What's new in Mahara 1.9 & How to Contribute to Mahara

What's new in Mahara 1.9?and

How you can help build Mahara 1.10 (and beyond!)

Presented by Catalyst IT // 20th March 2014Creative Commons BY-SA 3.0

Part 1: What's new in Mahara 1.9?

Version Bugs Commits Files changed Lines added

1.9 205 292 876 32,289

1.8 179 299 2,112 114,292

1.7 54 217 520 17,618

1.6 129 400 648 17,084

1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9

Accessibility

The W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0,AA level*

*on the user side

Fixes upstreamed from mahara.org

(… and by the way, if you're not already on https://mahara.org, go, register an account, and join in the community!)

ReCAPTCHA No more forum spam*

*or at least a significantly reduced amount

Catalyst Australia

(It's hard to take a picture of Elasticsearch working with MySQL, but here's a picture of the code that does it.)

Institutions can customize homepages and default languages

Gregor Anzelj

Cookie ConsentEU “Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications”

● aka “the EU cookie law”

Profile CompletionProgress Bar

Saying goodbyeThe “Contact information” block...

… converted into “Profile information” blocks

… replaced by browser's spellcheck

TinyMCE spellcheck button...

And another 120 or so things...Bug 778254: Split multiple user activity notifications into chunksBug 1058416: Copying page in a collection only gives "untitled" title for clean URLsBug 1081947: Use of CAST() causes extreme slowdown in large MySQL sitesBug 1237198: Make Elasticsearch plugin work with MySQLBug 1239271: Skin description is not displayedBug 1247715: Upgrade to 1.8.0 fails - can't connect to mysqlBug 1248307: Content chooser panel doesn't work on tabletBug 1249123: Users who are in "No Institution" can't use skinsBug 1252497: editing a skin deletes the creation time from dbBug 1254394: Can't change auth method on /admin/users/edit.phpBug 1256118: elasticsearch install hangs if ElasticSearch Server not runningBug 1257953: public group forum info do not show up in elasticsearchBug 1259359: Use of tabindex is confusing for screen readersBug 1259378: Profile pictures have inconsistent alt textBug 1259393: Required form fields are not obvious to screen readersBug 1259397: Dropdown navigation is not accessibleBug 1259408: The status of notifications in "Recent Activity" is not accessible to screen readersBug 1262867: Site search box does not have a labelBug 1262870: Textarea for posting to a user's wall does not have a labelBug 1262933: Drag-and-drop page editor is not keyboard-accessibleBug 1264105: Problem with deleting skins that are attached to a portfolio pageBug 1265629: elasticsearch setup by mahara causes Elasticsearch Server status to go from green to yellowBug 1266317: Institution/group ownership of custom flexible layoutsBug 1266976: Update to HTMLPurifier 4.6.0Bug 1268788: mobile_api_json_reply sends extra stuff at the top, making it invalid jsonBug 1270752: "shared with me" pagination fails with IE 9Bug 1270846: no message when incorrect username enteredBug 1270987: Modal dialogs are not accessibleBug 1271301: Search and filter forms need labelsBug 1273492: Group members list cannot be sorted when using elasticsearchBug 1278428: No groups and group files visible although there must be many in 1.8.1Bug 1279468: Error with saving extensions - > artefact -> file configurationBug 1279523: "Use content from another text box" stops working if pagination is usedBug 1279530: Attachments section for Text box blocks is not accessibleBug 1281787: Artefacts not locked in in submitted viewBug 1283869: page editor adds blank block and screen goes blackBug 1288490: upgrade from 1.8 errorBug 1288542: Can't open feedback form when HTML editor is turned offBug 1292303: Clicking 'All' and 'None' does not work in 'User search' pageBug 661602: Dates on external feed entries are not shownBug 974855: "Generate sitemap" option has empty help fileBug 993676: Members did not show up in second search if the first search found no resultsBug 1051500: Warning message before deleting journalBug 1053708: A full list of Pages don't show upBug 1058850: Warning when editing note that all instances are changedBug 1070046: select query uses more than MAX_JOIN_SIZE on mysqlBug 1085744: Could not remove tags with special charactersBug 1086569: Lang string misleading when inst. staff doesn't have stats accessBug 1089136: "Add me as friend" results in error messageBug 1099811: group files error after upgradeBug 1145156: Improve resume usabilityBug 1174623: Correct schema drift during 1.0 -> 1.8 upgradesBug 1187212: Handle timezone mismatch between webserver and DB (MySQL) serverBug 1224750: Site files located in a subfolder cannot be accessed by normal usersBug 1237177: Elastic Search does not find media in a groupBug 1245638: elasticsearch 'textbox' results should be under text rather than mediaBug 1246576: Upgrade MobileDetect library to 2.7.1Bug 1262899: Add buttons in "Edit Access" should move focus to the inserted row

