Confirm roadmap for Moodle testing through to integration in Moodle Core
One of the things we need to confirm soon is a roadmap that provides a solution for:
- Testing MoodleNet's value proposition
- Engaging Moodle Partners so that they want to include MoodleNet in their offer to clients
- Integrating MoodleNet into Moodle Core
In the past few weeks, Doug Mayel, Marina, and Sander have had a couple of conversations about registrations once we deprecate the existing moodle.net site. Those discussions quickly led onto questions about the above, so the following document may be useful: http://bit.ly/2PJPyed
Below is the relevant extract from the registrations document, written by Doug. On Telegram, Martin said that it "sounds reasonable", but there are conceptual, technical and other hurdles to deal with
Update: After a meeting with Gavin, Steve, and Tom it would seem we need an alternative approach. You can find that below the text that has been struck through.
The plan to (only) integrate initially with MoodleCloud was for a number of reasons:
1. To reduce the number of variables when testing MoodleNet import/export features
2. To provide a potential (indirect) revenue stream for MoodleNet by encouraging the community to use MoodleCloud sites
3. To make the case to Moodle Partners that MoodleNet is something that the community wants, is using, and can (with their help) be something that scales
As far as I’m aware, all MoodleCloud sites run the exact same version of Moodle Core. This means that if, during testing, we identify problems with import/export to MoodleNet from MoodleCloud, there are only two variables at play: (i) a problem with MoodleNet, or (ii) a problem with the MoodleCloud plugin.
* While MoodleCloud is Moodle Core with additional plugins and hosting, to the wider world there’s a reasonably clear demarcation between the two:
* MoodleCloud - a ‘versionless’ SaaS offering that offers a limited range of options and plugins for for those that want a ‘vanilla’ hosted version of Moodle.
* Moodle Core - endlessly-configurable, versioned, (often) self-hosted offering with hundreds of plugins for those that want a highly customised version of Moodle.
Not only does it seem to make sense from a technical point of view to control our variables when it comes to testing MoodleNet integration, it’s also a good idea from a marketing and comms perspective.
The particular roadmap I’ve got in mind for this would be something like:
January 2019
* Initial testing of MoodleNet with ~100 invited beta testers using MoodleCloud plugin
* Moodle Core 3.6.x (and other minor releases) removes the ability to share courses via existing moodle.net site
February 2019
* Wider testing of MoodleNet with ~1,000 beta testers using MoodleCloud plugin
* Work begins on making the MoodleCloud plugin to Moodle Core 3.5 LTS+ (or whichever versions we decide to support)
* Engagement with Moodle Partners around custom integration
March-April 2019
* Open sign-ups for MoodleNet
* Testing of MoodleCloud plugin for Moodle Core 3.5 LTS+ (or whichever versions we decide to support)
* Work begins on MoodleCloud plugin integration/translation to Moodle Core 3.7
May 2019
* Release of MoodleCloud plugin for Moodle Core 3.5 LTS+ (or whichever versions we decide to support)
* Release of Moodle Core 3.7 with MoodleNet integration
Sustainability
In the first year, we're mainly focused on proving the value of MoodleNet. The chances of Moodle Partners wanting to provide a MoodleNet instance as a paid service to their clients is probably quite slim in the short-term.
As a result, one approach we could take would be to make it very easy for anyone who wants to create a MoodleNet instance to do so. We could enable this, for example, by providing a Docker image that can be deployed on AWS, Azure, etc. We could also host it for them, if required, as NextCloud do:
An enterprise subscription provides you direct benefits, additional features and the confidence of knowing that your Nextcloud Files deployment is backed by the best available technical expertise and capabilities you need for your organization.
In terms of sustainability, we could:
- Make it easy to make small-dollar donations to the Moodle Foundation
- Advertise Moodle Partner services
- Integrate Moodle User Association services
- Provide a default backchannel for MoodleMoots
- Create a premium tier (like Discord Nitro)
To be clear, we want Partners to be involved in this process, wherever possible. We envisage organisations wanting, for example, customisation of the MoodleNet front-end to allow internal sharing of resources, as well with the wider network.
Revised roadmap
December 2018
Finalising technical work. Notifying the community that MoodleNet is coming!
- Sunset of old moodle.net site and associated functionality. Placeholder 'coming soon' page for new MoodleNet along with message about archive of existing courses.
- Final MVP on MoodleNet frontend, backend, and UX
- Creation of MoodleNet plugin for Moodle Core.
- Localisation of finalised text strings into Spanish.
January 2019
Beta testing MoodleNet's value proposition of curating collections of resources. To begin with, these either already exist around the web (i.e. links) or are resources uploaded via the test HQ Moodle Core instance (running new plugin)
- Initial testing of MoodleNet with ~100 invited beta testers.
- Moodle Core 3.6.x (and other minor releases) removes the ability to share courses via existing moodle.net site
February 2019
Expansion of MoodleNet beta testing programme, to include non-HQ instances.
- Wider testing of MoodleNet with ~1,000 beta testers
- Beta testing of MoodleNet Docker image and MoodleNet plugin for integration with Moodle Core from 3.5 LTS+ (or whichever versions we decide to support)
- Sunrise of new moodle.net site discussing public launch, testing programme, and roadmap.
March-April 2019
Everyone can sign up for MoodleNet!
- Open sign-ups for MoodleNet
- Testing of MoodleNet plugin for Moodle Core 3.5 LTS+ (or whichever versions we decide to support)
- Work begins on MoodleCloud plugin integration to Moodle Core 3.7
May 2019
MoodleNet now imports/exports from every supported version of Moodle Core.
- Release of MoodleCloud plugin for Moodle Core 3.5 LTS+ (or whichever versions we decide to support)
- Release of Moodle Core 3.7 with MoodleNet integration