Hi All.

I've upgraded the version running on this site with a new version including some new features.

What's new:

• Color group has been removed and replaced with a new groups system coded by me with some functions backported from phpBB 3.
  
• Some minor templates improvements (thanks fracs for the new UCP).
  
• Cash mod integrated and preinstalled in Icy Phoenix, but won't be part of standard installation. It will be possible to enable it in few seconds... like Activity, and like Activity it won't be supported.
  
• New functions integrated in FAP thanks to Artie and OryNider.
  
• Some extra bugs fixed.
  
• Black Pearl template.

I would like to thank all the Staff for the big job in supporting while I was busy with my real life and coding new stuffs.

Hi all,
After more than 9 months of development I'm proud to announce the first official release of Icy Phoenix.

As most of you already know, I left phpBB XS project because I didn't like something of the guidelines and I've decided to create this new package starting from phpBB XS. So many things have been changed since then, and almost all the files have been modified. Only few third party mods have been added, while all the previous features have been refreshed and integrated in a different way respect to phpBB XS. I've personally written many lines of brand new code while trying to give the package its own identity. The result is that Icy Phoenix is something more than just a premodded: files structure has been redesigned, overall CMS and blocks features let users customize existing pages as well as new pages, extended caching system to speed up sites navigation, more...

The major advantages of Icy Phoenix are:

• CMS management
  
• phpBB permissions system and forum
  
• Several integrated features to build a complete website
  
• Many options in ACP to switch features and customize the site
  
• Overall templates, language and caching system
  
• Almost 100% XHTML 1.0 W3C compliant
  
• Open Source

Some disadvantages are:

• Generates more CPU charge, memory usage and bandwidth than standard phpBB (this is the price to pay for having extra features)
  
• If you want to add some mods created for phpBB you should know that this will require some extra work in Icy Phoenix, because of its different structure
  
• Created by non-professionals, and this means that the package could have some bugs and the support may be delayed because provided by people who are sacrifying their free time for it

During these months of development I've been helped a lot by all the Staff, both in supporting here and in beta testing... a big thanks to all the Staff.

A big thank you is for Bicet as well. Even if some divergencies pushed me to leave the project we developed together for more than one year, I really have to thank him for all the work we did together and for having started such a good project like phpBB XS was. I hope he'll find some free time in the future allowing him to code again.

This brand new release is almost similar to latest RC: as promised only few changes have been applied just to fix the bugs being found.

As usual, no code changes will be released, and won't probably be released for any version in the future. This is because the package is quite huge and writing code changes requires much time: as I already said in the past, I prefer to focus my free time on developing the package instead of writing huge code changes that could be difficult to be applied. Trust me, in most cases it is quicker to replace old files with new ones and reapply eventually added mods (you should take note of the mods you have applied). My efforts will be dedicated to the upgrade procedures to allow you to upgrade your sites with the smallest unexpected issues.

Another little note about phpBB 3. As many of you know, phpBB 3 is going to be released. Icy Phoenix won't be updated to phpBB 3 for many reasons: features compatibility, templates system, CMS, more... If you need just a forum, maybe it is worth waiting phpBB 3 to be released and install it. I may consider to create a new package relying on phpBB 3 in the future, but it is not guaranteed that it will happen. Please, when phpBB 3 will be out do not ask for conversion or upgrades of something... you have been warned.

Finally about MG Themes: Winter, Spring and Summer won't be released until I'll find the time to fix a bug for the rounding corners script. Please don't ask for them... you have some new themes with this release, and you'll have much more in the future.

• Overview
  
  Spoiler: [ Show ]

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  Readme
  
  
• Requirements
  
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  Readme
  
  
• Fresh Installation
  
  Spoiler: [ Show ]

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  Readme
  
  
• Upgrade From phpBB
  
  Spoiler: [ Show ]

  Spoiler: [ Hide ]

  Readme
  
  
• Upgrade From phpBB XS
  
  Spoiler: [ Show ]

  Spoiler: [ Hide ]

  Readme
  
  
• Upgrade From Icy Phoenix 1.0.14.14 RC
  
  Spoiler: [ Show ]

  Spoiler: [ Hide ]

  Readme
  
  

You may also refer to this file for all these info:
http://www.icyphoenix.com/docs/readme_english.html


And finally here is the download link:



Should you ask for support, please remember that this is an open source community and me and all the Staff are doing all for free and in their spare time... be kind, be patient and respect other users efforts and hard work.

Enjoy Icy Phoenix!
Luca Libralato

Hi all,
I'm proud to announce the third Release Candidate of Icy Phoenix (the second one was a private release).

