Theme update process

I’ve noticed that theme updates are taking more and more time to get approved. It used to be 1-4 hours, now it’s up to one day. It’s not always easy to explain buyers they have to wait 1 day for 5 minute fix we made.

I think that there should be also a history of previous versions that can buyers download and use. It happened to us recently that zip file got corrupted and people could not use the theme. We’ve fixed it and re-uploaded theme again within minutes, but it took maybe 16 hours to get approved.

What are your thoughts?

ait said
I’ve noticed that theme updates are taking more and more time to get approved. It used to be 1-4 hours, now it’s up to one day. It’s not always easy to explain buyers they have to wait 1 day for 5 minute fix we made.

I think that there should be also a history of previous versions that can buyers download and use. It happened to us recently that zip file got corrupted and people could not use the theme. We’ve fixed it and re-uploaded theme again within minutes, but it took maybe 16 hours to get approved.

What are your thoughts?

Well I haven’t upload anything or done anything to the community. Although I do like the feature of giving the buyers the options for downloading previous version.

I use an auto-update system, so if I’m just making a few little tweaks, CSS etc. I’ll upload to my auto-updater and then TF.

If it’s a slightly larger update though I like to wait for TF to accept it first, then throw it at my auto-update server, just to play it safe.

That way for small changes existing users get a theme update notification straight away, and everyone’s happy

Instant updates for Elite author should get implemented IMO . Not because of the Elite status but because of some kind of confidence. (Elite authors must be trustworthy to reach this status)

It would help to push new updates and decrease reviewers time.

I think reviewers just read the given comment for an update and don’t look through the whole code again so this step is useless

revaxarts said
I think reviewers just read the given comment for an update and don’t look through the whole code again so this step is useless

Exactly, otherwise corrupted zip file (which was our fault) wouldn’t get approved.

ait said

revaxarts said
I think reviewers just read the given comment for an update and don’t look through the whole code again so this step is useless

Exactly, otherwise corrupted zip file (which was our fault) wouldn’t get approved.

I really don’t know why updates have to follow the same long review queue. Usually an update is applied when there are bugs / problems which should, ideally, be solved as soon as possible and hence, it should given priority over new item submissions.

I think this is long past. Being an elite author actually has no advantages other than that free t-shirt I got.

billyf said

ait said

revaxarts said
I think reviewers just read the given comment for an update and don’t look through the whole code again so this step is useless

Exactly, otherwise corrupted zip file (which was our fault) wouldn’t get approved.

In this case, Envato should change the system by allowing theme updates to ‘bypass’ the review queue and become available immediately after the upload (and let the reviewers review the update when they are done reviewing new items), or a separate queue for theme updates which should have reviewers working everyday, including weekends. I really don’t know why updates have to follow the same long review queue. Usually an update is applied when there are bugs / problems which should, ideally, be solved as soon as possible and hence, it should given priority over new item submissions.

I have this dream where each of our themes is stored on GIT on Envato servers, and all we have to do is to type git commit and git push, and updated theme is available for everyone.

@billyf: Updates should be available straight away with ability to download previous versions in case of some disaster

I do agree that the amount earned should relate to the amount of trust, possibly like auto accept update with a option for reviews to check it in the near future