Open Exchange Gets New Look and New Features

We fetch in pull requests directly from GitHub and GitLab repositories, providing a clear view into the community's contributions and feedback on your app.
This section lets you dive into what enhancements or features users are suggesting, or what issues they've encountered.
Additionally, we ensure app maintainers are notified about pull requests that haven't been reviewed yet, keeping the development cycle responsive and collaborative.

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A new section for tracking dependencies and dependents of projects. This means you can now see not just the libraries and frameworks an app relies on (dependencies) but also other projects that depend on an app (dependents).
It's a great way to understand the ecosystem your project lives in, highlight its impact, and identify potential areas for collaboration or further development.

For those times when directly executing an IPM installation command isn't an option, we've now provided a way to download the IPM app package as an archive. This allows you to manually install the application at your convenience. It's a straightforward workaround for environments where command-line installation may face restrictions or for developers who prefer a bit more control over the installation process.

For applications equipped with the IPM module, we're now showcasing IPM Package Installation Metrics right on the public page of each app. This feature highlights how many times an app has been installed via IPM, giving both developers and users insight into its popularity and usage. It's important to note that this tracking capability is exclusive to apps with the IPM module; for other applications, we're unable to monitor installation figures.

You can see these numbers:

- on Developer Community website in the trending post section


- in the app catalogue on the app tile


- on the public app page


- on the Statistics page in Open Exchange Developer Portal

We're excited to announce a new feature that brings conversations around apps to the forefront: the ability to Leave Responses to Reviews. Now, developers can directly engage with users who review their apps. This two-way dialogue not only enriches the feedback loop but also opens the door for clarifications, expressions of gratitude, and constructive discussions.

Here’s how you can make the most out of this feature:

1. Navigate to the 'Reviews' tab on your app's page.
2. Spot a review you wish to respond to? Click 'Reply' and share your thoughts.
3. Once submitted, your response will be visible beneath the original review, creating a threaded conversation.

To ensure the highest quality of applications on the Open Exchange, we've implemented a try & check process for all applications older than 6 months. This rigorous verification process assesses whether an app functions correctly or requires updates.

During this process, apps confirmed to be working are visibly marked on their public page alongside the date they were last verified. This allows users to easily identify apps that have been manually checked and are performing as expected.

Should an app fail the verification, we notify the owner about the issues and may even create a Pull Request to facilitate necessary fixes.

We've introduced a new way for developers to support their projects: the donate feature. Now, when listing or editing your app on our platform, you have the option to include a link to a GitHub donation page. Here's how to set it up:

1. Navigate to your app's editing page, accessible either through the portal or directly on the public page of your app.
2. Scroll down to the bottom section until you find the "Donate" button link option.
3. Enter the link to your GitHub donation page and submit your edits for approval.

Once your app is approved, a "Donate" button will appear on your app's page, allowing the community to support your work directly. Please note that, at this time, we only support donation links hosted on GitHub. This feature offers a tangible way for users to show their appreciation for your efforts and can help fund the ongoing development and maintenance of your projects.

InterSystems' Idea Portal is a platform where users can share their innovative ideas, and those tagged as "Community Opportunity" have the potential to be brought to life by community developers. If you've developed an application that aligns with or fulfills any of these community-suggested ideas, you can now link your app directly to the relevant Idea Portal entry from your app's page.

Here's how it works:

1. When listing or updating your application on the InterSystems platform, you will find an option to include a link to the Idea Portal.
2. The Idea Portal management will review the application to ensure it fulfills the listed idea.
3. If your application meets the criteria, you will be acknowledged in the Hall of Fame, and the link to the implemented idea will be featured on your app's page.

This feature bridges the gap between idea generation and implementation, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the InterSystems community. It not only gives visibility to the innovative ideas proposed by users but also demonstrates the active role developers play in realizing those concepts, fostering a more interconnected and innovative ecosystem.

We've introduced AI/ML Categorization Filters. All applications related to AI and ML technologies have been appropriately tagged, enhancing search refinement capabilities.

If you are submitting your applications with AI or ML, when listing your app, please select the AI and/or ML checkboxes to specify the technologies your app incorporates. This update is designed to improve the discovery of relevant applications.

Just as with IPM install metrics, you can now monitor the views of your app page. This number is visible in three areas such as: the Trending Apps section on Developer community, within the app tile of the catalogue, and directly on the app's public page as well as Statistic page in the Developer Portal.

Now, when you mention an Open Exchange app in your article and include a link to it in a designated field, a link to your article will automatically appear on the app's public page, under the Articles tab.

To take advantage of this feature, simply include a link to the Open Exchange app within your article and specify this link in the appropriate field when publishing.  

We've introduced the "Trending Apps" block on Developer Community. This feature showcases applications that are capturing the community's attention through views, IPM installs, releases, and reviews.

The more activity an application generates views, IPM installs, releases, and reviews, the higher its chances of being featured in this exclusive block. Each day, we select the 15 most popular applications, ensuring they receive the recognition they deserve and providing our users with a snapshot of what's currently trending.

By engaging with the community and keeping your application updated and reviewed, you increase its visibility and the opportunity to be featured among the day's top 15 trending apps. It's a fantastic way to showcase your hard work and innovation to the broader community.

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Social links you add to your Developer Community profile will automatically be fetched and updated on your Open Exchange profile.

This synchronization ensures that your professional presence is consistent across both platforms, making it easier for colleagues, potential collaborators, and the broader community to find and engage with your work.

For developers, managing your application on the Open Exchange has never been easier. Once logged in, you have multiple pathways to access app management features:

• From the App Public Page: Visit your application's public page. To edit your app or perform other actions, click on the button near the app name. A drop-down menu will appear, offering various options to choose from.

• Accessing Release Features: You can directly access release features from the "Release" tab on your app's public page, as well as through the mentioned above drop-down menu, or from within the Developer Portal.

• Managing Apps via the Developer Portal: To view and manage all your applications in one place, simply navigate to the top menu of the Open Exchange site. Click on your profile icon, and from the drop-down menu, select "Your Applications" under the Developer Portal section. Here, you can edit an application by clicking on its name or access additional options through a drop-down menu next to each app.

All your applications page in the portal:

Now, when you want to share your app while editing, simply use the "Share" option located next to the app name in the editing form or from the app list. This ensures the link you share directs users exactly to your app's public page, making it easier for others to view and engage with your application.