Bug 1246580: Upgrade PHPMailer to 5.2.7Bug 1247722: Update PEAR libraries for 1.9.0Bug 1254396: Skins description textbox should be expandableBug 1255361: Error adding files to Institution pagesBug 1255378: Fill in the missing "key_exists()" method in ddl.phpBug 1255780: copying collection needs to sort table by collectionBug 1258970: "Menu" is hardcoded when viewed on small deviceBug 1259372: "Edit Access" image has missing string for alt textBug 1259373: HTML editor is not disabled when leaving feedbackBug 1259377: Explanation when there are no tasks in a plan is unclearBug 1259379: Delete buttons need a descriptive (and consistent) valueBug 1259387: Tabs should include textual information to show their stateBug 1259388: Input help text should be linked using ARIABug 1259394: Help links in forms are not keyboard-accessibleBug 1259395: HTML lang attribute is not specifiedBug 1259405: Screen readers are confused by Unsubscribe button in forumsBug 1259409: "Delete" and "Mark Read" checkboxes in Inbox need labelsBug 1259411: Table headers in Inbox are not read properly by screen readersBug 1259685: Datepicker is not accessible to screen readersBug 1259746: Username links are not always read out when using a screen readerBug 1259764: Feedback form should use focus managementBug 1261239: Expanders in forms should use focus managementBug 1261610: JSDetector adds output to command-line scriptsBug 1261694: remember the limit parameter on view pagesBug 1262483: Forms should consistently have errors above the top-level headingBug 1262903: The alt text of icons in the file browser should be changedBug 1262904: Files cannot be moved from one folder to another without using the mouseBug 1262918: Add/Edit buttons in Resume should use focus managementBug 1262932: Bad data in the DB can cause the schema correction SQL to throw a fatal errorBug 1263440: Improve lang strings for Cookie ConsentBug 1264014: Collection Navigation should be a list not a tableBug 1264429: Set up an institution_config table for configuring institutionsBug 1265086: "Completed" column for tasks is unclear for screen reader usersBug 1265102: Focus is not visually apparent when tabbing through the pageBug 1265104: spelling mistake in additionalhtmlfooter config variableBug 1265696: Can't edit access to profile after "Logged-in profile access" turned onBug 1265982: Add Creative Commons 4.0 as licence types to CC blockBug 1266923: Focus should be set to search results if they are loaded with AJAXBug 1266934: Institution option for dropdown menus should take precedence over site optionBug 1267311: Elasticsearch page doesn't have textual description of tab stateBug 1267861: Page shared to group: notification to page ownerBug 1268746: Squelch PHP 5.4+ strict standards errorsBug 1271779: Resume layout on mobile devicesBug 1272297: Authentication plugin up/down and delete links should be buttonsBug 1273448: "Attachments" icon in Resume needs alt textBug 1273841: Specific form errors should be linked with ARIABug 1273937: Skins form needs to use label elementsBug 1274083: View an artefact with related skin or themeBug 1275481: Dwoo doesn't support Smarty's nl2br syntaxBug 1276397: Edit and delete buttons need descriptive alt textBug 1277276: Results per page combobox needs a labelBug 1277290: Resume attachments form element should be made accessibleBug 1277297: Radio buttons in email selector need labelsBug 1278198: Close button in homepage information should be made accessibleBug 1278202: Skin previews need descriptive alt textBug 1278216: Checkboxes when editing permissions for a page need labelsBug 1278238: Radio buttons used when importing need labelsBug 1278667: Two error messages when uploading files without accepting upload agreement

