Introduction
Aptora’s Feature Request system allows our users to author, comment, and vote on software ideas. It is a great way to make sure your opinions are heard. It is also a great way to make sure that your ideas are documented and organized so that Aptora can give your answers on your requests.
General Capabilities
Submissions can only be made by registered users. When an idea is submitted, it is not yet public. Aptora approves them and they are then posted (public). This is done several times per day.
Ideas can be voted on and commented on by any registered website user. Aptora employees often comment and ask questions; including our president James Leichter. This system is actively monitored by Aptora.
Users can add one feature request per day. The idea is to try and get users to think about what is most important to them. They can vote up to eight times per day. Users can vote on their own ideas and the ideas of other coworkers. They can only vote once per idea.
When a feature request receives fifteen votes from other users, it will be considered for action. If we accept the feature, it will be scheduled. Users will be notified of progress. Even if a feature request receives fifteen votes, we may reject that request. After a certain period of time, Aptora will mark requests that have not received enough votes to be considered as Rejected. We will add comments as to why we made that decision.
We have a help topic that explains what makes a great feature idea.
Offers to Contribute Money
There is a “Go Fund Me” type of system. Users may offer to make a monetary contribution to the feature request. When submitting an idea, you can offer a contribution. You may offer to contribute to other ideas as well. Two or more contributions can be offered by the same user for the same feature request. Users will be able to see a running total and the names of those who have made a pledge.
There is no obligation to offer a contribution or to make the contribution once the feature is decided on. If Aptora wishes to except the paid programming job, we will contact each person that offered and ask them if they still wish to go through with the offer.
If enough money is pledged, Aptora may elect to do custom programming. This work could become available for all users. It may be offered for free or for an extra fee. The idea behind this system is to allow users to join together and raise money to have software work performed that would otherwise not get done or not be considered a priority.
Notifications
Notifications go out for the following events:
- Admin gets an email when a feature request is entered. I can add other Aptora employees.
- Admin receives notifications when an idea is ready for review. I can add other Aptora employees.
- Author of a feature request is notified when their idea is approved to be posted (we approve the idea before it is posted for consideration)
- Author notification when idea is created and under review
- Author notification when idea is published after being under review
- Author notification when status changed to review
- Author notification when a comment is made
- Author notification when status changed to approved
- Author notification when status changed to declined
- Author notification when status changed to in progress
- Author notification when status changed to completed
- Author notification when status changed to duplicate (we might merge duplicated ideas)
- Author notification when someone votes on their idea
- Voter notification when status changed to review
- Voter notification when status changed to approved
- Voter notification when status changed to declined
- Voter notification when status changed to in progress
- Voter notification when status changed to completed
Future Work
We may add a notification to all users when a feature request is added. We don’t have that now.
