Martin Dougiamas

We already have an app that handles Moodle messages.  Sure, it could be slicker, we know. 

If we made it work AS WELL as Telegram or Whatsapp or iMessage, would you and your students use it a lot?

I suspect this conversation has gone way off the original topic now, where Anu was just asking about where he/she could get support for a company's Moodle.  

However, I do want to address a bit of what you've written here, Derek from my point of view.

• Yes, Moodle is a platform, like an operating system for an LMS.  HQ works hard to make it stable platform that others can build upon, so that they can customise it via plugins and config into exactly the system required for a task.  This is the best way to use our limited resources.
  
• Some user features do need to be done in core, and when we do we always try to do things that benefit the widest range of users across all sectors.  Our user stories include small and large classes, all sectors.
  
• Yes, we also listen carefully (but not exclusively) to what Moodle Partners tell us, but of course they just represent a wide range of end-users, and they are generally just passing those concerns on to us prioritised by how many clients are asking for (or suffering from) something.
• We are putting a lot of effort into getting specs directly from research (we have a new dedicated Research Director now) and user working groups (especially watch for our Moots next year!)   The gradebook changes were specified by end users in the Gradebook working group (almost all end-users) and this is the way of the future.  I hope you've noticed how many surveys we've run this year, too.
  
• I don't see any features for the "average person" that would not just as useful for those with a big IT budget.  If you have some examples of things like this that you think have been overlooked then I'd be glad to hear them!

Cheers,
Martin

Just watched it, thanks Urs.  I think the complexity of things like pointer/touch event models in the future really make a strong argument for us to stick to a framework that can help us with as much of the work as possible.