I couldn't get why the NEW DESIGN FEEDBACK group wasn't Open. Not sure if that setting has been changed since I joined it but I found it odd that members needed to apply there and wait, and not be able to give instant feedback.
Not sure why it remained closed but at least initially erik was looking for people with specific skill sets. The second call, about a month later, for beta testers, was via the site messaging system; I don't know how many people were included or what the selection criteria was. I assumed everyone was invited since I was already part of the group and got it.
Keeping it private at that point might have been to manage a potential influx of bug reports, though that is just a guess on my part. Not sure why it would still be private now.
It might not be still on private, only admins can tell. Doesn't really matter anyway when Erik and staff are answering or writing tickets for bugs/issues reported in the public forums as well.
Sure & not a big deal either.
When something is improved or redesigned, whether that is an item or an inteface, the soundest approach to use is a staged introduction with every alteration reversible in case of flaws/bugs.
Millions of dollars of spending lie in ashes of projects where this was not done & the new sytem failed to function as design/intent.
Though not the case here & I would have done as chess.com has with a ''suck-it-and-see-approach'' . Implement the thing & iron out difficulties after am only seeking to ensure that anything not working properly will get fixed.
I don't get why the testing period was ended so soon and it went live so fast. I seriously think Erik and staff didn't forsee the extent of problems that would be caused. But I feel they shouldn't have taken that risk and first tried to fix all the bugs reported while in testing mode so that there would have been a much smoother transition and not cause so much 'hysteria'. Also it would have been nice if a newspost was sent out to all chess.com members advising that a change was coming. People don't like change usually, especially when it comes with no warning. And especially more so when that change brings them problems they didn't have before.
Okay & thanks for reply.
Unfortunately some of them may have been chess-cheats though ?
people with specific skill sets.
Sure, it is possible. That doesn't really impact anything does it?
It might do. Don't you think ?
Was unlooked for & unfortunate.
You have no unease at letting dishonest chess-cheats assist you to design a chess-website Martin ??