STEP:Guide-Development Workflow

Step Guide-Developmental Workflow

A high-level overview of Step Modifications' Game Guide development process

by: Step Modifications  | Forum Topic

The Step Workflow is the process used for all of our Game Guide development cycles.

NOTE

Notice to Staff
In order for Game Guides to remain relevant, it is imperative that this generalized workflow be maintained by staff, Curators, and community contributors.

This workflow assumes the corresponding Development Guide and Mod List have already been propagated, which are covered in Step 4 and Step 5 of the Mod-Build Guide Framework article.

Wiki Workflow

1. Open the Step Portal
2. Ensure the DevelopmentRelease version corresponds to the actual development release version! If this is not set correctly, then the following will not behave as expected!
   1. Edit Guide Versioning by clicking the Create or Edit button
   2. Change the DevelopmentRelease number to the current dev release number for the respective Modding Guide

      Change NOTHING else at this point!

3. Copy new Step Guide if necessary. (STEP Portal: COPY DEVELOPMENT GUIDE)
4. Copy new dev changelog page for the next release. (STEP Portal: COPY DEVELOPMENT CHANGELOG)
5. Propagate new Mod List. (STEP Portal: EDIT/PROPAGATE MOD LISTS)
6. Create mod pages for all new ACCEPTED mods (full detail; USE THE TOPIC NAME for the Mod page name, excluding the author portion of the topic name)
7. Ensure any mods which were moved have had their mod category changed on their mod page.
8. Final edit the propagated Mod List according to the dev changelog (STEP Portal: EDIT/PROPAGATE MOD LISTS)
9. Check, double-check, and finalize the dev changelog!!! (STEP Portal: COPY DEVELOPMENT CHANGELOG (edit)

Mod Testing

Mod Testing Workflow

Mod Topics (any member)

• If the mod topic doesn't exist, create a new one on the {GameName} Mods forum using the Mod Topic editor tool.
  
• Any member can suggest mods for inclusion into a guide by creating the topic or posting on on an existing topic.
• Suggesting a mod for inclusion into an official guide should be accompanied with a review and a rationale for the suggestion.

Tag Mod for Testing (staff)

Staff determine whether or not suggested mods are candidates for official testing if they meet the Mandate requirements.

1. Edit the mod topic, and add the following tags:
   1. Add the TESTING prefix.
   2. Add the ModGroup tag.
   3. Add the guide version tag (format as #.#.#). This creates the version-testing context for posterity. E.g., If we don't accept the mod and later consider it, we are reminded that it was under testing for this guide version.
2. Add minimum criteria and instructions for testing to opening post BELOW the horizontal line.
3. Create the mod page - Copy the topic name (excluding authors) to create the mod page on the wiki (see creating/updating mod pages).

Mod Testing (any member)

In order to test a mod for Step, any member may contribute evidence.

NOTE

Anyone testing a mod for a new Step guide MUST have a complete and current Step install, including the mod being tested as well as any other mods in testing that could impact the testing mod. In other words, testers must have installed the Step guide in full and including all relevant mods in testing (and any mods tagged as DROPPED in the dev iteration should be disabled).

• Review the OP of any mod topic having the 'testing' prefix.
• If the mod makes visible changes to content, provide screenshot compares using the following standard series in a reply to the topic.
  1. Vanilla reference (first) screenshot: Step dev guide excluding any mods making changes to the content affected by the mod being tested. If no mods make such changes, then state as much in the post and skip this screenshot.
  2. Step reference (second) screenshot: Step dev guide including all mods plus any ACCEPTED mods for the current development version.
  3. Step With Test Mod (third) screenshot: Step dev guide including all mods with the 'testing' mod content overriding.
• If the mod doesn't make visible changes or said changes are not practical to compare via screenshots, then provide alternative context and assessment.
• If the mod receives a positive review and is advocated by at least two staff, it should be tagged ACCEPTED using the "Saved Action" tool after selecting a topic (or from inside the topic using the "Moderator Actions" button).
• If the mod does not receive a positive review and is not advocated by at least two staff ...
  • NEVER tag these as DROPPED, which is ONLY used after a mod has been accepted in a previous guide version.
  • Remove the TESTING prefix using the "Saved Action" tool after selecting a topic (or from inside the topic using the "Moderator Actions" button).

Mod Incorporation / Removal

Once the mod testing phase is complete, the workflow moves entirely to the wiki. Staff and Curators will add or remove mods from the guides by editing the corresponding guide's Mod List.

Workflow-related activities combined with site & workflow maintenance, Guide upkeep, and Nexus upkeep require almost all of the senior staff's time, therefore, we ask that the community help out by supplying the needed information and contributing to site maintenance wherever possible.

Thanks!