EOL of Open Forums - FAQ – Open LMS Support

We'd like to share an important update regarding the Open Forum plugin transition and future end-of-life.

The convergence of features between our Open Forum plugin (mod_hsuforum) and the core forums activity (mod_forum) by Moodle HQ has prompted us to reevaluate our approach. In line with our commitment to excellence, we've made the strategic decision to discontinue the Open Forum plugin in the future and provide a transition path for our clients.

At present, we're navigating resource limitations, which means we can't provide a firm timeline for the EOL of the Open Forum plugin. Rest assured, our team is dedicated to collaborating closely to ensure the successful implementation of this initiative. We are committed to keeping you informed with timely updates as soon as we gain more clarity on the timeline.

In the interim, and for the rest of 2024, we will maintain our support for Open Forums, catering to both our customers and the wider open-source community.

Why is the decision to discontinue the Open Forum plugin?

The Open Forum plugin, mod_hsuforum, has been a part of our offerings for several years. However, as the core forum activity, mod_forum, has seen significant feature enhancements over time, the differences between the two have narrowed considerably. This diminishing gap has posed challenges in terms of innovation within the Open Forum plugin, compelling us to decide to discontinue it in the long term.

How will this discontinuation affect current users of the Open Forum plugin?

For current users of the Open Forum plugin, we are working on a comprehensive transition plan. A process will be developed to facilitate the seamless transition of your existing Open Forum data to the core forum activity. We want to ensure minimal disruption to your workflow and preserve your valuable content. The scope of this initiative is still under definition.

What are the key objectives of the EOL of Open Forum?

The primary objective of this initiative is to phase out the Open Forum plugin while minimizing any adverse effects on our user base. This will be achieved by:

Identifying the feature gap between Open Forum and core forums (mod_hsuforum vs. mod_forum)
Defining and developing a transition plan that caters to various scenarios for our Open LMS clients.
Communicating the proposed transition plan and its timeline to our clients and the OS community.
Allowing sufficient time for our customers to move their Open Forum activities.
Encouraging users to transition away from mod_hsuforum for both new and existing projects.
Offering all functionalities and improvements of the Open Forum plugin to the wider community.

What are the potential risks associated with this?

There are a few risks to consider:

There may be differences in functionality between the two activities, leading to certain features not being present in the core forum activity.
Some users might not complete the transition within the provided timeframe, necessitating proactive measures.

What are the limitations and other factors to be aware of during this transition?

Several factors and considerations are important to note:

The discontinuation of the Open Forum plugin will only occur after rigorous testing and user adoption.
A minimum of 6 months will be given for users to transition their activities before the plugin is phased out.
Initial research into the initiative's scope, constraints, and possibilities will guide its development.
Once this has been defined, the final scope of the transition plan will be shared internally and with clients.
While the process is in development, the Open Forum activity will be supported by Open LMS, including bug fixes and maintenance. Open LMS will ensure compatibility with new core Moodle versions, even during this transition period.

How will backups and restores of courses with Open Forum activities be handled?

Backups and restores of courses containing Open Forum activities will be considered within the scope of the transition plan. However, the specific scope and viability of this are still being evaluated. We aim to ensure that your course data remains intact and manageable during the process.

How will documentation and support be provided during this process?

Comprehensive documentation and resources will be available to guide users through the transition process. Open LMS will continue to offer support for the Open Forum activity during the length of the initiative ensuring a smooth transition.

What is the timeline for this initiative?

Currently, we're operating within resource constraints, and therefore, we don't have a definitive timeline for the EOL of the Open Forum plugin.

We will be working closely as a team to ensure the successful execution of this initiative and we are committed to providing updates as soon as we have more clarity on the timeline.