Ideas for a dashboard / widget system?

[MadeMyDay]

Hello everybody,

I am developing a dashboard process module with which you are able to configure and display individual widget modules. As a beginning I created a PageList widget with which you can display the page tree (the one from the standard admin home at the moment). I also created a ListPages widget with which you can display all sorts of page lists (like "recent pages", "your recent pages", "latest news" etc.).

What I want to know from you is: What what you expect from such a dashboard as additional functionality? I think some sort of statistics would be nice (total pages etc.) but also charts from statistic solutions like GA and Piwik. But beside that? Any suggestions?

Edit: While writing this... latest images and latest files also makes sense I guess.

[DaveP]

Just a couple of suggestions from off the top of my head -

• Server stats (maybe using http://phpsysinfo.sourceforge.net/)
  
• Admin messaging system (am I getting carried away here?)
  
• Depending on installed modules, latest comments etc, or provide an interface for other module developers to add widgets (I really am getting carried away)
  

[MadeMyDay]

Admin messaging system (am I getting carried away here?)

A bit Messaging is not a dashboard's task I think.

Depending on installed modules, latest comments etc, or provide an interface for other module developers to add widgets (I really am getting carried away)

Comments: Good idea. The widget system is very easy to develop for. Other developers can/SHOULD easily develop widgets for it.

I think of the Piwik dashboard widgets. Easy to customize, easy to configure.

[diogo]

calendar, weather, sudoku, stock market... i will tell more if i remember

[netcarver]

How about a simple to-do list widget?

[MadeMyDay]

Sorry, oversaw this:

Server stats (maybe using http://phpsysinfo.sourceforge.net/)

good idea!

calendar

For which purpose?

weather, sudoku, stock market

This is all possible. But I am more looking for PW-related tasks. Something everyone could use for productivity.

How about a simple to-do list widget?

Certainly possible. But not for a first release. But a good point though: Some "quick edit" features for pages like checking/unchecking checkboxes, publishing etc. Good point

[diogo]

Sorry, it wasn't clear that i was joking. Next time i will put more smileys

[MadeMyDay]

hehe, you know the "german ernst"? We take everything serious

[yellowled]

Log files? There already is a module to read the error log in the backend.

[MadeMyDay]

Log files? There already is a module to read the error log in the backend.

nice find! added to the list.

[MadeMyDay]

Sneak Preview (everything configurable, styling mostly controlled by admin theme):

[apeisa]

Looks great, can't wait for the release!

[MadeMyDay]

Since Soma asked what these buttons have to do there: This is just a button module where you can define some individual buttons and url. Like "add news" or even an url to a custom module or whatever:

[MadeMyDay]

So, last one for today. Just threw it on a site I am currently developing which uses the great Futura theme from nikola. It just works and looks good imho (eleminated the sidebar earlier, though):

[arjen]

I ... am ... amazed. This really looks great. For me I can see the "Create quick [whatever page]" working really great on several large sites. Perhaps a list of new/unread contactforms entries would be nice see too.

[renobird]

Wow. This is really cool.

[Pete]

Would it be possible to customise a dashboard per user role? That way you could really tailor it on large sites for the needs of different editors.

[MadeMyDay]

It will. I want to configure sets where widgets (or whole sets) that can be defined:

- global

- per role

- per permission

- per user

[nikola]

It looks really cool, can't wait to try this. It would speed things a bit.

Google Analytics integration would be superb.

[charliez]

Is this making a simple back-end into a complicated one?

[MadeMyDay]

No. You don't have to use it.

[diogo]

No. You don't have to use it.

Not a nice answer...

I also don't like that some CMS's have an over complicated landing page, but I don't think that this will turn PW in one of those.

[MadeMyDay]

Not a nice answer...

? Sorry, but (already pointed out):

1. you can configure which widgets you use

2. you define how complicated you make it (depending on the needs of your site, editors, groups and yourself)

3. It is a Process module, you can use it as often as you need it

4. Finally, again, it is a module. You don't have to use it. You can stick at the pages process as start screen (what I also do for small sites).

[ryan]

Aggregate answer: Usage is optional.

I look forward to installing this one.

[marcin]

@MadeMyDay - really, really cool! Looking forward installing it.