Missing Plugins after Upgrade to Moodle 4

Missing Plugins after Upgrade to Moodle 4

by Deon Visser -
Number of replies: 17
My service provider is not supporting PHP7.4 and therefor I had to upgrade to PHP 8.0. In turn I also had to then upgrade Moodle to ver 4.

The problem is that not all the plugins that I have been using are Ver4 ready from what I can see, some was last modified as long as 8 years ago. I Have started reaching out to these plugin developers to ask if they are going to be upgrading soon. However this does not solve my issue right now.

I find this quite annoying  that the plugins are not kept up to date. If a developer cant maintain a plugin, they should not even start putting them out there.

Does anyone have any suggestions, please?
Thank you.
Average of ratings: -
In reply to Deon Visser

Ri: Missing Plugins after Upgrade to Moodle 4

by Sergio Rabellino -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers Picture of Plugin developers
IMHO Using or not a plugin it's a personal choice that embraces the risks that an update could be done later or not at all. Even using Moodle LMS share the same risks, there are no guarantees that a bug has to be solved in a pre defined time. As a plugin user and maintainer too, I'm grateful to all the maintainers that freely use their free time (for me nights) to develop moodle itself and all the plugins.
If you are so disappointed, ask to be the maintainer of these plugins or pay someone to get them updated.
Average of ratings: Useful (1)
In reply to Deon Visser

Re: Missing Plugins after Upgrade to Moodle 4

by Ken Task -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers
I don't think that sharing who the name of the service provider is a naughty-no-no.    And, what sort of lease do you have with them ... shared, managed, unmanaged?

Myself ... I've always used 'unmanaged' ... meaning I'm responsible for what version of PHP am running on server ... not provider.

'SoS', Ken

In reply to Ken Task

Re: Missing Plugins after Upgrade to Moodle 4

by AL Rachels -
Picture of Core developers Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers Picture of Plugin developers Picture of Testers
I also don't think it would be a "naughty-no-no" to share which plugins you have the problem with. Might encourage the maintainers to update them. Also, someone else may have "fixed" some of them and may be willing to share. I know that on more than one occasion I have fixed an out of date plugin for my own use, and have even adopted three of them, MooTyper, Hot Question and Skype, plus created another, Diary, from a fork of the Journal plugin. Journal was one of those I used to work on for myself and my students.
In reply to Ken Task

Re: Missing Plugins after Upgrade to Moodle 4

by Leon Stringer -
Picture of Core developers Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers
Ken: Is the suggestion the hosting provider has got this wrong? PHP 7.4 support ends imminently (28 November 2022) so dropping this from a managed service is the right thing to do IMO. Moodle 3.9 has been caught out with the lifetime extension during the pandemic, there's some discussion on this here.
Average of ratings: Useful (1)
In reply to Leon Stringer

Re: Missing Plugins after Upgrade to Moodle 4

by Ken Task -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers
Not really ... the larger the provider customer base, the greater the chance that provider doesn't force customers to maintain secure servers ... until it becomes an internal network problem.   If one has an unmanaged server ... then he/she is in total charge of updating/upgrading, etc.

Case in point ... old SiteGround ... offered customers 'easy install' joomla 1.5's but no 'easy update' button ... that version was easy enough to update with what joomla called a patch package (a small .tar.gz).   Customers didn't do it ... sites became a support issue and started affecting other customers on SG network.  SG told customers fix it or we'll shut you down - and they did just that. - eventually.

Yes, 7.4 is no longer supported at end of this month.   Heck, even version 8 has issues!!!

Am NOT saying can run it forever ...

Was attempting to suggest to op that maybe they could move their hosting to unmanged ... run for a while longer - until op got things sorted with plugins ... that's all.

'SoS', Ken

In reply to Deon Visser

Re: Missing Plugins after Upgrade to Moodle 4

by Leon Stringer -
Picture of Core developers Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers

If I've understood this correctly the suggestion is that no one should release a product or service unless they can provide lifetime support without payment. That expectation seems unreasonable to me.

With Free (as in freedom) and open-source software projects such as Moodle there are two general approaches with support:

  1. Free-of-charge community support: you can ask questions on forums, report bugs and contribute. But there is no entitlement to any level of service.
  2. Paid-for support: with Moodle this is typically via a Moodle Partner. You have the right to expect and demand a certain level of service in return for payment.

Assuming you haven't paid for the plugins but you need a certain level of support then you can either provide this in house if you have development skills available, or contract this out to a developer whether that be the original maintainer, a Moodle Partner or a freelancer.

