b2evo 2.1.0 "Las Vegas" released

Posted by on Nov 07, 2007 in New releases

(Almost) live from Las Vegas, we are proud to announce immediate availability of b2evolution version 2.1-beta, codenamed "Las Vegas" (guess why? ;))

Download here

Let me take the opportunity to remind you that I'm at BlogWorld Expo this week and you're welcome to run me down to tell me what needs to be done next (not that I don't have a mile long todo list, but still ;))

The most important thing about this release is that the "skins 2.x" API is now stable, meaning: this is the last time you'll really need to upgrade your custom skin!

After that, you'll still be able to enhance your skin with new features if you want them, but it will be optional and won't require you to do it at the time you don't want to do it ;)

With the new skinning system, skins are not only more powerful, they are also future proof!

This is achieve with a new template tag format looking like this:
That format is for example:


$Item->issue_date( array(
   'before'      => ' ',
   'after'       => ' ',
   'date_format' => '#',
  ) );

The advantage of this form is that we'll now be able to easily add or deprecate parameters in the future without breaking backward compatibility.

More info about skins 2.x and template tags 2.x is being added to the manual.

Here is a quick rundown of changes in 2.1.0:

  • New skin API is stable - all skins except "Photoblog" can be considered stable.
  • More SEO settigns
  • Refactored blog settings
  • Enhanced commenting system:
    • Comment ratings
    • Cleaned up comment submission form
    • Cleaned up comment editing form
    • Better filtering of URLs entered in comment form
  • User interface fixes
  • Bug fixes

12 comments

Comment from:

laygnuk

This is really great news ! i just can’t wait to test it :) downloading … just before the weekend, it’s rainy here, now i know what to do :)) ps : François, aren’t you on Twitter or Jaiku ? so we could add you and receive update from where you are right in our phones… ???

2007-11-09 @ 20:07

Comment from:

The thing is… if I was on Twitter, I’d just never update it :P

However, right now… I could tell you: I’m in room S219 at the Las Vegas Convention Center :P

2007-11-09 @ 20:16

Comment from: Tensh

Tensh

Please, give the user ability to upload a global avatar! :roll: Custom profile fields would be also a great feature. :)

Then, the avatar in skins would be only the matter of a variable inserted, I think…

Pleeeaseeee! :)

2007-11-10 @ 20:46

Comment from: hari

hari

Is this dev blog on 2.1.0 beta? Can’t wait to see the new features.

Why aren’t the smilies shown on the comment form, but not clickable?

2007-11-11 @ 18:33

Comment from: E. I. Sanchez

E. I. Sanchez

For the new version, it would be cool to have a plugin (I’ll request it later) that allows you to create buttons on the “Text Editor".

Say for example you want to paste your URL or some Text Variable you use all the time. It would be cool to have a button programmed that would paste that Text for you.

It would also be cool to have a back Office area where we can place global variables. say for example I want to insert an image: the default path should be my website’s url. This could be driven through global variables in the back office.

Thoughts?

2007-11-14 @ 06:20

Comment from: Derek

Derek

I really like the way b2evo is progressing. I’d still like to see better image handling(something similar to blogger, creates 3 sizes automatically).

2007-11-17 @ 11:38

Comment from: Catherine Collingwood

Catherine Collingwood

Okay, you’ve just about convinced me – while I love my WordPress, I’m going nuts trying to administer three blogs at once (and my web server has now gotten cranky too). I’ve been looking for a very light CMS-type solution but I’ll admit that I’ve gotten used to (spoiled by?) some of the features WP has. At the same time, WPMU is *way* too much for my needs. I just took a run through the demos and wow…

So my only question left is this: when will the release candidate be available? I want to migrate now, darn it… :D

2007-11-18 @ 07:26

Comment from:

There should be a stable release by the end of the year ;)

2007-11-19 @ 11:08

Comment from: chris

chris

great !!!

2007-11-19 @ 21:06

Comment from: E. I. Sanchez

E. I. Sanchez

I just migrated to the new version (2.1.0 beta). The migration from 1.10 was painless.

Creating a new skin, however, was a bit complicated. You should run a contest for people to write skins for you. Then submit those skins for vote. the Winner (most voted) get 30 days of free advertising somewhere on the main page.

The Skins 2.0 docs need some updating. The YouTube Plugin is high priority!

Edgar.

2007-11-21 @ 22:37

Comment from: Hollis

Hollis

I am not a programer or website builder but I am very like to have my own blog on the net. now I feel like b2evolution very powerfull for me. this is what I thought.

thanks.
Lee.

2007-12-07 @ 00:21