I have decided it would be important for me to set up a dev board. My vB is still at 3.5.4 (patched) and I need to upgrade to 3.6.x. But, I have a number of hacks, plug-ins, scripts and my own template edits that I would like to preserve, along with the custom skin I use and the CMS that makes up the rest of my site and is integrated with vBulletin. After doing a fairly extensive search on test platforms with what should be considered relevant keywords, I come up wanting.

There are several posts around the various vB related forums, including here, concerning setting up a development board, but nothing definitive and certainly nothing you would call a tutorial -- at least not that I could find. I think it would be great if someone who had some writing talent along with the skill and knowledge of setting up and implementing a test board or development environment would write a step-by-step tutorial on the subject. Begin with a title that will make it easy for us to find and include information about password protection through .htaccess and .htpasswd (and don't forget links to the password encryption tools), other options with non-Linux/UNIX based servers, the pros and cons of same domain compared to different domain, compared to different server.

As far as I know, no one has done an article like this, with this kind of detail. It would no doubt draw some traffic, because there are a lot more requests for help setting up a dev board than there are answers. What I have found so far has me very worried that my attempt will lead to some very frustrating experiences and a lot of conflicting advice. So, if you have a little writing talent and understand the details one must be mindful of, your tutorial could be very popular. I know I would read it.

If you aren't a writer, but you know what needs to be done and how to do it under a number of server and domain configurations, I'd be happy to help you write it or edit your copy. You could even practice the step-by-step on me -- I would like to set one up on 2 different servers (so I can practice moving a board from one to the other).

This is an idea that I think is timely. It's been a few weeks since 3.6.0 went Gold and I would venture to guess that a lot of people are hesitating just like me. Now there are other things I would like to do on the forum and site I have, but I want to upgrade first. I brought this subject up at another forum I frequent, but some administration and staff seemed less than enthused about it and doesn't seem to see much value in it. What do you think?

Thanks,

Jim

sounds like a good idea

though i think this much of details into single guide will take about an hour or two, maybe little more if all put with screenshots of every step invovled & written very detailed.
i think the most "trouble" that "scares" people away from it is the part when trying to do db backups & move it - sometimes the DB is huge-*** file, which makes it's very hard to make copy of...

anyway, if no one will take incitative till then, i'll try to find some time to make something for you (note it won't be before Wednesday due to exam & that it may be "dragged" into weekend, as i got some stuff on the "TO-DO's schedule" already, so i'll need to sqeeze it in between sometime)...

Idan, you don't know how refreshing your attitude is compared to the first forum I posted this on. Thank you very much for your interest. I understand that it takes time and there may be complications that prohibit from applying in all situations, but then, all I did was come up with an idea. And now I feel like I am part of a team effort because there is another person who sees the value it might have for others.

Writing tutorials for flooring (my business for 35 years) takes time, so I am not surprised that it would take a considerable effort to do a tutorial like this. I recently did a tutorial on taking a wrinkle out of a carpet and it took several hours to do -- much more than it would take to do a couple of those jobs in person. But I enjoyed doing it and sharing it with anyone else who likes the personal satisfaction of doing a project themselves. Thank you for your interest. I am positive it will have the added bonus of attracting more visitors and members to vBHackers.com.

Let me know if I can help in any way,

Jim

just wanted to let you know i haven't forgot your request - i just had some new website project that poped-up on the last weekend, kinda hogged all my free time. i'll get to write it as soon as i get some free time...

Okay, I am waiting patiently. Thank you for the update.

Jim

done.
read thread @ [How-To] Make Develop Forum

Thank you, Idan. Great work and much appreciated.

Jim