MetaPoint version 7.1 is completely compatible with Version 7.0 as well as all Metadot 6.0 versions. It has been tested on both individual and virtual hosts. The majority of custom code will run unchanged!

Memory leaks in the user management have been removed and MetaPoint 7.1 will use 25-30% less memory than MetaPoint 7.0. This has been done by streamlining database access and creating user objects only when necessary.

SQLLite is now among our supported databases. Also all configuration settings (other than database connection parameters) have been moved into the database and removed from metapoint.conf.

SiteMap and WhatsNew gizmos have been ported to the Gizmo3000 structure and Whatsnew has new customization options added. 

New Gizmos include FlashVideo, UserSubmissions for pictures, videos and text articles.

Finally he Rating system has been upgraded.

The Version 7.1 upgrade package will be released in December while the new install package will be released in January, 2010.

Skin Management

• need inline editing capabilities
• new skins should have single dependency on base_skin, all other files are copies
• Skins should never load more that one, at the most two CSS files.
  
• what other forms of css/html editing tools are out there
• need to be able to select a skin to apply on your own page!
  

Admin/Config Interface

• extract HTML code from perl files

Gizmo Cleanup/Conversion/Review

• WhatsNew ported to Gizmo3000, 2009/05/21
• SiteMap ported to Gizmo3000, 2009/07/14
• Don't forget GizmoTags. The breadcrumb is tightly wound in...
  

Gizmo3000 design tt2/css/config

• new Gizmos should load config to GIZMO_DEF table
• current config hash
• tt2, css columns
• AC definitions
• Standard location for Javascript files (one main file loaded bottom of page)
• Load jQuery, make it the standard
  

DBAccess Conversion

• Move to a standard class library based on DBIObj/DBIClass or the like
• Integrate Postgres support
• close the class so that it only returns references to arrays or hashes and does not leave open statement handles lying around

Category/Page/Portal redefinition

• need to give client complete layout control (YES!)
  
• child pages need to inherit parent page settings
• Provide for modal and frames
• Ability to host "static" content off main webserver.
  

New Gizmos

Version 7.0 is a fork of Metadot 6.4 which is currently maintained by the Metadot Corporation.

Version 7.0 is 100% compatible with all Metadot 6.0 versions. It has been tested on both individual and virtual hosts. The majority of custom code will run unchanged!

The strengths of MetaPoint are User/Group access control lists(ACLs), content scheduling, Oracle compatibility, 

Version 7.0 is not a complete rewrite. The primary objectives were to understand the major modules, simplify the inheritance structure and provide a method to add custom gizmos. All of these goals were achieved and a broad understanding of the code base established.

Future development should aim to replace existing code with CPAN modules and consider eventual union with the Catalyst design.