upgrade problems-task or programmer?

upgrade problems-task or programmer?

by Clair Mensinger -
Number of replies: 3

We have been using moodle for quite a few years. In 2010? we installed a newer version and exported and imported the data to the new version  2.3.1. This seemed to go smoothly, with the main issue being a few font problems.  


Now we are looking to do another update and have been working with a developer to update to 3.4.2.  We seem to be having an incredible number of problems.  He has been working, very part-time, on this update for more than 8 months now and every step forward seems to include a few steps back, e.g. quizzes weren't working properly, so he made some changes and now a significant percentage of the metalinks don't work, etc, etc, etc.

I have 3 questions
1. Is this to be expected?
2. Is he not familiar enough with moodle and causing unnecessary problems?
3. Would we be better off starting over or choosing another option?  This would be a very big undertaking.

In essence, I'm wondering if the problem is the task or the programmer. Please offer opinions or other information.

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In reply to Clair Mensinger

Re: upgrade problems-task or programmer?

by Ken Task -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers

Wow!   This one is loaded for bear ... depending ...

Am surprised you've not been contacted by a Moodle Partner by now.

Maybe if you gave a description of your position in your company in the your profile as well some some info about the company ... that's a suggestion that you can take or leave ...

1. maybe - but will say 8 months does sound like a long time.   But ... got any custom code from the first experience back in 2010 - wow that was a long time ago!  Lots of changes.

2. now think about that one .. we now know it's a 'he' but that's it.  If you had customizations waaaaaay back in 2010 and just now getting round to upgrading ... did the former 'developer' document whatever hacks were made?   Your developer might have gotten in over his head a little ... here again ... depending.  Many changes to code from 2010 to the 3.4.2 of today ... uhhh, Moodle just released an update to the 3.4.2 (actually Moodle HQ releases code every week ... 3.4.2+ example.

Here's one for you, however .. given your  position in the company, is there any contract with developer?  Not asking to see it, but wonder if there is one ... developer might think they are doing all they can/when they can (life sometimes happens!) and honoring whatever agreement there is.

3.  Obviously, only you can make that call.   Without anyone seeing site/code ... no technical details etc. anyone's guess.   Make sure you talk to technical people and not sales! ;)

All the above under 'opinions'/food for thought? ;)

'spirit of sharing', Ken

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In reply to Ken Task

Re: upgrade problems-task or programmer?

by Ken Task -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers

Follow up ... more options ...

You could turn on debugging.  Go to a 'problem area'.  Capture the debug output.
Come back here and share the debug text.  Someone **might be abl4*** to tell if
you have customizations that would require a programmer or not.

You could go to the health check of your moodle as an admin level.
https://site/admin/tool/health/

That does id issues with quizzes ... and provide, if possible, SQL statements
for possible fixes.

You mentioned issues with quizzes ... for quite a few versions of Moodle
from 2.4 -> 2.9 I think - don't really remember when it appeared and also
when it disappeared, there was an site admin menu link for 'Quiz Upgrade Helper'.
Don't think it's in moodle code any more as an admin link ... maybe why your
currrent developer is having issues .. having to re-invent a 'customized quiz wheel' is no small undertaking - especially on a live/active site.

Or

You could go here:
https://www.upwork.com/hire/moodle-freelancers/

which says ... 'Hire the best Moodle Specialist'.

And just so I'm clear ... am not seeking ... nor do I work for an MP ... nor do I have a listing in upwork .... just 'sharing' ... as the sig says!

'spirit of sharing', Ken

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In reply to Ken Task

Re: upgrade problems-task or programmer?

by Clair Mensinger -

Hi Ken,

Thanks for your feedback. 

The upgrade is being done on a dev site.

We do have about half a dozen customizations. The plan was to get the big upgrade done and then get the customizations put into module form so we won't have such a big problem in the future. We do have the code changes for all but one, the first customization we did. Since there have been so many upgrades and changes to moodle the customization codes have needed tweaking but that doesn't seem to be our main problem. 

I'll check into the debugging and thanks for the link to the moodle freelancers. 

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