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Agent CMS - Status Report (May 2016)

Dear Members, 

It's been a challenging few weeks for our Agent CMS. We've encountered roadblocks that forced us to completely re-evaluate our approach (more than once). I'm sure you've noticed that these obstacles have significantly delayed our progress please accept my sincerest apologies for not keeping you better informed along the way. Good news or bad, we should be getting it to you fast.

We're a company that takes quality and usability very seriously. Our latest iteration of Agent just wasn't meeting our own high standards, and I've asked the team to step back and look for a better approach. While it did indeed function, we felt it was too rigid and took the freedom and flexibility that Muse provides completely away from designers.

Rather than settle and release a product that we're not happy with, we're going to slow down and explore splitting Agent up into a content management suite of tools. We tried to achieve so much with this product that it forced us to find quick fixes for the challenges that working with Muse code presented. That's just not how we roll.

In the meantime, we're going to remove our Agent promotional page from the site so we don't mislead potential new members. The project is still alive, but we need to make sure new users are joining for the tools and training we currently have, and not our goals for the future.

I've asked many of our users which features of Agent they need most, and we have a very clear picture of how to prioritize a suite of stand-alone tools. The team learned some valuable lessons throughout this project, and we'll be damn sure we can deliver on any future promises we make within a reasonable amount of time.

Thanks as always for your patience, and I can assure you we'll be working extra hard in the next few months to wow you with our product releases and design handy-work. As always, we won't let you down.

Cheers!

Steve Harris

Steve Harris
Steve Harris / Calgary, Canada

Steve Harris started MuseThemes in 2011 and steadily grew the company, going from a full-time corporate employee to being his own boss. More than just MuseThemes, Steve is a conference speaker, Lynda.com author, and holds equally large collections of both business books and fine scotch.

Comments

BenT
BenT

Thanks for the update mates. Although I’m excited to see Agent I’d rather it’s done right. Take the time you need to make us something great!! You’ve always done a stellar job in the past. Thanks

Corey
Corey

Thanks for the update, much appreciated as I’m sure most of us are looking for this exact widget! So excited to test this new widget out! Always a pleasure..

Bryansadler.com
Bryansadler.com

Dude!! Thanks for the update! I am really excited for this!
I would love to give my clients the abilities to add or remove pages and add or move around content and text boxes on a page. And add their own images and text fields.

Marcus
Marcus

Good job team, we will help you to improve the agent platform well done.

Randy
Randy

You guys are a class act.

Gary
Gary

Thanks for updating us. We appreciate the quality of the work you produce and are looking forward to Agent CMS when it meets your high standards.

jennifer
jennifer

i love u guys! thanks for the update, take the time u ll need :) im sure u ll create something great!

Gianni
Gianni

Have you ever filed for quality jobs, if you understood that gripping the road did not meet your standards will become even more anore retrace your steps to present a better product !!

You are the greatest, we wait confident that the launch will be at the top.

good job

Ignacio Santos
Ignacio Santos

The transparency is the best way any where.

Till
Till

I guess I am as far on the edge of my seat about Agent as everyone else here is, and my heart just sank a little bit…but what kind of person would I be if I didn’t have empathy for you trying to do the right thing.

Can’t wait to see the results of your efforts and godspeed while figuring it all out. I love you, team Muse-Themes!

Kyle
Kyle

Not thrilled, but It’s understandable. Make sure its awesome and supports search, stripe and other inventory features and it’ll be worth the wait.

Lenore
Lenore

Appreciate the update, and the fact that your standards don’t allow you to push forward with something you feel is inferior. Your approach will serve us all well. Thank You!

Sam Rapier
Sam Rapier

Thank you for the update! Take the time for the excellent work, as we have been witnessing :)

San
San

Thanks for the update. I’m a new member so haven’t been waiting that long anyway. But, in my opinion, it’s ALWAYS better to get it right than just get it done.

Pascal
Pascal

It’s never a good idea to inform about a tool and it’s features at a too early stage of the project. Sounds to me like we will have to wait for at least another 2-3 months – not that happy about that. “We want to make it good” is no excuse for such a delay – I mean that’s what “we” are paying you for – to make quality products. When Boeing had a delay with their dreamliner they couldn’t just say – it’s just delayed because we want to make it right – I mean that’s what customers expect these days. And if you can’t make it – admit it, better than letting us wait longer – and with us our own customers.

Q
Q

This makes me a little sad, but I appreciate the update and will continue to anxiously await the new content. Keep rocking guys! Thanks for your dedication to quality.

tony
tony

Quality is more important… take your time, we don’t want to roll out something quick but its bad, and that would screw us all in the end. Keep up da good work… cant wait to see this !!!!!