Bug 1279943: Textbox attachments not showing on htdocs/view/artefact.php pageBug 1281877: Colour contrast needs to be improved for accessibility (default theme)Bug 1282214: Move "Edit site pages" under institution menuBug 1283839: institution general pages not set as site default on upgradeBug 1284869: Suspended user login attempts show up in "Online Users" listBug 1286941: double call of language_select_form()Bug 1287262: unable to create group home pageBug 609167: Add group categories default action is page submit, not addBug 620161: Distinction between Name and Profile not clearBug 633658: Shouldn't viewing and downloading files have the same process?Bug 646691: Blog account settings still available when blog disabledBug 707161: opensslcnf not set (on rhel at least)Bug 731062: Feedback ratings are not exportableBug 731647: Ignore duplicates in CSV uploadBug 746418: Institution authentication plugin option doesn't exist when creating new institutionBug 852304: Sending a friend request should return you to the page you were previously onBug 892684: Remove the Contact Info blockBug 898470: Inconsistent "required field" behavior on institution membership pageBug 995761: Use the same paginator throughoutBug 996337: Forum post delay setting only sticks after you clicked "Save"Bug 1047481: Groups menu 'I want to join' - improvementBug 1053223: Publish/Unpublish a journal's entry should change the backgroundBug 1064219: "Add page to watchlist" not clear on artefact pageBug 1067550: /admin/users/bulk.php shows submit button for changing auth method even if only 1 auth methodBug 1067724: Unable to read language directoryBug 1075760: reporting objectional material with no message doesn't get sent to admin with digest emailsBug 1115638: Empty masquerading report needs "none found" type stringBug 1195120: Delete superflous fullstop on /admin/groups/uploadcsv.phpBug 1196213: Linking of tags in tag searchBug 1203082: Change password warning contains escaped htmlBug 1212541: GoogleSpell has been discontinued -- remove it from TinyMCE spellcheckerBug 1220410: MNet with port number requires port to be in wwwrootBug 1220943: Warning when creating a new auth instance in 1.8devBug 1231920: Duplicate tags in page creation gives error messageBug 1240306: Styling error on add user page if there's a very long institution nameBug 1246024: error message disappears too fastBug 1246573: Upgrade htmlpurifier to 4.5.0Bug 1247729: Elastic Search: Set the second column to sort by to scoreBug 1250235: View gives error if user could make skins then had option revokedBug 1250239: Saving 'no institution' institution gives errorsBug 1250256: Support for changing the session directoryBug 1251089: Invalid value for licensedefaultBug 1253462: Undefined property: stdClass::$urlid after doing feedbackBug 1253835: Make profile page tabs design responsiveBug 1259366: Title of 'Tasks' page should be capitalisedBug 1259401: Dashboard info (Create and Collect, ...) is hard to understand when using a screen readerBug 1259402: "Learn more" link when posting on a Wall is not descriptiveBug 1259689: Skin metadata lightbox is not keyboard-accessibleBug 1259757: Gender radio buttons need descriptive labelsBug 1261231: Allow a VERP "bounceprefix" that's not exactly 4 charactersBug 1261233: Allow a VERP "bounces_ratio" of 0Bug 1262487: Row headers in "Edit Access" table are confusing for screen reader usersBug 1262490: Add buttons in "Edit Access" should have more descriptive textBug 1262911: In-page tabs should use focus managementBug 1265061: Add support for regional languages to TinyMCE language detectionBug 1265091: Pieforms date elements should have "Not specified" before the date pickerBug 1265098: Register site page title should be more descriptiveBug 1265101: License icons need alt textBug 1266300: hover over unselected tabs in admin -> users ->reports not showing pointer cursorBug 1266624: When using small headers, action buttons break the logical ordering of the pageBug 1267240: Clicking on new change layout icon needs to warn if navigating away without savingBug 1267633: It's confusing to hide the "copy for new users" site page access optionBug 1271391: focus on help box close button in chromium has gapBug 1271392: focus on help box close button in chromium has gapBug 1275617: Allow CLI api to specify exit codeBug 1279529: All attachments tables should be collapsableBug 1281121: Method view_has_token uses uninitialized variableBug 1282872: Top right "Settings" image should not have alt textBug 1285892: Title of "Group categories" page should be made more descriptiveBug 1290672: PluginArtefactResume should extend PluginArtefactBug 833867: Add "Show Description" to Image GalleryBug 1027260: Warning when deleting a page that is used in a collectionBug 1204699: Mahara does not notify administrators if institutional membership is fullBug 1223069: Site files accessible in "Links and resources" sidebarBug 1233896: Sort files in the "Folder" blockBug 1237013: Allow theme to turn off skinsBug 1245679: Place feedback for a view in a block rather at base of pageBug 1246547: Give a different error message for an expired registration key than for an invalid registration keyBug 1248318: Allow $SESSION messages to be displayed in alternative placesBug 1252098: Wishlist: reCAPTCHA supportBug 1254299: Institutional Specific DashboardBug 1258130: Directive on Privacy and Electronic CommunicationsBug 1259741: "Jump to Content" link should be included for screen reader usersBug 1259773: Having group links as a bulleted list in sidebar is confusing for screen reader usersBug 1262477: First column in Inbox should have a hidden headerBug 1266320: Feature request: Institution-specific default languagesBug 1266907: Edit/Add License page titles should be more descriptiveBug 1272240: New group page notificationBug 1273542: Add Creative Commons 4.0 as licence types to the admin-controlled licensesBug 1273931: It is impossible to add custom CSS for blocksBug 1281364: Let users from controlled-registration institutions delete their accountsBug 1281847: Elasticsearch: Show forum post dates in search resultsBug 1246933: image slider display error