What's new in respect to latest RC.

• Some templates fixes for W3C compliance.
  
• Reduced the SQL charge on all the pages and improved the caching system.
  
• Overall code cleaning and optimization.
  
• Some changes in how some mods where integrated: optimized the inclusions and cached what could be cached.
  
• Extra constants definitions.
  
• Added a new CSS for mg_themes.

Bugs fixed:

• Wrong caching in some pages.
  
• Many small bugs.

As the other RC this package should be quite stable since it's running here and in some other sites without major issues.

I was planning to relase the final version this week, but I had some problems with the new caching functions not working as expected, and I need extra time to be sure that all is working fine. Plus I'll be away few days in the next two weeks, so I couldn't be present here to support in case of big boos being found.

This explains why I prefer to release another RC: you can test it and eventually report what's wrong so I can try to fix things before going final and have a more stable and reliable platform. I know I said this the last time as well... but now the package is almost in its definitive version. I hope no big changes should be applied in the final release.

Regarding some minor things, I've decided not to release the old MG Themes (Winter, Spring, Summer) because they are buggy (they rely on a JavaScript to round the corners) and at the moment I don't have the time to fix this issue: since this could create visualization problem, I prefer not to release them. Regarding Aprhodite I'll continue to update it, but no major changes to it, since I currently don't have the time to reapply all the modification I've applied to Ice template for W3C compliance. Most of them will be applied of course... but not all, at least not by me and not now. After the final release things may changes.

I'm saying this to avoid users' requests when the final release will be out. I'm trying to do my best, and since I'm having small free times for unexpected things overcome I prefer to focus on performances, which is (in my opinion) the best thing to take care in this stage.

I won't promise a release date... but if no more big bugs will be found, as soon as I'll be back from my trips (after the 24th of May) I'll release the final version.

• Overview
  
  Spoiler: [ Show ]

  Spoiler: [ Hide ]

  Readme
  
  
• Requirements
  
  Spoiler: [ Show ]

  Spoiler: [ Hide ]

  Readme
  
  
• Fresh Installation
  
  Spoiler: [ Show ]

  Spoiler: [ Hide ]

  Readme
  
  
• Upgrade From phpBB
  
  Spoiler: [ Show ]

  Spoiler: [ Hide ]

  Readme
  
  
• Upgrade From phpBB XS
  
  Spoiler: [ Show ]

  Spoiler: [ Hide ]

  Readme
  
  
• Upgrade From Icy Phoenix 1.0.11.11 RC
  
  Spoiler: [ Show ]

  Spoiler: [ Hide ]

  Readme
  
  

You may also refer to this file for all these info:
http://www.icyphoenix.com/docs/readme_english.html


And finally here is the download link:



During the Release Candidate testing, we will try to do our best to support this package. Should you ask for support, please consider that this is an open source community and me and all the Staff are doing all for free and in their spare time... be kind, be patient and respect other users efforts and hard work.


Enjoy Icy Phoenix!
Luca Libralato

Hi all,
I am try to fix all small HTML bugs on the package before final release.

If you notice something strange, please report it to me.

At the moment here on this site, home and forum (plus other secondary pages) are fully W3C compliant with Ice Template.

Here the validation results:





Or the link if you would like to test on your own.

http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=h...yphoenix.com%2F

Thank you for your help.

Hi all,
I'm proud to announce the first Release Candidate of Icy Phoenix.

What's new in respect to latest beta.

• All template files reviewed and improved W3C compliance. Most important pages are now fully W3C compliant.
  
• Reduced the SQL charge on all the pages.
  
• Dropped the main IP config table and merged with standard config table.
  
• Blocks lang files removed and merged into one single file (thanks brandsrus).
  
• Overall code cleaning and optimization.
  
• Written some docs.
  
• Completed the CMS Menu System.
  
• Added some check while registering.
  
• Caching of some extra SQL for improving speed.
  
• Added extra switches and constants.
  
• Splitted some lang files to help customizations.

Bugs fixed:

• Custom profile fields while registering.
  
• Wrong BBCode parsing under certain conditions.
  
• Wrong caching instructions.
  
• Some bugs in CMS.
  
• Extended config double db insertion.
  
• Wrong html headers.
  
• Missing CSS definitions.
  
• Fixed wrong sessions handling.
  
• Many small bugs.

This package should be quite stable: I'm testing it on 4 different sites since a couple of weeks, and as for now I didn't notice any major issue.

