metallissimus wrote:
I am currently looking at different CMSs (for other projects that are not as photo heavy as my websites) and what I am taking away from this in regards to X4: I think some sort of "site building" capabilities is something that users expect nowadays and where X3 is too complicated. You have to resort to code to realize even basic layout ideas* like columns or different widths within a single page. Maybe blocks could be an option in X4?
For example:
https://automad.org/#feature-block-editor
Just dropping in a gallery block or a folders block whereever one wants would be such an improvement over the rather rigid structure of X3 pages.
This is of course true. If you are building non-photo related websites, then X3 probably isn't for you, unless you are already acquainted and comfortable with the interface. There are better tools.
I think one of the "problems" with X3 in the first place, is too much trying to be a website CMS, where there are better options in the first place. So for X4, another option may be to simplify, so that's it's primarily a powerful "gallery" tool with less emphasis on content and custom web page creation. I don't think there is much point in discussing this in detail, because it could be that another party steps in, and pulls it in that direction. From my perspective, I would rather make it best at what I can make it best at, without complicating matters.
metallissimus wrote:* for the content. Gallery layouts are of course really powerful, maybe even to the point of offering too much configuration options to be intuitive for new users.
True.