New platform release

Today we’re officially releasing the newest version of our platform. It’s a big step forward for us, and you can download it here. (Just upload the installer to an empty folder on your web server, visit the page, and let it guide you through install.)

Our main focus for this release was usability — overhauling the interface, making day-to-day interactions easier, and solidifying the platform’s foundation. We’ve added direct file uplaoding, improved download codes and paid downloads, redesigned the UI, and started sprinkling in previews of functionality to come. In a nutshell: it’s a big milestone for us.

Feature by feature

New interface
We redesigned the UI for look and to make the exerience more intuitive.
File uploads, improved assets
Now you can connect to Amazon S3, create a new release in our system, and upload fulfillment files directly to that release.
Digital purchase element with minimum-price options
Easily connect your Paypal account and sell direct, even using minimum-price “pay-at-least” pricing if you like. All Paypal order information is stored for your review.
Download codes
Download codes are easy to generate and export directly from a release or file detials page. They’ll work with a single file or with a release that has a dozen fulfillment files attached.
A preview of a more robust “People” section
The people section still features list management, but you’ll also notice pages for contacts and press links — a preview of more robust functionality coming soon.
More help text
Help for everything. Well some things. Proper FAQs in the help section explain basic steps, with screen-by-screen instructions for connecting third party services or embedding elements.
Mozilla Persona
Mozilla’s powerful identity protocol/service, Persona, is supported for logins and user identification. We support creating a consistent online log-in and ID system for the future.
Boilerplate
Each install comes with a basic CSS stylesheet and sample PHP so you can easily start playing with the platform just by copying and pasting.

What’s next?
This time around we focused on stability and usability. There’s more of that coming, but our next release is focused on two main things: providing a hosted version of the platform and releasing iframe/JavaScript embeds so elements can go anywhere. We’ll also add more file-hosting services for uploads, new elements, and more refinement to the user experience.

Members and Kickstarter supporters will be the first people to play with our hosted version, but it will be open to the public after testing. Today feels like the start of something, and we’re going to keep building and moving forward.