I actually never use 'Show New', so is the idea that pressing 'Show New' will bring up a thread with new messages from the threads you've subscribed to?

Yes, correct.

Cool.

As a general note, I've made a few updates recently. The thread navigation buttons when viewing posts work now. Only four posts are shown at a time for testing purposes. New posts can have a bit more formatting now and when you include a link like [link] is will be automatically made clickable. Oh, and if you leave a tag open, it will be fixed.

The next couple of changes will be keeping track of where you are in a thread (if you are logged in) and adding a display for users in the admin portal.

What are you using for cleaning up tags? I used htmlpurifier for another project a while back, but I'm curious what's out there today.

I'm using htmlpurifier

Alrighty then! ;)

The test site has been updated again. It should now do the whole new messages thing.

If you had a login, you'll have to register again. There was a database schema change.

The test site is at www.buffistas.me

Another update. The Message Center is now operational. Also you can subscribe to threads by going to 'Settings' and then 'Subscriptions'. Adding and removing threads you're subscribed to is the only part of the profile settings that actually does anything yet. This update was only about getting subscriptions working. I also fixed a bug that was wasn't setting the thread description when a new thread is created from the admin portal. There is a bug that will give an ugly error message if you don't select a thread before pressing 'Add Subscription', but it doesn't seem important enough to deal with right now.

My next project will be getting the rest of profile editing working.

Any current logins and posts were destroyed in the update, but access keys are still good so you can register again.

The test site is www.buffistas.me

After a few more updates, I think I'll be ready to have the script that deploys the website not wipe the database too. I'm thinking of making a database change that will let threads belong to a 'series' so when, say Natter 241 ends, then any subscribers to Natter 241 will be automatically rolled over to Natter 242.

If there are adjustments or features you'd like to see, go ahead and suggest them. I won't promise I'll implement them, but they can go on a wish list for the future if enough people like them.

I do intend to make read-new easier to find on mobile devices and I think I'll make the left sidebar of links an option that can be deactivated in the user profile. It will have to disappear regardless when the screen gets too small, but desktop users would still have it unless they want to opt out.

Also let me know if you want to contribute. I can give you the info to hook up with the git repository.

So, yeah, another update to the Beta Buffista site. I added the ability to do more profile editing and as part of that enabled blocking users. Bookmarks are stubbed in, but not functional.

The next couple of things will be editing posts and actually implement bookmarks.