Software Upgrade

[Jordan]

I have went ahead and upgraded our forum software to a newer version. Because of this, you may have noticed our website is looking a bit plain. As part of this update, the site has temporarily reverted to the default software theme as our previous design is no longer compatible with the new version.

A refreshed Off Topicz style design is already in the works, and I'll be rolling out updates soon to bring back a familiar look along with improvements.

Some things to note about this upgrade:

Temporary Changes​

• Several of our add-ons have been disabled for now, even addons that have been core to the forum.
• This is intentional while I test compatibility and stability individually
• Features will return gradually once confirmed working with the updated software, while others may not come back due to either no longer compatible, or deemed no longer needed.

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What’s New​

This upgrade brings a number of under-the-hood improvements and new features, including:

Improved Login & Security

• Support for OAuth2 authentication
• Foundation for more modern login methods and integrations
• Passwordless login (Passkeys) for improved security and user experience. This allows you to log into your account using your phones FaceID, TouchID, etc. head over to your Account Security to add any passkeys.

UI & Design Enhancements

• Cleaner, more modern interface across the platform
• Built-in dark mode via new style variation system
• Overhaul of the template system. (Why our old theme was no longer compatible)

Media & Content Improvements

• Image optimization (WebP support) and better resizing
• Improved content embedding across external platforms

Content & Engagement Features

• Featured content system and trending content tools
• Content activity insights (views, reactions, etc.)

Automation & Integrations

• Webhooks for automation and external integrations
• Improved integrations

Developer & Platform Changes

• Transition to modern components (e.g., Symfony libraries)
• New CLI tools and scaffolding for add-on development
• Improved templating and JavaScript systems

Performance & Core Improvements

• Faster page loads and improved efficiency
• Better long-term scalability
• General bug fixes and stability improvements

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So What Does This All Mean?​

I know, a lot of this is not relevant to the normal user. However, all of this is especially important because it lays the groundwork for something bigger…

Upcoming Server Upgrade

In addition to the platform upgrade, we’ll also be moving to a new server environment soon. I've talked about this in the past, and it's time to finally make the change. Our server has been running nonstop for years now, and has some outdated infrastructure attached to it. It's time to upgrade to a more modern, faster server.

This will bring:

• Improved performance and reliability
• Better handling of growth and traffic
• A stronger foundation for future features (including the mobile app) ... (wait what?)

Mobile App in Progress

With OAuth2 now available, I'm actively working toward a dedicated mobile app experience.

This will allow:

• Secure account login directly from the app on your phone
• Better performance than a web wrapper/browser
• A more native, responsive experience overall for both iOS and Android phones.
• This is not a simple "PWA" or "wrapper" that just puts this site into a a native app.
• This is a completely new developed native application for Off Topicz that isn't seen elsewhere.

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What to Expect Next

• Return of a custom Off Topicz theme
• Gradual re-enabling of add-ons
• Continued polishing and improvements
• Early progress updates on the mobile app

Thanks for Your Patience

This is a fairly major upgrade, so some things may look or behave differently for now. Everything being done is to ensure a more stable, modern platform going forward.

If you notice any issues, feel free to report them.