Average of ratings: Useful (1)
In reply to Leon Stringer

Re: Missing Plugins after Upgrade to Moodle 4

by Deon Visser -
Hi all
Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate it.

1. Being a developer myself, I will never offer something for free, just to abandon it down the road. It is called commitment. Don't start something you cant finish. If you want to charge for it, then do so from the start and I would be more than happy to pay for it.

2. I am also very happy to pay to have these plugins upgraded and tried to get hold of two of the plugin developers, to no avail.

I use Xneelo (Hetzner) - South Africa. Even though the server is ours, it is managed by the SP. I can fully understand why they are forcing the upgrade with a strict cutoff date. They are even willing to loose customers due to the cutoff date policy. I am also reluctant to stay on 7.4 as this is a mission critical environment and cannot afford any glitches.

If I cant find alternative plugins, I will then take it upon myself to modify these plugins.

I however, can't believe that I am the only person that has this problem? I would expect many more people to have the same issue very soon.

These are the plugins that I have an issue with....

attendanceregister
scheduler
configurable_reports
dedication

I am sure there are many more out there that we are not using.

Once again, thank you for your feedback.
In reply to Deon Visser

Re: Missing Plugins after Upgrade to Moodle 4

by Ken Task -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers
Philosophy of life aside and putting on server admin / moodle server admin hat,
one of the 'jobs' of such a person is to check compatibility of addons prior to
pulling the trigger on upgrading moodle.

With that in mind.

Install moosh
Put your add-on plugins list in a text file ... like addons.txt
Then use a bash shell script that uses moosh and loops through addons.txt
to check Moodle plugins for versions of plugins:

checkaddons

#!/bin/bash
#
echo 'Add-on listing: ';
cat ./addons.txt;
echo '---------------------';
for i in `cat ./addons.txt`
do
   echo "Addon in que: $i";
moosh -n plugin-list |grep $i
done

./checkaddons
Add-on listing:
attendanceregister
scheduler
configurable_reports
dedication

---------------------
Addon in que: attendanceregister
mod_attendanceregister,2.1,2.2,2.3,2.4,2.5,2.6,2.7,2.8,2.9,3.0,3.1,3.2,3.3,https://moodle.org/plugins/download.php/15574/mod_attendanceregister_moodle33_2017112201.zip
Addon in que: scheduler
mod_scheduler,2.0,2.1,2.2,2.7,2.8,2.9,3.0,3.1,3.10,3.11,3.2,3.3,3.4,3.5,3.6,3.7,3.8,3.9,https://moodle.org/plugins/download.php/20738/mod_scheduler_moodle311_2019120200.zip
Addon in que: configurable_reports
block_configurable_reports,1.9,2.0,2.1,2.2,2.3,2.4,2.5,2.6,2.7,2.8,2.9,3.0,3.1,3.10,3.11,3.2,3.3,3.4,3.5,3.6,3.7,3.8,3.9,https://moodle.org/plugins/download.php/22758/block_configurable_reports_moodle311_2020110300.zip
Addon in que: dedication
block_dedication,1.9,2.0,2.1,2.2,2.3,2.4,2.5,2.6,2.7,2.8,2.9,3.0,3.1,3.10,3.11,3.2,3.3,3.4,3.5,3.6,3.7,3.8,3.9,https://moodle.org/plugins/download.php/21328/block_dedication_moodle311_2020041000.zip

Since 4 is pretty much right out of shrink wrap (now 4.0.5 (Build: 20221114) and hope you've installed and maintain
site with git), it's not unusual for plugins to be slightly behind ... the 311 versions might actually work with a 4.

2 of the plugins are suspected blockers according to what moosh has found.

Since 4 comes with a report builder now not sure one should continue to pursue using block_configurable_reports

'Spirit of Sharing' ... life long learner in a forever changing life! [beats the alternative!] smile
Ken

In reply to Ken Task

Re: Missing Plugins after Upgrade to Moodle 4

by Deon Visser -
Thanks Ken.
It was not my idea to upgrade. As I explained, my SP is forcing upgrade due to PHP 7.4 not being supported. So I have no choice. Thus, checking plugins for compatibility before upgrade would not have made any difference.

I have decided to upgrade the plugins, myself. Will take your advice on the Reporting plugin, thank you.
In reply to Deon Visser

Re: Missing Plugins after Upgrade to Moodle 4

by Visvanath Ratnaweera -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers Picture of Translators
Hi

Your original problem:
> My service provider is not supporting PHP7.4 and therefor I had to upgrade to PHP 8.0. In turn I also had to then upgrade Moodle to ver 4.
sounds to me like you buy a diesel car because your local gas station stoped supplying petrol.
;)

> my SP is forcing upgrade due to PHP 7.4 not being supported. So I have no choice.
Where is the commitment you were talking about for free software earlier? And this is for a paid service!

