It was a long way to go: four years, four seasons and four pretty shaky weeks, but here we are with a fresh installation of version 1.2 of the friendly software Antville on our beloved server Elise.

The mission was change: Updating the code, cleaning up the database, preparing coming features and even adding some new ones right now.

And since change is something many of us fear more than a cup of hot pus some might feel not so comfortable right now.

But don't be too afraid: we are all here to stand with each other coping with possible disadvantages of this necessary and indispensable (if not desired) update.

If anything technical needs to be fixed immediately, I am ready to pick up the pieces and of course I'll do my best to repair what's to be repaired.

Because this is Antville.org, the test installation for the Open Source Software called Antville driven by the community and developed by the Sophistcated Queen Ant's Drones (S.Qu.A.D) which is currently only me but here we go again: one day there might be somebody else joining in or taking over.

Nothing is stable in terms of evolution. And Antville is evolution. I can prove this with a simple equation:

Antville = Evolution

qed.

So, to get to the substantial part of this posting, I compiled a rough list of what Antville 1.2 brings, lacks and temporarily disables here on Antville.org:

1. New features

• Support for multiple topics (aka tags)
• Secured user passwords
• Replaceable images and files
• New Archive structure
• RSS 2.0
• Basic framework for serious internationalisation
• Simplified permission management
• Revised terminology

2. Temporarily disabled features (will be back, soon)

• Referrers and backlinks
• Layout switching and test drive
• Search
• Weblogs.com notification
• Creation of new sites

3. Removed features

• Multiple layouts
• Customization of essential skins

I hope at least some of the listed items above will make you cheer while I can also imagine that a few people will be disappointed by one or the other item.

However, please keep in mind that all these measures were taken deliberately to close the gap on those four idle years of stalled development and make Antville a sustainable project again.

May now begin a time where some of the most requested features are easier to be realized and may this prospect console those of you who are really miserable right now.

For the good and for the better times. And for a quite glorious end of the Antville Summer (or rather: Seasons) Of Code 2007.

Have fun!

I have fixed the image layouts problem and now will go through the remaining issues of the feedback thread.

After that I will disable access to Antville.org again and give The Super Big ASOC’07 Update (Super BAU, heheh) another try.

Estimated downtime: Late afternoon evening of Wednesday, 7 May 2008 through the night until the next morning.

Please be prepared.