New version has a long changelog. Bugs fixed from previous alpha include: problems with panels (saving, rendering), problems with auto insertion, various rendering issues, problems with templates and bunch of PHP notices and warnings. Plugin now uses latest gdr2 and gdT3 libraries. Also, jQueryUI is updated to 1.9.1. Many plugin areas are improved, with focus on stability of the plugin admin side interface and auto insertion of the rating code.

Different Rating Blocks

From the rating standpoint, standard single stars rating is improved, loader displayed when vote is saved, and now you don’t need to use stars at all. Plugin supports switching stars display to: plain text links, radio items or dropdown list. This way you can style the block anyway you want, and you can use it for different things that don’t necessarily need you to show graphics. Also, stnadard thumbs rating is also working, and it also features display using text links, radio items or dropdown list.

There are some known issues with some of the admin panels that will be fixed soon. I am not going to give any definitive dates about next releases, but development is now back on track, and it shouldn’t be too long for next alpha. Plan for next alpha is to expand on rating methods and improvements to rating objects, templates and rendering. I hope to finish all core elements with 2 more alpha releases, followed by Beta.

bbPress module (internal) will be completed for next Alpha #4. BuddyPress module is planned for Beta #1. Previously announced modules and graphic packs will be available from Beta #1.

Currently work is done on GD Products Center Pro, and Beta #1 of 1.1 version is released yesterday. There will be one more Beta in July, with final 1.1 scheduled for the end of the month. GD Custom Posts and Taxonomies Tools Pro will get version 3.7 in about 2 weeks. GD Simple Widgets Pro development continues with more refactoring and code cleanup for version 2.2 in August. That will prepare plugin for major re-haul in version 3.0 later this year.

GD Press Tools Pro will soon enter the long development phase that will not be done until the September/October, and it will see several Alpha and Beta revisions until final is released. There are many changes planned, and considering sensitivity of most of them, it will need longer development cycle to complete as planned.

Two planned themes will be released, one in July, and other by the end of August. More on this will follow, but one of the themes will be the successor of newsScape. xScape Theme Framework will get some small work done this summer.

GD Star Rating will be focus of development this summer. New Alpha #3 is coming next week, with one more Alpha later in July. Plans to have new website for this plugin online are somewhat delayed and I hope to finish that very soon. Planned modules and graphics packs are coming this summer parallel with plugin development. I hope to get to Beta version of the plugin in August.

GD Star Rating 2.0 is 100% new plugin, and it the only thing it shares with old plugin is name. Plugin development is right now further along that Alpha #2 shows, but this version includes features that are usable at this point, and more features will be included once the code is stabilized. Over the next month, you can expect one new Alpha version each week. When plugin reaches Beta stage, most of the planned features for 2.0 will be included. Right now, modules for bbPress and BuddyPress (they will be included with the plugin), are not done yet. bbPress module will be added in Alpha #4 in about 2 weeks, BuddyPress module should be done by the time plugin reaches Beta stage.

Rating object rendering settings

Focus on this Alpha is not to test features. Right now plugin is some 80% done, but in this version, about 50% of code is included. Rest needs more testing and will be included more and more in next versions. First thing to test is database schema. There are 6 tables created by the plugin. Plugin Tools and multi sets panels are also functional. Panels Modules and Settings are used to set up the plugin. Right now modules are not completed, but whole modules engine is fully functional.

Rating object auto insertion

Main thing in this version is Ratings panel. From here you can setup each rating object. By default, plugin includes objects: post, user, comment and free. And page and attachments as inherited objects. Two images here are parts of this editor.

Rating objects can be set through several blocks of options and rules for: display, voting, limitations and insertion. Each rule allows control of the user logged in status, roles and conditions. Handling for all this can be expanded.

GD Custom Posts and Taxonomies Tools Pro plugin supports registering custom post types as rating objects. Each post type registered through this plugin will appear on the GD Star Rating 2.0 Ratings panel.

From now on, you can expect new alpha version each Monday.

So far, plugin core is ready, and the goal now is to work on the user interface for next Alpha #2 that will be released to public during this month. Once the Alpha stage is done, plugin will go to final release soon after with maybe one Beta and 2-3 release candidate versions. I can’t talk dates now, but once the Alpha #2 is released I will have precise release date for the plugin.

Current tests show that plugin needs only about 1.0 to 1.5 MB of memory (current 1.9.16 needs up to 5 MB), and it is very fast. CSS and JS files are very clean and simplified allowing great flexibility and CDN compatibility (current 1.9 branch wasn’t CDN ready due to complex CSS file). Code is modular and will allow for great expanding possibilities starting with modules that will be built in (bbPress and BuddyPress), or commercial modules later.

During this month, I plan also to build new website and to retire old one under a subdomain installation for archive purposes. New website will be dedicated to 2.0 version only. So, stay tuned for more news and soon several screenshots. Great thing now is that plugin is nearing the release and this internal testing period will provide me with valuable information to make next Alpha a public release.