OpenX Blog

One clear message from the recent OpenX Community Survey was that we need to do more to make the ad server simpler to use. Addressing this has become a key focus for us, and in coming releases you will see the results of this ongoing work.

The OpenX ad server, with its broad range of features, is used by publishers in many different ways. We’re focusing on three key areas to simplify the product so that those features are much easier to use:

Make OpenX simpler to learn and use
Streamline workflow for common tasks
Remove the need to install and maintain an ad server

Under the hood… a new UI framework
Making OpenX easier to use and streamlining the workflow hinges on improving the user interface - a UI that was designed 8 years ago!

To make these big changes we first had to improve the UI framework. We’ve developed a new system that will allow developers and administrators to control the user interface. For example, features that aren’t being used could be hidden, and new functionality added.

OpenX 2.7 will make these features available through the new plugin framework. Please register to help us develop these features.

UI improvements in the new version of OpenX
With the release of OpenX 2.6 (currently in beta) you will see the first round of UI improvements. Some of these are intended to make OpenX more intuitive, and we’ve updated terminology and reworked pages to make the administrative interface simpler and more logical. Other improvements will make it easier to navigate around the application and perform common tasks more quickly.

Probably the most visible change will be the new OpenX dashboard. This is a new concept suggested by the community: a place where you can see, at a glance, key statistics about your ad server. Although the dashboard is still in its first phase, future releases will build on its framework to enable users to add widgets and further customise it to meet their needs.

A hosted version of OpenX
We know that many publishers who use OpenX to serve ads would prefer not to maintain an ad server. So, as part of our effort to make OpenX simpler to use we decided to provide a hosted version of OpenX. We announced the hosted beta programme earlier this year, and we’re excited about the hundreds of publishers who are already participating. We’re continually working to expand the programme by including more publishers. Please let us know if you would like to participate, too.

This is a work in progress - keep sending in your suggestions
We’re still working hard to make OpenX as simple as possible. We want to save you time so you can focus on optimising your inventory, display more relevant ads and maximize your ad revenue. In the next few releases of OpenX you will see more and more of our work in this area. We’ve had some great contributions from the community and many suggestions have already been implemented. Please keep sending in your suggestions or join the OpenX feedback group and help us make OpenX simpler and easier to use.

I’m really looking forward to this update.
I hope that you do not make the UI too simple or even drop some features. But a better overview over the existing features and a better navigation.
I think i will have to submit my ideas…