Appreciation and Recognition
This is not the official end of the year summary. So don’t look for detailed reports of what’s been accomplished. Instead, as we approach the end of another incredible year, we want to take a moment and say a very heartfelt “Thank you!”. This has been one of our most exciting years ever and we’ve seen so many outstanding things happen. And everyone deserves to feel the satisfaction of a job well done. So please accept our deepest appreciation for everything you’ve done.
Details of the Holiday / Date of Return
Here’s the bottom line.
Starting at 12:01AM (UTC) Saturday, 21 December 2013, until 12:01AM (UTC) 02 January 2014,
Joomla is taking a holiday. This means that no official decisions will be announced, no major changes will take place, and no one is under any obligation to respond in a timely manner to any request. We know, this sounds crazy and how could anyone live in the real world, interacting with real people instead of spending hours in front of a computer screen staring at another email thread. It’s true. Joomla is more than software, more than a community, and as such, we understand there are some things of greater importance than discussions about code. (Some things...but not many).
When a community has a year like Joomla has experienced with such a high level of contribution, interaction, and commitment it’s important to take time to recharge. It’s important to take some time off for mental health. We want 2014 to start strong, and to stay strong; and that means we should all get rested and ready for what lies ahead.
Preparations for New Year
The coming year will be a defining year for Joomla. Anyone who has taken the time to read the blog posts, the mailing list discussions, the github discussions, the forums, or even listened in on the chats understands the opportunities and plans which are beginning to form. We should be clear. This break is a legitimate break. When things return to normal on 02 January, they will no doubt be filled with excitement and energy, and we hope a renewed sense of purpose and motivation to accomplish great things.
Last Minute Business
We should mention quickly (yes, quickly because we are trying to get everyone out of the offices and onto vacation) that we intend to release a Joomla 3.3 release in March. We’ve had some discussions both on the mailing lists and elsewhere and based on our long term goals as a community and in accordance with possible development strategy changes and as a result will be adding a 3.3 release. You can expect to see more details and a time for discussion as one of the first things to accomplish after the break.
Emergencies
Of course this doesn’t mean don’t bring up emergency issues. Emergency code issues will be addressed and handled promptly. Security issues will be fixed. Site accessibility will still be watched and emails monitored. But make sure its a real emergency! We’re not pushing new features into a bonus release on 31 December.
In closing, obviously we cannot shutdown Joomla. As a global community we have volunteers always working, always donating their time to Joomla (It’s a hobby and a wonderful way to spend your free time!) But we’d ask that each of you respect this time and minimize discussions and communications on all Joomla related channels. Truly take this time to recharge, store up your thoughts and ideas, refine your code. This way when we all return on 02 January we will be perfectly positioned to take over the world.
