kuroi:
@hilarsh
I can't really comment on the best path as I haven't used the other 4.7 versions. DivaVocals is in a better position to advise on this.
I can tell you that that the vanilla 4.7 version isn't the easiest to use on large sites or sites with lots of attributes, and doesn't do everything that people would like on the cart side in terms of reporting stock against attributes prior to the shopping cart. However on the plus side, it and its predecessors have been very thoroughly tested and despite no genuine bugs have been found for at least two years against carts where it is correctly installed, so it's very reliable.
Nods in agreement
I set up a test store that I use to test out various mods before I install them for my clients.. I had been running the Kuroi version of SBA for a while, and decided to check out the other two versions to see if I could get a sense for two things:1. Were these version as problematic as they seemed to be based on the posts in the support thread
2. Was there an real compelling reason to use either one of these versions.In my testing I discovered that there are issues with the MultiAdd version (mostly in that it does not "manage" the inventory counts correctly) It also has a few other quirks one of which is that it does not appear to allow you to enter "0" for a product variant's inventory count. The Ajax version is missing files, and even when I added the correct files it still doesn't appear to work or "do anything" that I found spectacular. Now perhaps this is because it just doesn't work. and given the missing files I would say this that is really the case.
Also telling for me is the fact that the authors of the Ajax & Multi Add versions have never fully supported their versions despite the reported issues with them. (missing files, errors, just not behaving correctly for lack of a better way to put it)
Not trying to be harsh and not trying to call folks out, but one these authors has posted a total of THREE responses to questions regarding his version of SBA, and the other author has posted a total of ONE time to this forum PERIOD.. AND the one post was NOT on either of the SBA support threads.. So for this me this said a LOT..
Now don't get me wrong, I do not look at the mod authors participation on this forum as the ONLY indicator of whether or not to use a mod. (there are plenty of stable add-ons I use that require little to no mod author support becasue they just WORK..) I also evaluate the mods overall stability and the community support as part of my determination to use a mod or not. However in the case of the SBA mod there are three things which stand out for me:1. Kuroi has ALWAYS very generously supported his SBA mod and for that matter every other mod he's contributed to the community
2. The Kuroi version of SBA is tested and STABLE, and if installed correctly, it WORKS as described. (no more no less)
3. The community support for this mod is HIGH and full of helpful folks.So for these reasons I use the Kuroi version of SBA with the stylesheets from the MultiAdd version. I do like the stylesheet used in the MultiAdd version of SBA becasue it makes a very nice visual distinction between the parent product and the child variants. So I this is the only part of the MultiAdd version that is worthwhile IMO.
Like Kuroi says, for sites with lots of products with attributes it may be a bit overwhelming to manage the stock. However I believe that this could be overcome with a different management interface. Also like Kuroi says the mod does not support "sequenced" dropdowns or visually tell folks which product variants are out of stock from the cart side. However, there is a mod that has been specifically written to work with SBA that might help with that last point. (Product Attribute Grid) For the record, neither the Ajax or MultiAdd versions added any additional functionality in those areas.
Arguably for someone who wants these abilities they should give some consideration to paying a developer to make those changes for. (ScriptLance or Rent A Coder are excellent sources to shop projects like this) However, I have managed to come up with ways to make SBA work for my clients. It's all about product setup planning to get SBA to work well for my clients.
HTH