We're very (very) very close! The server is configured, the forum is running, the sections are made, the theme is almost done, and I have a really awful logo xD. I just need to do the getting started guide and finish off the theme, then the new site URL will be posted on the front page of Appulo.us. And I'll probably open up submissions for a better logo after we launch, too.

We're starting small and working up. Right now, the three main attractions on the forum are the Graphics section, the Web Langauges section, and the Project section. There's only one PHP forum, no separation between beginner and advanced, no places to specifically talk about cloud computing or any of that stuff. I'm doing it this way because you guys will be the ones who decide what subforums get made. Once a particular topic gets a lot of attention, then we'll make a new subforum for it. I just don't want to launch a site with a million and a half subforums and watch as half of them never get used ;-). So if you really want to learn about encryption, head straight to the General Coding forum and start talking about it.

I've been asked a lot about how to become a moderator on the new site. Here's how that works: While you don't need to be an expert programmer to know when a thread is in the wrong place or someone is spamming, people see the "Moderator" tag on someone and ALWAYS assume that person is an expert on the topic at hand. So, ideally, I'd like all my moderators to know a good bit about web development topics.

There are two kinds of moderators: Global Mods, who can moderate every forum, and Mini Mods, who moderate a specific subforum. If I notice someone with excellent people-skills who happens to know a certain topic really well, I might approach them about being a Mini Mod in that subforum. If an equally-nice person knows a ton of languages, I might ask them to be a Global Mod. If a Mini Mod has been doing an awesome job, I might promote them to Global.

There are two key points here: I find you. Don't ask me to make you a moderator, show me that you're cut out to be a moderator. Secondly, by taking the time to prove how friendly you are and how knowledgeable you are in web topics, you'll gain the respect and friendship of forum members before you're ever made a leader. That way, wearing the Moderator tag brings a lot more meaning than "those pricks that deleted my thread about making a pro-murder site" :)

But here's the caveat: Obviously, if I make everyone prove themselves before creating any moderators, I'll be running this site alone for a month. That... won't work :). So I have some trusted friends in the tech world, both on the Internet and in real life, to whom I'll be offering moderator positions just to get us started off. Some names you'll recognize, others you won't -- but I promise they're all awesome.

I was really hoping to launch today but I think I spent too much time on my damn horrible logo for that. Depending on my personal schedule, it could be tomorrow or it could be next weekend... so keep checking back :)

--Kyek