Redesign!!!

[Tyler]

Welcome to 203G! Wait, no—2023? No…. Tacoma3G 2.0! The website appears visually different as part of an ongoing redesign. More info below. Alternatively, you can ignore all of this and switch back to any of the now-classic designs that you were using, by clicking here.

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TL;DR (short version):

I’ve been working on a massive redesign and overhaul of the features on T3G for exactly two years now. ...Andddd, I still don’t have my finished product ready. Therefore, I think it’s time to change the way I intended to release my big update. What you are seeing is a mostly stock implementation of the software that powers this website.

I will be introducing my new site features over time, instead of all at once. Reverting back to the the 'OEM design' (as we gear-heads would call it), will enable me to implement things without worrying about my outdated and bloated code that I used to make those now-classic designs, which would otherwise slow me down and create more 'oil leaks' (website bugs) than I can deal with.

Eventually, this new site will look similar to the classic ones (e.g., there will still options to match the website's color scheme to your truck, and in light or dark mode, etc.). But T3G v2.0 comes with cleaner code (good for me and many user interface improvements (good for you).

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Longer version:

Despite how slow I am, I really have been working on big improvements and frequently requested suggestions, for two years now, with most of it not visible or usable by you guys yet. This is because I go through waves of being extremely motivated to work on T3G, followed by days or weeks of not even wanting to look at my phone or computer or leave my house or wake up, etc.

But. T3G has always been a passion project of mine. Just a hobby. Not something I ever intended to think of as a job, or to become an influencer, or to get free parts for my truck, or to sellout to a big company, or to plaster ugly ads and other crap all over the website, etc.

With that being said, on a personal level, I need to stop stressing about what I do to improve T3G and those things potentially not being to everyone’s taste. Almost every day, I judge myself for not running T3G right or that no one will like T3G 2.0. I have Mr. Anxiety and Sir Imposter Syndrome over here, telling me I’ll never do this, or I suck at that, and so on. Screw it; I got cool new features I want to start adding to the site whether my anxiety says to or not!

The new default design that you are looking at (if you haven’t already switched back), is simply the default design of the software powering the site. You’re just seeing my starting point of what I’m coding; not the actual T3G 2.0 redesign itself. In order for me to slowly roll out new things I’ve been coding, I need a clean starting point. The classic designs are loaded with bloat and bugs from over the years (code wise).

Also, I’ve been into function over fashion lately, in terms of how I design the website's user interface and such. I want people to say to their friends, “I suggest T3G over the other sites because it’s much simpler, friendlier, and more organized than the others.” And working toward those goals starts here.

The good news is, you can basically ignore everything I just said and switch back to any of the classic designs by clicking here. They will still show any new features or other changes, they are just at higher risk of showing temporary bugs and other weird things for the time being. Eventually, the classic designs will be fully synced with their 2.0 counterparts, and at that point, all design options will function the same, just with minor aesthetic differences.

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Everyone that uses this forum—whether you post in the threads or silently lurk in the shadows—have always been extremely supportive to me and my T3G project. It’s you guys that keep me going. I say that a lot, but it’s true. Anyway, thank you for coming to my Tyler talk.

Happy late New Year!!!

 

[Tyler]

Tacoma3G is a website specifically for 3rd Generation Toyota Tacoma enthusiasts. Our resources, forums, classifieds, and other tools, are free to use for everyone. Moreover, we strive to maintain a beginner-friendly, welcoming, and informative atmosphere within our discussion forums. Gatekeeping or 'use the search function' type of nonsense is not something to worry about in our community; please feel free to ask us anything in the forums. Enjoy the site!

 

[Tyler]

Please let me know how the site can be better! Also, here's my never-ending to-do list:

CONTENT IDEAS​

• Directory for OVTune stuff
• Common torque specs table
• Ask for FAQ questions on T3G
• Make videos on how to edit your profile and stuff
• Need to finish write-ups for Hammer Hangers, Powerbrakes, OVTune
• Rewrite about and forum guidelines
• Do a forum FAQ / newbie page and include PWA XF 2.2 - Progressive web app (XF 2.2 - Progressive web app (https://xenforo.com/community/threads/progressive-web-app.181448/))
• How did you find T3G thread, add it to welcome message
• preventative maintenance mods you should do
• Merge off topic threads
• Make list of other useful websites
• Set up Toyota press room
• Thread with all of our history
• Giveaways page - included in history
• Meets page - included in history
• Update tutorials system - add T3G created tutorials
• Convert all cost comparison threads to our new tables system, then link to them in the tutorials tab and around the net
• Use tables for other things, such as common acronyms and whatever other tutorials we can
• Sticky thread in general for list of helpful threads

FEATURES / UI / STYLES​

• Have an actual homepage with industry news and shit
• Make a color palette list
• Tire size calculator
• Create a wiki
• WikiPosts enabled
• BB code buttons and media add-on
• Better thread fields for buy/sell threads
• Use thread prefixes for marketplace including automatically moving sold items to archive
• Use tags in clever ways to sort important threads
• Display all message reactions so people know they are there
• Add website gurus and staff writers
• Add forum moderators
• Native iPhone app
• Should forums be in grids and have more forums like remerr
• Add a navigation button for the user’s build thread and make special build thread field inputs
• Maybe use sub forum links for prefixes or tags
• Media gallery categories for each color of truck
• Put the hamburger menu on the right for mobile site
• Better marketplace and better SEO in marketplace with notices, thread prompts, etc. Rejected/disabled users have special nav CSS
• You can sticky a thread and then move it to a different forum to create a sticky redirect
• Add change username to account menu
• Redo the footer and add a link to the about thread
• Dyslexia font

MERCH / SUPPORTERS​

• User essentials can allow custom upgrade amounts
• Collect all replies from mass donations email
• Make shirts ourselves
• Collect all photos of T3G stickers
• Better purchase UI

VENDORS​

• Better store and vendor program
• Display valued vendors on front page in widget slider
• Create an exclusive coupon code drop down menu for members/vendors
• Display valued vendors on front page in widget slider
• Paid / free program and contact vendors about it
• Create an affiliate program for the vendors
• Contact inactive vendors

TRAFFIC / SEO​

• Google AdSense
• MySQLTuner database optimize
• Update all favicons and social media icons to have an actual Taco in them
• Dial robots.txt
• Fill in vendor descriptions for SEO
• Optimize speed tests

BUGS / QUESTIONS​

• What is with Font Awesome AMP template edits?
• Favicon and social icons broken