Removal of Under Used Modules

[gburton]

We're going to remove under-used modules from core and instead upload them to the addons area.

This work will be ongoing for 1.1.0.1.

If you have suggestions for modules to be removed, this is the discussion thread to let us know.

[ecartz]

Is there a way that we could have it tell us what modules are installed on what domain?

The complicated, privacy-invading way would be to have it notify us when a module is installed. Would require adding some kind of server to accept that information.

A simpler version would be to create a report and ask people in the forums to paste in the results. I suspect most store owners do not regularly read the GitHub discussions, so probably better to suggest that in the forums. This would probably push it out of 1.1.0.1 though, since we need to push the report out to people before asking them to paste it.

Failing that, we could simply remove all the modules from core that aren't installed by default. I.e. rather than spending a lot of time trying to guess what people install, we could simply assume that most people leave the default modules. We could exempt the core shipping and payment modules and any others we want. However, if we make removing the default action, it will probably be easier than if we try to collect that information.

[heatherbellho]

remove under-used modules

I think it is better to think of this as 'remove currently uninstalled, unnecessary modules'.
As examples (not a definitive list of suggestions), we have Testimonials, Languages and Currencies as core functionality, although to 'display' them in the shop, it is necessary to install the Testimonials, Languages and Currencies Navbar modules. It makes sense that they are uninstalled by default but I think it would make no sense removing them from core as they are necessary 'keys' to display the core functionality in the shop.
Similarly, the Update Currency Module.
Put another way, if something is provided in core that requires a 'key', I think the 'key' to use it needs to be available in core too.

Conversely, as examples, default core now does not use Side Boxes. They are all uninstalled. Unless a Box Module is the only 'key' to display some core functionality in the shop, I think it is unnecessary and could be removed.

I'm thinking about this with 'shop-owner' logic, from the viewpoint of a shop-owner.

[gburton]

The over-riding idea is to take as much easy things out of core as we can. Making it slightly easier for us to look after.
Then to add in some other things that are needed (that the lack of is making potential users not choose phoenix).

[heatherbellho]

Making it slightly easier for us to look after.

The Addons would still need to be supported and updated.

[gburton]

Index:
Customer Greeting
Main Text

Navbar:
New Products
Testimonials [potentially the whole thing including the testimonials.php page]

Shipping:
Table
Zones

Are probably the only ones remaining that are not installed by default & could be moved to the addons area?

[heatherbellho]

If it was me, I'd keep the 2 Navbar and the 2 Shipping and just move out the 2 Index.
I think the Testimonials system is a good feature.

[ecartz]

I'm not sure that good/bad is the criterion. The question is if enough store owners use it that it should be shipped with the software versus added afterward. I tend to think that table and zones shipping are. New Products might be. Not as convinced of Testimonials. We can drop the index modules. Both of those used to be installed by default but aren't now. That makes perfect sense to drop.

Note that these should be optional removals, not required. So for existing stores, nothing needs to happen. The files stay; they can be installed or not. For new stores, they get a slimmer core.

[heatherbellho]

For new stores, they get a slimmer core.

I think that is essentially the idea.
I stand by my thinking, that if there is functionality in core such as Testimonials/New Products, store-owners should not have to look for an addon/module to use it.
Write Testimonial was also just recently added to core and Testimonials is one of our USPs so to now remove the Navbar to show Testimonials is wrong.
We also have Products URL but no module in core to show it which I think it should have.
I have that addon/module which could be added to core if wanted.