2
ContributorWhat is it?
The Client Service Center (hereafter referred to as CSC) is designed to be a system to help manage the commercial aspects of your forum. It is designed as a Core component that helps act as a shell for the rest of the system, then is designed to work with various plugins to expand on the functionality. While the system will work just fine as just the Core, you will find that it really starts to shine as you add in the plugins.
What does the Core component do?
The Core component is needed for all of the system to work, if you plan on using any of the functionality present in the plugins you need to first be using the Core. The Core's main function is to let you give each of your clients a profile to store their information that may be needed to perform work. For example, the work we do here on this site involves creating custom modifications/skins, or performing installs. For our clients, we want the ability to store information about what forum(s) they own, and details such as FTP connection info or Admin CP accounts. You may run a business where you mail out tangible goods, and thus might need shipping address info. The profiles are very flexible and you can create your own types of fields based on your own business needs.
The Core also contains other functionality, such as the ability to create and manage Announcements that show up on the main CSC page, a 'members list' similar to IP.Board's Members list, and the rest of the framework necessary to make all the plugins work.
What kind of plugins are there?
Right now, we have plans to develop the following plugins: a ticket system, a shop system, a knowledge base, a feedback system, and a live chat system. As these are developed, they will be brought online here and also be made available for sale in our shop. So getting that shop plugin online is a high priority for us!
How much will this cost?
This is a rather large component, and a lot of time has already gone into development, and more time will be spent supporting it and releasing updates. As such, the price of the Core component will be higher than anything I've produced thus far. The planned cost of the Core component is $100. This mod will be handled like any other mod I've produced, though, so support is free for life, and you'll get free upgrades for however many new versions I have to release for this IP.Board version. When a new IP.Board version comes out that requires I make a new version of the CSC, there will be an upgrade cost (TBD).
The cost of the individual plugins will vary depending on their complexity, but expect them to be priced anywhere from $30 to $60 each. License terms on those are going to be handled just like any other modification you buy from me.
Which IP.Board version will this be released for?
In all likelihood, the first released version of this will be for IP.Board 3.0. There is still much to be developed on it, and with the release of IP.Board 3.0 looming I don't want to release this product for the 2.2/2.3 series only to have to then release a new version for IP.Board 3.0. The mod has, of course, been developed on 2.3, so once 3.0 is released we will have to spend some time upgrading.
What kind of opportunities are there for me to work with this as a developer?
The CSC is built around the concept of allowing it to be expanded by applying new plugins. Developers are free to produce their own plugins for the kind of functionality they want. Documentation will be provided showing what needs to be done to create such a plugin. In addition, we have plans for a Hooks type system whereby you can tie into other functionality of the Core or other plugins. Details on how that will work will be available as development continues.
Screenshots plz?
Sure thing
Public - The main 'splash' page, showing the latest Announcement:
1.png 108.5K
22 downloadsPublic - The mini Members List:
2.png 75.21K
12 downloadsPublic - The Profile Page:
3.png 117.64K
7 downloadsPublic - The Announcement Management page:
4.png 65.35K
5 downloadsAdmin CP - The Overview page:
5.png 90.32K
7 downloadsAdmin CP - Settings page:
6.png 71.42K
2 downloadsAdmin CP - Groups Overview:
7.png 65.22K
8 downloadsAdmin CP - Profile Types:
8.png 58.91K
6 downloadsAdmin CP - Profile Fields:
9.png 65.03K
4 downloadsSounds great, how do I keep informed about the progress of this?
I've been working with the rest of the staff and a small group of private beta testers, and to keep in touch with them I've been keeping a private blog category with updates posted in it. Since we are now publicly announcing this, it's time to open that blog category up to the public too. Keep your eyes peeled for updates posted on that blog.
I also plan on creating a new feedback forum for this if the demand for it is there. We'll see if there is a need for that now that this is public and we have more eyes on it.
Guess that's it for now, I've got some more coding to do on this! Feel free to comment in the blog or post here if you have any questions or feedback.
Right. Sorry 