Anyway PHP 7.4 won't die on one fateful day. Pl. read Re: Extended support for Moodle 3.9 LTS.
In reply to Visvanath Ratnaweera

Re: Missing Plugins after Upgrade to Moodle 4

by Deon Visser -
Not sure what point you are making or what relevance it has but lets entertain your theories for a moment...

If the petrol manufacturer says they cannot guarantee the quality of the petrol and there is a very good chance that in due course it will be bad for your car, I would rather buy a diesel car than have my car blown up. So good luck changing service stations in the hope that their petrol 7.4 is different.

The last time I checked, ISP's are not in the business of building or supporting PHP. Their purpose is to ensure that their infrastructure and network is secure for their clients. We are all well aware how quickly vulnerabilities are exploited. It wont take long before that happens with 7.4. I am 100% behind my ISP's reason for forcing upgrades even how inconvenient.

Then, I come back to my statement. Don't build software if you do not intend to support and maintain it! If it is a money issue charge for it, no problem, but don't waste people's time.
In reply to Deon Visser

Ri: Re: Missing Plugins after Upgrade to Moodle 4

by Sergio Rabellino -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers Picture of Plugin developers
No, sorry, IMHO this is not the spirit of this community (and many others around the opensource movement). I can create software and share it at release X.Y, but no warranties are guaranteed at all (I can also die... Do I need to give you some support from hell ?) who can say anything about your future ?
You can choose to use it or not (even Moodle...) and you've no right to ask me to maintain it for your business requirements.
I will continue to thanks all the people who share their work and use their time to share ideas and plugins, even If life changes their priorities and developing a plugin for moodle could not be the main interest anymore.

Hope my English is understandable...
Average of ratings: Useful (1)
In reply to Sergio Rabellino

Re: Ri: Re: Missing Plugins after Upgrade to Moodle 4

by Visvanath Ratnaweera -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers Picture of Translators
I see the best course of action as no action. Give the OP time to cool down!
;)
Average of ratings: Useful (1)
In reply to Deon Visser

Re: Missing Plugins after Upgrade to Moodle 4

by Ken Task -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers
I get it ... forced to ... my suggestion still applies though! smile

You provided a list of add-ons and suggest there might be more?  How did you acquire the list (which shows plugin shortname)?

Can you get to:
https:// your server /admin/plugins.php?updatesonly=0&contribonly=1 directly?

Have a 4.0.highest sandbox right now so I don't know if one can get same sort of reports with report builder that you can right now with the plugin.   So if goal is no loss of function, then keep the plugin but check into report builder.

So server is really yours only co-located with a provider and you don't appear to have any access other than Moodle admin? no ssh, no panel of some sort?

May as well share more info other than provider ...
operating system is?  Memory is?  Free space is?   MySQL or MariaDB and version?

I used to co-located myself, but eventually could not find a provider that would do ... also, didn't give up any access ... had ssh/panel of my own choosing and could install software via OS package manager.   IMHO, having that ability is a huge advantage in running a Moodle server.

'SoS', Ken

In reply to Ken Task

Re: Missing Plugins after Upgrade to Moodle 4

by Deon Visser -
Thanks Ken

No I cant get to https:// your server /admin/plugins.php?updatesonly=0&contribonly=1.

I do have SSH and Control Panel access.
Server OS Debian 10 Buster. I can make up to 2gb Ram avail if need be. Tons of free HD space and running MariaDB.

I do have a Un-managed Server running BBB and could relocate to it but was hoping to decommission it, since BBB is now integrated into V4.

I have started the process of upgrading the plugins. So I think we can close this issue.
In reply to Deon Visser

Re: Missing Plugins after Upgrade to Moodle 4

by Ken Task -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers
Ok, considered 'closed' here ... have other things to do any way!
Best of luck!

'SoS', Ken

In reply to Deon Visser

Re: Missing Plugins after Upgrade to Moodle 4

by Ken Task -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers
Wait a minute ... ok, know I said I was done if you were done .... but ...

"can make up to 2gb Ram avail if need be" ... is that total memory of server?

And if so, then that 'covers' memory for web service and your MariaDB server, right?

If so, strongly suggest install of MySQL Tuner.   Run it with super user credentials to the DB server.

Ok, now I am done! smile
'SoS', Ken