As you probably know by now I use BlogEngine.NET as my blogging platform. I have many reasons for this, but the main reason is the fact that the code looks like if I wrote it. That's exactly how I develop applications. That include structure, coding conventions and so on. it's written in ASP.NET and it makes me easy to extend it. That's the answer to the question some of my readers wanted to know: Why you don't use WordPress? (I'm not saying WordPress is not a great engine, I just prefer BlogEngine.NET)
In order to become more powerful engine here are thirteen (more or less) common features that I'd like to see.
1. Unsubscribe from comment notifications
I got a few requests to unsubscribe readers from a specific posts manually, since they don't have an option to do it. If post reaches a large number of comments, readers who subscribed to email notifications receive a bunch of emails. I admit this can be annoying.
2. Approve/delete comment from email
It would be nice to approve/delete new comments directly from email that is automatically sent.
3. Paging comments
Another issue with large number of comments is that it gets hard to scroll down and hard to read. So adding a paging would be a good thing. You can see example on Web Designer Wall.
4. Group comments and trackbacks
Speaking of comment, it would be great thing to have comments and trackbacks separated. This could be done by adding tabs, or by simple group them so that comments are rendered first. This will enable readers to follow comments more easily.
5. Add blog name to the end of a page title
At this moment you can choose to add a blog name to the beginning of a page title, but I think that adding to the end also should be option. Search engines like that, am I right?
6. Option NOT to use websnapr for trackbacks
I am not sure you would agree with me, but I'd like to have an option not to use websnapr for trackbacks. It slows down the load time and, personally, I like to have a single image for trackbacks and comments without avatar.
7. Give me back my noavatar.jpg :-)
Like I mentioned in previous bullet I like to have a single image for trackbacks and comments without avatar. It looks less colorful that having a tens of different pictures ;)
8. We can have CommentLuv as well
CommentLuv is a funny feature that is available for WordPress users. It is a plugin that parses the feed of the comment author and displays his/hers last article inside the comment. What do you think, eh?
9. Comment form as a part of a theme
When created two BlogEngine.NET themes I wanted to change the design of comment form, but since it is not a part of a theme, I was only able to style it through CSS.
10. Archive by date
Just a simple, plain post history can be also effective.
11. Hotlinking
This is the tricky one. I found out that some blogs that refers to my articles load images from my site. I'm not saying this is the case right now, but it might significantly affect a bandwidth in the future. I know this can be set on IIS, but there must be a way to do it in code. Any ideas?
12. Pageview counter
I don't have any strong reasons for this except that this could be used to create widgets, like Popular Posts.
13. Different sidebar on main page.
This might come handy to emphasize some content on main page.
What are your thoughts on this?
If you are a BlogEngine user do you have any other suggestion? If you are not, what do you think about this at all?
I am not sure if some of this features are already planned. If yes, than hooray!