first.

[Pmalek]

Yeah, to me there's not much new innovative things that you can add to a forum.

What I meant with better is to have the forum implement a few of the features that members have asked for in the last couple of years.
Those suggestions are usually repeated and the most common ones include a mobile app or a mobile-friendly forum, a 2FA option, a forum notifications system, which would allow users to get notified of mentions and replies in their threads (similar to the bots that forum members create), a better PM system, a few new sub-sections (one for the Lightning Network, for example), etc.

I think some users would be disappointed if none of this got featured in the new forum. 

[UserU]

What I meant with better is to have the forum implement a few of the features that members have asked for in the last couple of years.
Those suggestions are usually repeated and the most common ones include a mobile app or a mobile-friendly forum, a 2FA option, a forum notifications system, which would allow users to get notified of mentions and replies in their threads (similar to the bots that forum members create), a better PM system, a few new sub-sections (one for the Lightning Network, for example), etc.

I think some users would be disappointed if none of this got featured in the new forum. 

Don't forget, our shiny reporter badges too

[1miau]

This is what I found:

1. When you search "german crypto forum", the German local of Bitcointalk will be the 1st result, an Ethereum forum will be 2nd, and CoinForum is 3rd.
2. When you search "german bitcoin forum", again the German local of Bitcointalk is 1st and CoinForum is 2nd.

It's a bit different if you search with German keywords:

1. A search with "deutsche crypto forum" places CoinForum on top and the German local of Bitcointalk on the 2nd place.
2. You get the same results searching for "deutsche bitcoin forum".

What that shows is that both forums are easily found, but if Germans prefer CoinForum instead of Bitcointalk, the correct question we need to ask ourselves is why and how can it be corrected?  

Great research.

Aside from a very different design, I see much more advantages for Bitcointalk:

+ Original Forum where Satoshi was active (probably many people dont't know it)
+ International community
+ Collection of great tutorials
+ Marketplace section for buying selling goods

Coinforum has not much advantages over Bitcointalk

+ Better design of course  
+ Coinforum is funded by a German Bitcoin Marketplace (Bitcoin.de) not from Ads like Bitcointalk.

After all, I would assume the modern design of Coinforum is more attractive to new members. But I can't say for sure...

[Pmalek]

+ Original Forum where Satoshi was active (probably many people dont't know it)

I am sure that if we conducted a survey on some other forum or social media asking what forum Satoshi Nakamoto was active on, very few people would know the answer unless they are also members of Bitcointalk. But the thing is, that piece of information doesn't mean much for members who come here. Satoshi is long gone and those who register want a useful forum, which satisfies the needs they have.

If the main device they use is a mobile phone, they might take one look at this place, realize that it's quite difficult to navigate, and go elsewhere. The fact that Satoshi used to post here wouldn't change their mind. I agree with all the other points you made but would like to add that the forum's policy of not moderating scam decreases the quality of an otherwise excellent marketplace.   

[finaleshot2016]

In my end I don't think many will be attracted unless the old forum will be unusable just like the old one, I guess that's the idea but it can't be possible when there's a lot to be fixed. If Both will still be running expect this to be a ghost town just like what I saw on Yobit Forums even though they had a campaign. JM2C

It can take a lot of time and money to migrate to a new forum or forum software. Although it seems possible, but if users are given the option to stick with the old forum then I'm pretty sure bitcointalk.org will still have a large user base. Although we have to get used to accepting something new, but bitcointalk.org is still the biggest one for me. Sometime change is hard to accept at first, but we really have to get it when we need it.

Even if there is a new software used to create a new forum, I will prefer the old forum because the interface on this forum right now is really classic, and I truly appreciate how the inputs and selections were featured here. And, moreover, this is a forum, and the discussions are the most important thing to me here, and there's nothing wrong with the present forum. Users who are serious about learning about crypto, whether old or new, will come to bitcointalk.

[d5000]

My biggest problem with the current software is the bad usability on mobile devices, particularly on smaller smartphones (on tablets/phablets, its "almost" usable but not very comfortably). I run a website myself and the percentage of traffic from mobile devices/small screens has increased to over 60% in the last years. This means that Bitcointalk is probably getting only half, or even less, of the public/traffic it could have.

A design refresh would also be for sure attracting new, potentially younger public, as would new functions like a better watchlist, where you could get delivered the complete posts instead of only the titles of threads who have been updated, so it's closer to Twitter's "following" model.

SEO is also an issue, like DdmrDdmr stated in one of the first posts; I was shocked that particularly in Spanish the visibility of the forum is so low.

What I'm not 100% sure is if I would like to have features like a "like button" system, like it was introduced in the German Coinforum. I was generally supporting these kinds of features, but a thread by a prominent German forum user made me think about it - it could lead even more to a "popularity-seeking" discussion style marginalizing "unpopular" opinions, like we know it from other social media. On the other hand I can imagine that people familiar with social networks would miss such a feature (and no, merit isn't the same thing). Maybe one could introduce it but make it possible to disable it?

What should however be preserved is the BBCode system (there was a discussion about that some months ago). It can be complemented with Markdown but replacing it completely would make tons of old content inaccessible.

Overall I have voted for "yes", although I'm in favour of a "careful" transition, to not obstruct post habits that have been evolved, mainly related to BBcode formatting.

[Pmalek]

Bump

[Sayeds56]

Yeah, to me there's not much new innovative things that you can add to a forum.

What I meant with better is to have the forum implement a few of the features that members have asked for in the last couple of years.
Those suggestions are usually repeated and the most common ones include a mobile app or a mobile-friendly forum, a 2FA option, a forum notifications system, which would allow users to get notified of mentions and replies in their threads (similar to the bots that forum members create), a better PM system, a few new sub-sections (one for the Lightning Network, for example), etc.

