What’s new in DotNetNuke 6.2?

Bruce Chapman

iFinity Software

SEQDUG Meeting, Mar 22, 2012

What’s the big deal with 6.2?

• Original 6.0 release (codename :Hadrian) July 2011

• 6.0 : UI Improvements, but few new features

• 6.1 : Mobile device support

• 6.2 : Social + Services Layer

Main New Features of 6.2

• Integrated Social Networking features into core – integration of ActiveSocial into platform

• New MVC based Service Layer for building services

Social Features

• Journal Module

– Interpretation of Facebook status updates

• Member Directory

– Listing of site members

• Social Groups

– allows for sub-groups within the site

• Messaging

– member->member messaging

Journal Module

• Similar to Facebook, allows for Status updates posted by site users

• Allows for text updates, photo + attachments

• Set privacy per Journal post

• Administrator : allow photo/attachments, posts per page and length of posts.

• Developers: can post Journal items through Journal API

Journal Module

Member Directory

• Essentially a list of members on the site

• Provides comprehensive search for members

• Social actions : friend, follow

Member Directory

Messaging

• Member->Member private messaging

• Separate from existing DotNetNuke Messaging in User Profile

• Provides messages in conversation format, with replies linked together

• Can send to groups or individuals

• API to allow modules to insert messages

Social Messaging

Social Groups

• Social Groups are a public or private way of members to associate

• Similar in theme but not execution to Facebook groups

• Groups can have a group-specific Journal

• Social Groups are in reality extended Security Roles – ie, existing DNN roles with more metadata

• Implementation in Current CTP is very sparse

Social Groups

Summary of Social Features

• The social features will enable fast building of socially aware applications

• Possible uses:

• Community sites -> schools, sports clubs,social clubs

• Vendor sites -> support, user groups, product suggestions

• Niche social sites -> Facebook and Twitter don’t own the entire web.

• DotNetNuke will take a big leap over the competition with these features

New Service Layer API

• Service Layer – non visual way of interacting with the data stored in a DotNetNuke site

• Comprises of :

– Authentication: ensuring person accessing data is authorised to do so

– Core Functions :Get User Details, Post to Journal, Get Page Details

– Extensible : Implement your own Service functions specific to an individual DotNetNuke Module

New Service Layer API

• Technology– Based on MVC Service Layer with DNN specific

implementation

– Includes a Service Route Mapper to easily map requests to individual actions via the Service Url structure

• Uses in DotNetNuke 6.2 – All the new social features are ‘AJAXy’ – no

postbacks/page refreshes for status updates etc

– This will be expanded in future versions for more tasks

Service Layer API Possibilities• DotNetNuke modules can be opened up to

more than one device/platform

• Creates a large new field for innovation in delivering paired web/desktop/mobile apps for DotNetNuke

• Allows for implementation of new web programming paradigms, like Knockout.js

• Effectively renders the Webforms model of DotNetNuke irrelevant

Other new 6.2 Features

• Tab Hierarchy management – uses Sql 2005 CTE features to improve speed.

• SSL Offloading (PE only) – allows for network load balancing devices to enforce SSL

• Secure user settings – automatic encryption/decryption of personal details

• Profanity Filter for input text (also removes markup)

• Profile enhancements – Read only for user, public/private/friends visibility.

How does 6.2 affect you?

• Site owner : think about how to leverage social features for your site

• Solutions Provider : you can now start looking at combined mobile/desktop/web solutions for clients

• Developers : check compatibility for existing code, leverage new social and service layer

• Designers : large demand for social optimised skins and page layouts

Release Schedule

• CTP 1 : Feb 20, 2012

• CTP 2 : April 2, 2012

• Beta 1 : Apr 23, 2012

• Beta 2 : May 14, 2012

• RC : June 4, 2012

• RTM : June 30, 2012

Estimated release dates only, check dotnetnuke.com for accurate timelines

What to do with 6.2

• Check with vendors for compatibility

• Talk to designers about specific page designs for Journal, Profile pages

• Download CTP and Beta versions and test out upgrade process

• Get involved in feedback and Easter Egg hunt

Questions?

• Slides will be available on Slideshare

• Follow me on Twitter @brucerchapman for notification, or check blog on http://www.ifinity.com.au