Testing Modules on The Market

There are some great modules on the market and most can be tested on the developper's own URL.

However, sometimes this testing capability is rather limited when an add function is disabled (probably due to a Membership Level setting), or the admin area is closed off.

Much of a module's true capability for a specific function can only be properly assessed from the back-end.

I can understand that developpers don't want people breaking their site but would there not be a way to set up these modules on something like Dolphin's very own Demo Site; which resets every 30 minutes?

One thing I always hated was not being able to test modules properly and then discovering after purchase they don't work as described : /

Perhaps some descriptions are just the hook, then custom jobs are applied to make the module work how we thought it should.

I'm also wondering if developers subscribe to their support forums? Some 'pre-sale' questions seem to go unanswered.

Another disturbing thing I'm noticing (this might ruffle some feathers) is very similar modules being released by different developers, even on the same day.

Who's being influenced by who?

I know some modules are quite independent of the Dolphin package of modules, but shouldn't those that improve on what we already have - and what people have been calling out for - be included into Dolphin itself; instead of expecting site owners to keep pouring money into mods that might not even work properly with future versions of Dolphin, if the mod developer loses interest in Dolphin completely.

As an example:

Pre-Join Membership by AndrewP vs Profile Membership by modzzz.

Both are priced at $30 and both were Added: 16.01.15

Combine them and we have something that should probably already be shipped by default.

If the modules are released the same day then it's obviously a coincidence that both developers have been working on the same idea without each of them knowing. 

Both me and AndrewP are independent of Boonex. Whether the feature should be something included in Dolphin or not is not determined by us, we are just filling a demand. It is now up to the owners of Boonex to look at what we have done and decide if they want to negotiate with us and adopt it to the core. However, I have never seen them do that with a third party developer (except their in-house developer)

i was thinking the same thing yesterday, cause in past i bought a module and later found out it wont work with html5 player cause it was not mentioned there. So the solution should be boonex should provide a hosting space for module developers where user can test them and after testing like the demo.boonex.com it will go back to its normal stage by reset. boonex can charge an anual fee to the developers for hosting their demo modules. It will be very easy for user to test both admin and user functions of the modules before they can buy it. Giving picture don't give a clear idea how things will work.

It would make sense for you all to work together somehow to make Dolphin the best product it can be.

 But how exactly? As a free programmer-volunteer for open source? But is dolphin 100% open source?

 We both (me and modzzz) are completely independent developers, we live in different (far) countries, we don't share ideas between each other. But sometimes, people give us (by messaging) the same ideas. Probably it happened in that time.

In fact, both realizations are so completely different, so it is difficult to compare them.

The idea of my product is to purchase (on paypal) your future membership level before you fill your join form to join the community. Thus the whole workflow is:

1) compare membership plans and choose one

2) paypal checkout

3) fill the join form

The idea of  'Profile Membership' product is different - it is not related with purchasing of membership levels before joining.

That's why I've been going back and forward between the two trying to figure out which one really does what I want it to do; or comes closest to improving on the Boonex default, in a way I envision for paid memberships on sign-up.

I was under the impression that Profile Membership (support forum) did allow members to select a payment plan upon joining; only it redirects to the shopping cart after join form is submitted.

By the way Andrew, I meant to message you that Pre-Join Membership doesn't have a support forum. I tested your module yesterday and it sent me to PayPal before join (as I hoped).

Probably I just forgot to add the support thread, I've just added it :-)

The module does allow you to select the payment plan upon joining. There is a drop-down box on the Join form with all the paid memberships available to select from (showing both duration and cost). After submission, you are taken to the checkout page for the shopping cart with the already selected membership showing.

The ultimate compare mods thread.