2006 Roadmap comments

As you all know, there has been a lot of work going on with Zen Cart over the last few years. As such, you may be wondering.... "what's next for Zen Cart".

The following is a high-level roadmap of the plans and goals, as they exist today.

v1.4 Series (EDIT: Renumbered to v2.0)
1.) Introduction of new improved database abstraction layer, including more intelligent and extensible error logging and caching.
2.) Significant reductions in database queries with:

a. the conversion of database structures to use MPTT (modified pre-order tree traversal) methods in querying the database, especially for category/subcategory information.

b. addition of a product-pricing class to optimize access of product and pricing information.

3.) Attribute-Stock/SKU support
4.) Consolidation of class/function code where duplication exists
5.) Standardize functionality and appearance of the product-listings pages
6.) Salutation vs Gender support
7.) Email templating system for both text-only and html messages
8.) More default zones/countries/currencies to installer

v1.5 Series - Checkout Rewrite (EDIT: will be renumbered)
The major goal of this release is a complete rewrite of the current checkout process and backend order-processing/accounting to make it modular and more flexible, allowing easy change of flow/layouts in order to optimize conversions according to the unique needs of individual businesses.

v1.6 Series - Admin Rewrite (EDIT: will be renumbered)
For the Admin back-end, a focus on:

• easier initial configuration,
• simpler data-entry,
• easier order-management,
• improved reporting capabilities
• conversion from nested tables to cleaner templates

:smile:

For those who read this post before my last edit, you may have noted that there was a title line that said "Proposed Announcement for May 30 release:"

That wording was in reference to the "announcement", and not to a "release" of software.
Evidently some have become confused by the wording; hence the cleanup.