1.9 + 0.1 = 1.10

Some of the things that didn't make it into 1.9:

● Matt Kolb at Michigan State University

– Send forum post now

● Ruslan Kabalin at Lancaster University

– Report objectionable forum posts

● Gregor Anzelj

– Customize user profile “Messaging” fields

● (no more having to explain to kids what ICQ is!)

Part 2: How can you contribute to Mahara?

19 ways to get involved in

Based on a presentation by Kristina D.C. Hoeppner, Catalyst IT

Even if you don't know the difference between

&

1. Use the software

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pgoyette/2819175465

2. Ask questions

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21496790@N06/5065834411

3. Answer questions

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nhuisman/3168683736/

4. Report bugs

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34120957@N04/4199675334/

5. Give feedback

http://www.flickr.com/photos/henryfaber/230444653

6. Spread the word


7. Translate

http://www.flickr.com/photos/86931652@N00/2067945645

8. Write tutorials

http://www.flickr.com/photos/laffy4k/441037582

http://www.flickr.com/photos/laffy4k/441037582

9. Create screencasts

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photochiel/83361761

10. Provide training


11. Squash bugs


12. Test features


13. Design themes

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fiduz/5592241473

14. Write books

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zitona/4053097146

15. Create plugins

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mroach/4095648200

16. Code review

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jantjesmit/95705255

17. Develop cool features

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hildeengwenverbouwen/3309575919

18. Sponsor features


19. Make a contributor smile

http://www.flickr.com/photos/srboisvert/728444428

Your gateway to the magical world of getting involved with Mahara:

The Mahara community website:

https://mahara.org

The Mahara wiki:

https://wiki.mahara.org

The Mahara Launchpad project:

http://bugs.launchpad.net/mahara

(but it's usually easier to just link there from mahara.org)

About Catalyst

Catalyst Clients

Open Source Technologies

Technology

What's new in Mahara 1.9 & How to Contribute to Mahara