Read the statement by Michael Teeuw here.
Stack rank modules
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Is there a way we can stack rank the modules, allow people to upvote/downvote, or maybe display number of downloads so one could see how popular a module is? There are so many great ones out there that it seems like at least a top 10 list should be posted someplace.
Thoughts?
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@ssauer Go to their repository on Github and it will tell you how many downloads. Nobody wants a voting system because it’s subjective and really doesn’t mean anything.
For instance 100 people may use a weather module and 10 may use a movie module. So really voting on those won’t tell you anything. If you see 9 people upvoted a movie module you’d be less apt to download it because you may think it’s no good. Where as 89 people may download a weather module and that may make one think it’s a great module. So it’s subjective and not really helpful.
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@cowboysdude i understand what you mean about being subjective, but how many weather modules are out there? A rating system would show you the user community top pick for a category. Things get downvoted if they no longer work etc…
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I would also like to have a better overview of the available modules. Some kind of catalog or App Store would be great. With a preview.
However, I know that it would be hard to implement this, as every module developer would be responsible to maintain their modules (incl. preview etc.) in this AppStore. However, many modules are no longer maintained. Whereby this could also be a chance to clean up with the legacy modules, because for many there are modern forks. The best example is MMM-PIR-Sensor.
And I could also imagine a quality ranking, not based on the amount of downloads, but on other metrics like user experience, usability and maintenance.
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@ssauer I understand but here’s the issue with that depending on when a module is made. What I mean is that if a weather module was made 5 years ago it won’t show any ‘hits’ in a voting system. So going to github will give you an accurate view of it’s latest ‘hits’… which to me is an indicator that it works and it’s a good module.
As for ‘downvoted’ that’s not a good idea either. Some people have developed modules and shared with the community. Some developers are no longer here and becuase they offer their modules for free downvoting is a slap in the face. No one can or should expect someone to maintain a free module for life.
The idea of MagicMirror is so that the user can take active part in the development of their own mirror. I know myself have taken someone else’s module and molded to my needs for my mirror which is in all reality is what is supposed to happen. They offer it for free and it’s up to the person using it to modify/fix etc for their own needs.
Matter of fact I’m helping a couple people with a module I didn’t write because like I said the orginal developer isn’t going to maintain it for life. That’s what the community is for. To help, assist and again it’s free. I’m not downvoting a module because someone moved on with their life and don’t have time to maintain something they offered for free because it isn’t working. Modules aren’t a 1 size fits all kinda thing. Sometimes there’s issues because depending on what you’ve done to your own MagicMirror it may cause an issue. This was created and has been maintained as a ‘learning’ experience for users. This basically is an ‘educational’ setting and downvoting would be a bad idea.
I understand what you’re asking for but I don’t see it happening. When the MagicMirror project first started there was very little help. It took me a week to even get mine to start. BUT I took the time, fixed the issues and got it working. I felt good about that because at that point I had NO clue what I was doing and had no help. I am not a programmer, I learned to be one. That was the whole idea here and I am grateful for the experience and the friends I’ve made and the help they’ve given me. This is what this is about. We do live in a [as I call it] ‘buy me, give me, take me’ world where people want instant results. In reality that’s not how things work :)
So a voting system will, in my opinion, deter people from creating. I cannot think of one module developer that would want a voting system. Again they offered for free and if you choose to use one and you have an issue with it come here and ask for help, there are people that are more then willing to assist :)
PS there are a TON of weather modules LOL
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@jalibu there is it’s called the 3rd party module page
https://github.com/MichMich/MagicMirror/wiki/3rd-Party-Modules
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@cowboysdude I know that page, and I think we all agree, that this is not a perfect or modern way :-)
In my understanding MagicMirror is a platform that offers a great opportunity for developers to build a powerful ecosystem around it. Just like Android (-> Play Store) or Apple (-> App Store) MagicMirror could provide a “Magic Store” :-D
In principle, a rating function is not that important to me. I just find the current way of presentation as a Markdown table not chic, confusing and not meaningful.
You have to install a module to get an impression of it. As a user, it would be nice if you could scroll through all the modules in a central place, like in a catalog/shop, and directly have a nice presentation of the module with screenshot an feature list. -
@jalibu as this a community constructed place, have at it. build whatever u want.
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@jalibu OH I’m not disagreeing with that! I see your point and honestly I think that would be awesome!
That would be a big undertaking for someone to do that. Problem is always the same… Time. Everyone is offering their time for free and all have full time professions so could it be possible? Yes. Likely? No. Not unless someone wants to build it and @MichMich accepts it. I personally don’t have time or desire LOL
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I just wanted to reveal that I’d really enjoy a better module overview so that SOMEONE ELSE might get starting to work on it and he knows that it is not in vain and that he gives me and many others a great pleasure with it :-D
If I had time, then I would have done this looong ago, @sdetweil ;-)
