This initiative is designed to provide back-ported security fixes for earlier versions of Mautic that are no longer under active and security support. However, to ensure that this program meets your needs and expectations, we are seeking your valuable input and feedback.

What is an ELTS Program?

The ELTS program would involve an annual fee, in return for which Mautic would provide back-ported security fixes to older versions of the software. This service is aimed at helping organizations that rely on older versions of Mautic maintain a secure environment without the immediate need to upgrade to the latest version.

Examples of Existing ELTS Programs

To give you an idea of how such programs work in other open source projects, here are some examples:

• TYPO3 Extended Support
• Ubuntu Extended Security Maintenance
• Red Hat Extended Lifecycle Support
• Debian Extended LTS
• Joomla Extended Support (RFP)
• Drupal 7 Extended Support
• MongoDB Enterprise Advanced Support Plans
• Percona Post-MySQL 5.7 EOL Support
• AngularJS Extended LTS
• CiviCRM ESR

We Need Your Input

To create an ELTS program that truly benefits our community, we need your feedback on several key aspects. Consider the following questions and share your thoughts with us. Feel free to share any other ideas you might have – the questions are just a starting point!

Service Expectations

• What specific features and services would you expect from an ELTS program?
• How important is it for your organization to receive back-ported security fixes for older versions of Mautic?
• What versions of Mautic would you expect to be supported?

Operational Models

• How do you think the ELTS program should operate?
• Should Mautic have a dedicated paid team to work on back-ports and apply patches?
• Should Mautic provide a private repository with patches for users to apply themselves?
• Should Mautic issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) and allow single or multiple providers to offer the service?

Implementation and Management

• What would be the most critical factors for you in choosing to subscribe to the ELTS program?
• How frequently would you expect updates and patches to be released?

Additional Thoughts

• Are there any other considerations or suggestions you have for the ELTS program?

How to Provide Your Input

The call for input will be open until the 13th September. We encourage all community members to share their views and suggestions. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us design a program that meets your needs and supports the continued security and stability of Mautic.

Ways to Submit Your Input

• Comment: Join the discussion on the consultation
• Email: For private inquiries, email us at elts@mautic.org (please use the comment method by default).
• Slack: Join the discussion in the #ELTS channel for general chat about this project (get an invite) and join #wg-elts to join the working group.

Thank you for your time and contributions. Together, we can create a robust and effective ELTS program that benefits the entire Mautic community.

As I reflect on that post, we find ourselves meeting and in many cases exceeding our expectations. We are indeed meeting the needs of small businesses, adding incredible features and gaining access to bigger markets. But this has not happened without the incredible support from our community.

With every update, we see individual names of people who are making incredible contributions to Mautic. Every time I survey the forums or Slack, there are passionate, driven people who have dedicated themselves to see this community and solution grow.

But this growth hasn’t been without it’s challenges. Developing a feature rich solution that meets the demands of a growing industry, while tackling the many bugs that gets in the way, can be trying. But we are as committed as ever to listening to you, responding to your needs and exceeding user expectations, every step of the way.

It’s clear to us that real focus is needed in the community. This is simply a reality of our rapid growth. We realize that more resources are needed to bring value, while creating a place where each member is represented and recognized.

To that end, I’ve been asked to lead the community management effort at Mautic. Since I began working at Mautic over a year ago, I’ve been working in a number of capacities, but have developed a real passion for engaging our community and fostering relationships that connect people to value, while equipping them to add their own.

There are a number of key growth areas that we’d like to tackle in the near term. But in order to be successful, it requires input and support from the entire community. To that end, we will be reaching out in a focused way to solicit that feedback regarding these areas soon. They include;

• Forums: One of the ways we engage as a community is by connecting with one another via our forums. Unfortunately the existing forum application limits us from accomplishing other things like recognizing contributors, up-voting specific problems and so much more. We’d like to explore other tools that will bring even more value to the community in this area.
• Onboarding: This continues to be an area we’re excited about further developing. The current onboarding process is challenging at best, and we recognize it needs to be addressed. Our goal is to make every new user to Mautic feel supported while setting up, configuring and running their very first campaign. We’ll be taking steps to assess, review, edit and develop more succinct tools.
• Marketplace: A community’s strength is found in how it brings value to every member. We continue to believe that Mautic’s greatest strength is in it’s people. The ones who contribute value each and every day. Whether it’s answering a question, or solving a technical challenge, we believe that the value chain should be reciprocal. So we’ll be exploring ways to bring the marketplace to life this year.

I have reached out to many of you already in an effort to ensure that everyone that connects with Mautic, feels supported to grow their business. But if I haven’t connected with you, I’d like to say “hello” and please feel free to reach out to me (via Slack: @jseevers or email) and introduce yourself, or provide a comment below. I’ll be working diligently to bring content, process and structure to the work being done in and around our growing community.

I want to personally thank each and every one of you for how you have come alongside us, supporting users, sharing your experiences and adding value. We could not do what we do without the best people in the world in our community.

We’ve just begun. Be on the lookout, there are incredible things ahead!

As training for the Rio Olympics  gets underway, we see the immense work that is done by these athletes in preparation for the games. In a similar manner, each of us works hard to compete in today’s business world. We plan, organize, implement and deploy new ideas. Although our environment may not be an open stadium, it is certainly an open marketplace. And unlike the real Olympics where only a single person is rewarded with a medal, everyone wins when you contribute to an open source project like Mautic.

Who can participate?

According to Olympic records, Cecilia Colledge was the youngest female competitor in the Olympics. She was only 11YO.  The oldest to ever compete? Arthur von Pongracz of Austria, who was 72. We’d like to approach the Mautic Summer Games in a same manner. We believe everyone has worth and value. That you can contribute and participate to this community in some way shape or form. So we’re excited to open up the competition to developers/creators/designers of all ages.

What are the events?

In preparation for the Mautic Summer Games we wanted to give you a rundown of all the different events that we will be offering. Regardless of your skill level or expertise, everyone should be able to participate.

UPDATED: Scoring for events

When do the Mautic Summer Games start/end?

Our Summer Games will run the entire month of August. So as you’re watching the Rio Olympics take some time to contribute to an international phenomenon that is disrupting an entire industry. When you participate in these summer games, you also add value to others.

What’s in it for me?

Our undying gratitude! ? Aside from the knowledge that you receive by helping people move horizons, there will be prizes! Be on the lookout for more detail on mautic.org as we design our scoring system and determine the prizes. Also keep in mind there will be prizes for country participation! Do you have colleagues that are willing and able to participate? Invite them to join in on the games!

By holding this fun-filled event, we hope to show the world that an inspired community, gathered around a common ideal, can change the way we communicate. And that given the proper tools and inspiration, we can create an open space where creative ideas can be  shared and horizons can be moved.

UPDATE: Summer Games Prizes

We’ve created our very own Mautic Summer Games swag bags! Proudly display your contribution to Mautic as you collect points to contribute to one of the fastest growing open source projects in the world. There will be a different set of swag for gold, silver and bronze, so do your best!

UPDATE: Rules of the Games

We’d like to request that all content produced or developed be done during the timing of the games (the month of August). Please no recycling of content that has already been created. We encourage everyone who is participating do use creativity and innovation when applying their talents to each of these events.