[TYPO3-UG US] Status of TYPO3.us

[Zach Davis]

Alex Heizer wrote:

> That's what I was saying. The primary thing is to build the site in the 
> traditional way so that the reader learns the foundation. Then, have a 
> section that shows how to do it using automake, one that shows using the 
> MTB method, one that shows the TV method, and we can add new sections 
> each time a new time-saving extension comes out 
> 
> Alex
> 


Ok -- seems like we're agreed then; we'll move forward accordingly. I 
fully see your point about beginning with the basics, and I agree that 
the classic* is a good place to start. I think including all three 
approaches (is there a difference between the automaketemplate approach 
and the MTB approach?) is a great solution and will greatly benefit the 
user.

For the record (and for those of you who are thinking about learning how 
to use TV), the purpose of TV, as I see it, is not to allow users to 
avoid or circumvent typoscript -- and it's not to somehow speed up site 
devlopment. TV actually brings new features to the table, which are more 
about added functionality than saving time or making typo3 easier for 
newcomers. In my experience, TV doesn't really save you much time. Take 
the FTB tutorial for instance -- you're still using the same typoscript 
objects (renamed lib.whatever instead of temp.whatever) -- what's 
missing is the TEMPLATE object, which is only a small part of the 
typoscript. Add to this the fact that templaVoila allows you to have 
different templates for different branches of the site without confusing 
conditions in the TS or endless ext templates, and you have a pretty 
powerful tool. Throw flexible content elements on top of that, which 
make it possible to include a two column layout, for instance, within 
another column, and you have a very powerful tool. Like 
automaketemplate, I doubt TV will prove to be a fad. Kasper and Robert 
both seem comitted to its continued development, and given that its 
original funding came from one of the largest sponsors of TYPO3, I think 
it's likely that we'll see TV increasingly becoming the accepted (and 
expected) way of doing things.

best,
Zach

* I think classic is a better term for this approach than old-fashioned 
or outdated -- just as I think it's probably unfair to characterize TV 
as a flash in the pan, what's hot, another fad, etc.