ScoutData

Looks like they implemented an off the shelf (and pricey) Content Management System called SiteCore (http://sitecore.net/Products/Sitecore%20CMS.aspx).

YIS,

Phillip Zedalis

Lead Developer - ScoutData.Com

http://www.scoutdata.com

I am curious how you enforce the "leader must CC another leader" because that's almost impossible to enforce.

Youth protection issues aside (which can be debated endlessly), I am curious what you hope to gain from a forum.

Is this for communication between troops in your community, then perhaps its an issue the District should tackle and you should leave the youth out of it all together. If it's only for your unit... well I'd advise against it.

Nothing that can't be accomplished in a forum for a local group like a Scout unit can't be accomplished in a better, more personal, safer way offline.

Look at this site, debates about policies and politics can bring out the worst in people... so unless you want parents arguing about the dues policies and why the line up of campouts isn't as exciting as the troop their son's friend attends... I'd recommend you keep the content to committee meetings.

Just my opinion. From a youth protection issue, if you insist on a forum, I can tell you why we decided to not offer forums for our users.

Yours in Scouting,

Phillip Zedalis

Lead Developer - ScoutData.Com

http://www.scoutdata.com

Java is an older technology, and can be free if hosted on an Apache server (or other open source tools) or can be hosted by vendors such as IBM WebSphere or Sun Microsystems (inventor of Java).

ASP (ASP.NET specifically) is the same thing my site uses (ScoutData.Com) and it's a Microsoft solution. It's newer, they recently just released the latest 2008 editions of the development, database, and server environments. However, the Microsoft stuff can generally cost a great deal more (unless you are using the IBM Java solution), but being a non-profit, is difficult to speculate.

What is really interesting about this is not the technology, but what that change represents. Generally, you are a .NET developer or a Java developer (I assume multiple people work on the BSA infrastructure), however some have switched sides, but rarely concurrently. I'm curious if the original site was developed by an outside organization and managed by BSA (aka consulting/contracting), or perhaps is now outsourcing it and selected a Microsoft toolset.

Either way, being biased and preferring Microsoft development technology, I see this as an upgrade and glad to hear they are making the switch. Hopefully their development teams are in-house and this wasn't a major expense. Also if they need any help with MyScouting, my team would gladly volunteer, hehe.

Yours in Scouting,

Phillip Zedalis

Lead Developer - ScoutData.Com

ScoutNET is indeed a show stopped for some, however not all units/councils utilize it, so it's not the end of the World. *Shameless plug* My software will be able to import ScoutNET files, but not export. The reason is, BSA has allowed TroopMaster to become a monopoly in the ScoutNET space. There were originally 4-5 software packages that became "ScoutNET" certified, yet only 2 remain; TroopMaster and one as unknown as "Troop Tracker."

The direction I took, and personally I believe is the future, is a web based platform with desktop integration, as opposed to a desktop product with web integration (if at all, TM DotNet does not count). Being web based, its much easier to deploy updates and use alternative revenue models to make up for the costs, and then providing the ability to go offline and sync, well... that's the future.

No offense to the authors of TroopTracker, but like the poster said above, they haven't found the time to finish their site. From a development perspective, I'd say that app is 95% generic CRM with a screen where Scouts was bolted on. Atleast TroopMaster and my product were designed from the group up for Scouts...

Anyway, your mileage may vary. Good to see alternatives coming about.

Yours In Scouting,

Phillip Zedalis

Lead Developer - ScoutData.Com

Thanks for the reply in PM! I understand the policy and apologize.

I posted a legit post about needing beta testers for a new free service I'm offering. I made special effort to not post any links so that any conversation would be PM only. Apparently my post was moved to some private forum because it was considered soliciting perhaps? I'm not really sure.

Anyway, I see that various people have responded and I would like to see the replies? Could you notify me via PM or some other means why the post was taken down, and could you send me the replies?

I am an Eagle Scout, I was not posting spam on your site. I plan to buy ads once the site launches.

Thanks in advance,

Phillip