Polestar Forum Software

Polestar Forum Software

Over the coming months, we will be migrating to Polestar Forums (this forum software). Many of the features and functionality brought to the NormanNetworksITS website are built-in to this software and will become redundant, such as user-to-user (private) messaging, forums, community rules, and many other behind-the-scenes modules.

What about control of the platform?

Polestar Forums are developed by a well-known friend and colleague (of sorts) of mine, Josh (who has now posted on this thread below - jump to post), and he has spent many, many hours developing and perfecting this software - taking inspiration and ideas from various forums around the internet and incorporating them into his own project, much like I was trying to do with the NormanNetworksITS in-house forums.

That being said, I've decided that there is really no need for me to continue to reinvent the wheel as it comes to the things I was trying to do and accomplish for this website. I am not giving up control over what we can do with our website, by any means, but I am humbly accepting the fact that I just don't have the time to see some of the projects through especially when someone else I know and trust has already done an outstanding job.

Why am I unable to log in to these forums with my NormanNetworksITS credentials?

Polestar Forums use their own user database and do not have access to the NormanNetworksITS user database. I have a few changes to make to NormanNetworksITS so that it will work with the Polestar Forums database and allow logging in.

This does mean, however, that you will need to re-register an account. In fact, you can do so now by clicking "Sign In", then "Register an Account" to begin this process. Please note that your user data will not be migrated.

What about SporTracker?

Don't worry, I still plan to support and develop that project. The NormanNetworksITS SporTracker module will be updated so that it will work with the Polestar Forum login system.

Why do some people have non-RuneScape avatars?

One of the features Polestar Forum brings to the table is the ability to upload your own avatar. For best results, the image used should be exactly 100 by 100 pixels and the background should be transparent. Inappropriate, offensive, or otherwise rule-breaking avatars will be removed and the ability to change/upload avatars can be revoked on a per-user basis. Do not abuse this privilege.

Josh said:
Anthony said:
he has spent many, many hours developing and perfecting this software
That's an interesting way to spell "years". Don't give me all the credit, I had many other people help me out on it.

Figure though - as I created this - that I should give an explanation on the name, as it has a very important meaning. Its mainly the CMS, but I've incorporated these forums into the Polestar project, so applies to it too.
Many, many - as in a great many - a plethora, if you will - of hours that equate to years, yes indeed. You have accomplished what I was attempting to and in a more elegant way. It's a pleasure to be able to use your creation and I am honored that you have joined us here.

With a bit more time, I'll get more family and friends in here. Who knows, maybe one day I'll be able to buy a license from you to use your CMS suite as well. There's basically only one little piece of my site left that I share with family and friends that your software doesn't cover - a niche little scorekeeping 'app' for when we go out playing disc golf or our invention/iteration of "dart golf". Polestar CMS + Forums would enable playing with clans stuff again down the line, too with the fancy multi-site stuff. I can dream of it, anyhow.

Thank you for sharing some information about your project and work. Now that you've posted, I can edit my post a little and name you in the credit.