So long, Classic Web Editor
The Classic Web Editor will retire on January 31, 2023. It had a good run, and it’s always hard to say goodbye, but it’s time.
For quite a while, the Classic editor was our only editor. In the original version of omg.lol, profiles were much simpler (and far more constrained) than they are today, and so it made sense to offer a super-simple form-based approach to managing your profile page. Fill in your name and other details, add a few links, and you’re all set. Simpler times!
But as the service has evolved (and continues to evolve!), maintaining backward compatibility with the Classic editor is proving to be a pain in the butt. I’ve been dealing with bug fixes for the past several months, but when I consider where I want to go with omg.lol profile pages overall—including upcoming features and new functionality, entirely new layouts, as well as better integration with other omg.lol services—I realize that continuing to maintain the Classic editor indefinitely will forever be a time-consuming hinderance that would also stifle innovation.
So, it’s time to let it go. I realize that many of you use the Classic editor to manage your profiles, and removing it won’t be a popular move with everyone. Some of you may have looked at the Advanced editor, saw a chunk of text, and noped right out of it. I realize that the word “advanced” and the Markdown-driven approach can look intimidating—but it’s actually extremely simple to use. And fun, too!
To help with the transition to the new editor, I’m hosting some upcoming “omg.lol Office Hours” where I’ll offer training, demos, and answer any questions that you have about editing your profile. These will be hosted on my Twitch channel at these times:
- Friday, January 20 at 5 PM EST
- Saturday, January 21 at 1 AM EST
- Saturday, January 21 at 12 PM EST
- Sunday, January 22 at 9 AM EST
(Click any of the items above to see the date/time in your local timezone.)
I’ll make additional sessions available if there’s any demand, and of course I’m glad to offer any help through email, Mastodon, IRC, or even one-on-one if needed.
I truly hope this change doesn’t bother anyone too much. I know we all have different tolerances for different types of changes, and what might seem like no big deal to one person can be a bigger deal to someone else. But please know that I’m here to help with the change—and I really do think that you’ll love the new editor once you’ve given it a spin and become comfortable with it (which doesn’t take very long at all, for realsies).
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to let me know. Thanks for your understanding and support as we head into a fun future of more omg.lol awesomeness!
— Adam