I've compared the new performances with the old versions and with some competitors... I won't go further into results and names... but I'm quite happy with all the good results achieved by Icy Phoenix. I've also installed phpBB 3 on a test site (since yesterday night in phpBB 3 CVS there is the new proSilver template!) to check performances, and phpBB 3 is really fast respect to Icy Phoenix... but on the other side it has less features.

Anyway I'm still working on performances and I hope to have something a bit faster before going final... in the meantime, try Fast And Furious settings in ACP...

As I have promised I have written some docs to help users in understanding Icy Phoenix and in installing and upgrading their sites.

Here you'll have some of them:

• Overview
  
  Spoiler: [ Show ]

  Spoiler: [ Hide ]

  Readme
  
  
• Requirements
  
  Spoiler: [ Show ]

  Spoiler: [ Hide ]

  Readme
  
  
• Fresh Installation
  
  Spoiler: [ Show ]

  Spoiler: [ Hide ]

  Readme
  
  
• Upgrade From phpBB
  
  Spoiler: [ Show ]

  Spoiler: [ Hide ]

  Readme
  
  
• Upgrade From phpBB XS
  
  Spoiler: [ Show ]

  Spoiler: [ Hide ]

  Readme
  
  
• Upgrade From Icy Phoenix 1.0.9.9 Beta
  
  Spoiler: [ Show ]

  Spoiler: [ Hide ]

  Readme
  
  

You may also refer to this file for all these info:
http://www.icyphoenix.com/docs/readme_english.html

It will be translated soon into other languages.


And finally here is the download link:



During the Release Candidate testing, we will try to do our best to support this package. Should you ask for support, please consider that this is an open source community and me and all the Staff are doing all for free and in their spare time... be kind, be patient and respect other users efforts and hard work.

In these days I'll add some extra templates and addons in the Download section... Stay tuned!


It's quite late for me... so I won't add anything else...

I would like just to wish you an Happy Easter (for those who believe) to you and your family.

Enjoy Icy Phoenix!
Luca Libralato



Of course a big thank you to the Staff!

Hi All,
since I'm going to release the first RC of Icy Phoenix I've decided to starting to release even some customization package...

Here are the ratings stars and the ranks I have designed for this site.

The format is multilayer PSD so you can easily adjust them in Photoshop and then use the Save For Web feature to create your own graphic for your sites.

I hope you like it and you will share your work as well.

Here is the link:

http://www.icyphoenix.com/dload.php?action=category&cat_id=11


Enjoy Icy Phoenix.

Hi all,
I'm proud to announce that Icy Phoenix has come to the final testing phase.

I've fixed some small issues I wanted to fix, I've created a couple of new templates, some new graphics and some minor functions.

I'm testing live here and on another couple of sites this version of the package which will be released as RC version in few days.

I still need to finish testing the new menu system: I've completed it at 80% and I need to test only all its features and permissions things... and complete what is missed (only minor things).

Before going live with the final release I need help in writing the documentation for this new package.

It is not the first time I ask for help for this task, which I know it is boring, not fun and requires a big amount of time, but it is almost essential.

Having a good docs package it will:

• Save much time to everyone is going to help me in supporting Icy Phoenix
  
• Save much time to users who don't know this package
  
• Save much time to me so I can keep coding instead of taking snapshots and describe actions in HTML
  
• Give professional look to the package

If anyone is interested in helping me in writing docs, please drop me a PM so I can coordinate the work between the Staff.

20 peoples writing docs may work for one week and write almost everything is needed...
One people writing docs will stop the development of the project, because if I have to write all the docs, than I have no time to code, to fix bugs and to release a final version.

So if your english is good, if you have even only a couple of hours of time, if you like this project and if you want to contribute to this open source project, please join the Docs group.

Subscriptions are open...

Thank you for your help.


Luca Libralato

Hi all.

In one day I have edited something like 284 files of Icy Phoenix , and now I can say that the RC version is really near.

I need about a week of testing all the things I've changed and then I think I'll create the first RC of Icy Phoenix!

Many bugs fixed and some other functions created and optimized. Plus thanks to Steffen I've almost finished the Icy template... I need to change only a couple of images I don't like... but 95% of the Icy TPL is completed.

Try the new AJAX Chat... I've worked very hard on it... but I think now we have somethin better than chatbox...

Finally I would like just you to know that I'm learning AJAX so you'll notice some AJAX features installed: most of them taken from AJAX Features mod, but some small one coded by me... I hope that everything is working fine even for browsers which are not the two big one FF and IE. If you encounter some issues just drop me a note.

Help me testing this version live on this site, so we can have a more stable RC.


Thank you all and see you soon with RC.
Luca


P.S.: this site is now running live 1.0.10.10.