I think some users would be disappointed if none of this got featured in the new forum.  

I think it is very good idea to migrate to new software to meet with growing  needs of changing times and I would love to migrate my account to new software, lot of development has taken place in Technology since Bitcoin forum was launched so we should  ride this bus of development and come up with something with  new features & overall much better than what we use now.

[Daniel91]

Yeah, to me there's not much new innovative things that you can add to a forum.

What I meant with better is to have the forum implement a few of the features that members have asked for in the last couple of years.
Those suggestions are usually repeated and the most common ones include a mobile app or a mobile-friendly forum, a 2FA option, a forum notifications system, which would allow users to get notified of mentions and replies in their threads (similar to the bots that forum members create), a better PM system, a few new sub-sections (one for the Lightning Network, for example), etc.

I think some users would be disappointed if none of this got featured in the new forum.  

I think it is very good idea to migrate to new software to meet with growing  needs of changing times and I would love to migrate my account to new software, lot of development has taken place in Technology since Bitcoin forum was launched so we should  ride this bus of development and come up with something with  new features & overall much better than what we use now.

It seems to me that new forum software could help keep existing members on the forum, but I don’t believe it will help attract new forum members.
We have two problems on this forum, more and more old members are leaving the forum and fewer and fewer new members are coming.
To attract new forum members we need to find another way, I think the new forum software will not help much.
This discussion certainly came at the right time but we can only share our opinions and advices but the final decision must be made by the forum administrators.

[Hispo]

I personally believe that a software upgrade for the forum won't make a big difference when comes to attracting even more users.

The new generation of people interested in Cryptocurrency I believe are too young to have memories of the 1990`s-2000`s when the forum communities were far more common than nowadays. I assume they are more focused on "social media" like Reddit, Twitter, Youtube, etc, where the interaction is faster, so it is the feedback.

They may not see the appeal into posting something or sharing some information here and wait for hours or even days to get the full feedback of their content.

However, this should not discourage the administrators to try to improve the experience for us (the already established users).

[PrimeNumber7]

SEO is also an issue, like DdmrDdmr stated in one of the first posts; I was shocked that particularly in Spanish the visibility of the forum is so low.

New forum software is not going to solve any SEO issues. Search results is largely driven by factors outside of the forum. As the bitcoin ecosystem has evolved, additional sources of information about bitcoin have popped up, and more people are linking to sources about bitcoin outside of the forum.

What should however be preserved is the BBCode system (there was a discussion about that some months ago). It can be complemented with Markdown but replacing it completely would make tons of old content inaccessible.

BBCode can potentially be translated into Markdown (or any other similar language). Any existing scripts that post automatically using BBCode would need to be updated.

The forum has been on the decline for some time now. It has been a long time since new features of any kind have been introduced, and there are limitations as to what features can be implemented, when taking into consideration the limitations of what theymos is willing to take on, in terms of risk (such as holding user funds).

Ultimately, new features need to be added, either via the new forum software, via the current SMF implementation of the forum, or via a better implementation of the forum (such as via a flask app). I think a good start would be allowing users to select from a list of themes (preferably that include a dark theme). I can't imaging allowing multiple themes would introduce security vulnerabilities, nor would be very expensive. After custom themes are implemented, additional individual customizations can be implemented.

[smartaction]

Bitcointalk is already popular coz of Satoshi. all forum user knows Bitcoin Forum has make by Bitcoin owner/owner team Satoshi. And people believe Satoshi still active on this forum as anonymous way. and day by day forum user increasing for offering bounty program. I believe a new forum software also will attract more users to bitcointalk.

[aysg76]

Bitcointalk is already popular coz of Satoshi. all forum user knows Bitcoin Forum has make by Bitcoin owner/owner team Satoshi. And people believe Satoshi still active on this forum as anonymous way.

Nobody knows about him and we don't need to explore his identity anymore and keep posting the way we are doing in better manner.There are many rumours or say words about him like some believes he is the original creator of Monero coin and printed the white paper under the author name of Nicolas van Saberhagen to make it untraceable and other features.So we don't know about him and all these are speculations only.

and day by day forum user increasing for offering bounty program. I believe a new forum software also will attract more users to bitcointalk.

Bounty hunters don't contribute much to the forum and their scope is limited to certain sections of the forum where they submits reports and all that stuff and they don't care about the software is old or new as their sole purpose is earning through these campaigns.But here we are referring to users that are going to make effective contributions to the forum that what difficulties they face and whether the new system will solve these issues and more members will join the forum or this system is fair enough? So this is the main concept of this thread not dedicated to some bounty hunters.You could check bpip.org to have the statistical data of forum members and to know how many members are already on the forum and there are many till now and many more will join with time.

[Pmalek]

We have two problems on this forum, more and more old members are leaving the forum and fewer and fewer new members are coming.

People get older, tired of their online habits, and life is taking its toll on them. Those are some of the reasons users are leaving, but there are of course others. I think we are getting some new members, however their reasons for joining and signing up is not to participate in discussions, learning, and spreading their own knowledge. That's the problem.

Most of the newbies that come to Bitcointalk can be divided in two:
1. Those who seek help with a problem they have.
2. Those who have read or have been told that they can earn on Bitcointalk.

The first group simply leaves after they have gotten the answers they are looking for.
Members who belong to the second group explore various earning opportunities (bounties, airdrops, the occasional signature campaign) and aren't really interested to participate in or try to create interesting threads and discussions.