Jim Steel
Jim Steel

Your transparency is refreshing. Keep up the woodwork~

Jim Steel
Jim Steel

That was good work. See what happens when you produce your work too quickly!!

karen lepage
karen lepage

You just keep doing what you’re doing, Steve & team! Thanks for the update. And thank you for doing things right. Every time.

A. Ouellette
A. Ouellette

Thanks for the update and honesty. Keeps me in the game knowing I’m dealing with people of integrity.

peter salter
peter salter

Sounds like solid thinking. I’m looking forward to using the tool but am glad you are taking the time to do it right. Press on!

A Jimenez
A Jimenez

Thank you for the update I really glad that you guys are taking your time to do something great thank you

ERICK
ERICK

Great letter Steve, I’m now happier for having taken the decision of using Muse Themes Tools, I can recognize the personal quality of the team and its leader.

Andrew
Andrew

Hey Steve, thanks for the update mate. Just want to take the opportunity to say I’ve been with you guys for a couple of years now. I’m a designer, not a web developer, but the tools and resources you guys provide have expanded my repertoire of skills exponentially. Thank you for your tight quality control on the CMS capabilities you’re working on – I’m sure when it’s released it’ll add even more flexibility to my business.

David
David

I appreciate the update and you are on the right track of rolling out a product that can hit the ground running!

Jason
Jason

Thanks for the update. Definitely a little disappointed but totally understand this is a complicated technical mountain you’re trying to climb. From my perspective – you’re aiming for the golden ticket – so it definitely makes a lot of sense to do it right the first time. My feeling has always been that the company that takes the functionality of Business Catalyst and merges it with the ease of use and design functionality of Muse – will carve out a dominant position in this market. I feel like this is what you’re aiming to do, at least partially – so I wish you all the best. If you need a Beta tester – let me know.

Stefan
Stefan

Thank you, Steve, for the update. I absolutely appreciate your information transparency. Waiting a bit for a ready-to-market product is not a problem at all. Most members of the community know the situation when a project stuck and rowing back is the only way to get moving. Good progress!

Jeff Osborne
Jeff Osborne

Hey Steve, being brutally honest about what you are doing is what makes Muse-Themes so trustworthy. We are all keen to see Agent’s development, but waiting until it’s just perfect is definately the right move.

af3000
af3000

That message sounds to me, that there will never be a CMS tool from your side.
Anyway, I would appreciate that you concentrate on delivering other good widgets and templates in the next weeks and months.
Your output for the last 3-4 months was not very satisfying and based on that there is the big questions, why are we paying monthly for no delivery.

Andreas Göpfert
Andreas Göpfert

Hi Steve, we have but all experienced it yourself several times. Here in Germany we say “good things take time.” Makes a good job and all rejoice. Greetings from the other side …

Buddy Swain
Buddy Swain

Steve, Muse-themes is the greatest….always was and always will be with a company that’s upfront and honest like yours. Keep up the good work!

andre
andre

just bring it out and don’t tell us about it. as long as you have search, seo, a blog and of course the CMS AS STAND ALONG WIDGETS AND IM COOL WITH IT.

Valere
Valere

A great leader is someone who tries to achieve something. An even greater leader says when he’s taking tough decisions if he can’t meet the requirements. That takes some courage. Respect!! Quality is the key to succes, no doubt about that. A little pitty the communication comes a little late but who can blame you for that. Thnx for the update!!

Maurizio
Maurizio

“Haste makes waste”

Susan
Susan

Great customer service!

Mike V
Mike V

I’d rather it be fully tested and work right even if it means waiting 2 years.

I will say a better way to blog in different categories & sub categories is what I want the most. Maybe also automatic posts too. But being able to back up everything or have it sync with Muse is important too.

I say this because I have had excellent SEO results using Muse by just creating lots of categories and sub categories about keyword phrases.

Even 1st page Google listings for competitive results!!! This is how I make real money. SEO is king!

Nikhil
Nikhil

Good things don’t happen overnight and roadblocks are good for creativity as it gives an opportunity to view with a different perspective. I can understand the uphill task for the entire team, however right from the beginning you guys set your standards high :-)

As for Agent, I am eagerly waiting. As web designer I wouldn’t want my client playing around with my design but at the end of the day they still want to update their own website. Adobe has done a good job with muse but they need to think in the direction of CMS.

Good luck to you and your team, I am confident you guys will reach new heights soon!

Norman
Norman

If you are going to release Agent AS a suite of CMS tools, how about you add it as a third offering alongside the theme and widget sections of your website? That will help keep things coherent as to what piece belongs where. It also allows you the opportunity to roll out Agent functionality as the 1.0 and then build on that in an organized release line. Not only does that help us as your customers, but it also substantially further differentiates yourself from your competitors.

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