I agree...I thought it would get more attantion as well.  I'm also checking it out.

Thanks for the tip.

Mr. Hooligannes:

I am really surprised at your post because I have never said that the Gallery module sucks, go ahead, show me the post.  You should be very careful when putting words in other people's mouths, specially as an official member of a development team.  In fact, show me (us) any of my posts where I use improper language or treat anybody disrespectfully, go ahead show me.  You are not going to find it because it is not my style.  Just like I'm doing now even when you are slandering me and attempting to publicly damage my reputation in this forum. 

Enough about that, but with that said, I acknowledge that I have been respectfully increasing the tone of my posts, over a period of many months, because when people asks about the status of the Gallery Module, the posts go ignored, yes ignored, you just admitted it.  Well, it apparently worked because finally, after you have been reading and ignoring all my posts for a long time, as well as those from others, you are responding.

You just vented in your post but it really says nothing about the status of the Gallery module progress or its future direction, my point exactly.  You reiterate that it is Beta and that it should not be installed in production and then contradict yourself saying that questions are answered, oh yeah, but don't use it for real in a production site, what???

I have not submitted any new bugs because I have not found any new bugs, honestly, but I have run into the same bugs that have been found and documented for a long time.  In fact, I have not posted an actual question about using the Gallery module for a long time.  I have been posting questions about the status, just like other users, because I would like to see the module move forward or at least get out of Beta so that it can officially be used in production.

Regarding the fact that DNN and its modules are developed by volunteers, if I recall correctly I address that excuse, yes excuse, in one of the posts you read and ignored.  If you run out of volunteers because life happens, I understand that (I have said this a million times) but why not post it in the Gallery module blog so that we know what to expect and we don't have to keep posting messages with increasing levels of frustration.  I just checked the blogs, as of 4/18/07 at 12:10AM EDT, no official update in the Gallery module blog about the Gallery module status or future direction, again, exactly my point.  I have also said before that if the module is not going to be supported any longer, say so, one way or the other, please communicate with your constituency.  When was the last time anything was posted in the Gallery module blog, a year ago?  I tried to check this but the Gallery module blog doesn't even seem to talk about the Gallery module any longer.

I think I also said in one of my posts that I was expecting the usual DNN is done by volunteers, life happens, etc. etc. and you should get involved argument.  You know what, that does not work any longer.  DNN is now a corporation with responsibilities, at least that is what I understand, that they want to be taken seriously.  Well I do.  FYI I am one of those that do a lot for DNN by evangelizing about it whenever I can.  I recommended it and it is being used in an Intranet application for the U.S. Navy (a training and testing application if you must know), among other customers of mine.  I have the right to ask, and maybe demand, an answer.  Sincerely, if you cannot take the heat, then you should not volunteer your time. 

And I will ask the same question again, what is the official status of the Gallery Module?  And I am not asking about opinions or rants from team members with a lot of legal disclaimers.  I, as well as many other loyal users of DNN would like to know the OFFICIAL status of the module.

Sincerely,
Carlos R. Rodriguez

Paul:

Thank you for your insight.  But I would have to say that bitter and demeaning do not reflect the true meaning of my posts or my attitude in general.  You saw my post of 2/20/07 here: http://www.dotnetnuke.com/Community/Forums/tabid/795/forumid/10/threadid/109435/scope/posts/Default.aspx.  Was that bitter or demeaning in any way?   I did emphasize the need for better communications though, something that it is still lacking.  I also posted this one on the eve of the 4.5 release: http://www.dotnetnuke.com/Community/Forums/tabid/795/forumid/9/threadid/111950/scope/posts/Default.aspx.  This one you may consider bitter or demeaning, I don't think so personally, but again, it has not received one response, its like the Gallery has dropped from the face of the earth.  When I posted the second one on 3/1/07, the first one had not received any responses.  In fact, my information request from 2/20/07 did not get any answer from the Gallery team until 4/16/07, when you finally posted some information and probably only because of the noise I was making.  And remember that all this is after a year or more of no information whatsoever about the future of the Gallery, many other users have asked nicely about the status and they are always ignored.

Please believe me when I say that I understand your position and where you are coming from.  I have been using the Gallery since you had to download it from Tam's site.  And since then it had some issues that I had to fix myself too.  I was very happy when I learned that DNN was officially adopting it, but then reality set in and we are having this dialog today.

Paul, I am also one of those guys doing Judo on the Gallery you saw, I am in some of the pictures myself.  I know quite a bit about restraint, control, flexibility, and when to use force properly.  The words I have used in my posts have been calculated and deliverate, not coming from an emotional knee jerk reaction, look at my other posts aside from Gallery issues.  I wanted to provoke a reaction (you do that in Judo too).  It apparently has worked.  This is my little contribution to the Gallery module specifically.  I consider this dialog that my posts provoked constructive.  I don't think it would have taken place otherwise.

My recommendation is that the Gallery blog is updated with pertinent information.  Notice that I am not saying that you have to finish the module for next week, just that the community is informed.  Tell us what is going on, good or bad news, just tell us.  My only wish is that the module becomes final, with its current feature set.  Then we can talk about the next version.  You have to realize that you have lost customers because when they try to use the DNN Gallery and run into problems they learn that it is Beta and they are not supposed to use it for production (this is the official recommendation).  Then they go and buy one from Snowcovered.  Further than that, the DNN Gallery name has now been tainted, it is going to take a very solid release to make people believe in it again.  And I doubt that those that are already using a Gallery from another vendor will switch to the new DNN Gallery.  Anyway, when a new version becomes available I am willing to help with testing.

I think that is going to be it for now, I really need to get to work.  Thank you for reading.

Carlos