... that's why Wordpress has become such a standard
Well, this might be the Case, but, in contrary to OpenCart, WP is not a Shopping Cart Software, but more comparable with a basic Windows Edition Framework, with a couple of most used Progs installed by default. And it so attracts Millions of Users, not even thinking about, using it as a commercial moneymaker Tool, as it is the 'sole' Case and Purpose, when it comes to OC.
I was more astonished about the fact, that such a lot of OC Users have been sharing a lot of free OpenCart related knowledge, during it's existence. Unfortunately, to eventually then find out, that the vast majority of Downloaders just used that knowledge, to so hopefully generate income. And, in contrary to Wordpress, only a very small fraction of them ever came back to OC, to share their knowledge gained, since they never associated this kind of Software with a 'common goal' sharing Project, but a rather highly competitive Business Tool. Wich it is, in real, as well.
And the World has transformed into a global Village, during the past 10 Years. So, most everybody ended up to be everybody else's potential Competitor. In addition, most all OpenCart Extensions made it into Dark Web, some time ago already. But all that also had some dramatic effects, for Sellers as well as for Fan's, and as OC grew up more, as less Enthusiasm was part of it. For logical reasons, like in your 'personal' Case, since you would only be ONE MORE, trying to get a piece of the OC Cake, in an already overcrowded field of partly self-proclaimed OC Developers. And all, looking for a chance, to possibly generate some income. Mostly in the 'hidden' way, while beeing OC-Code Reseller, and by use of anonymous eMail Accounts only , they are not able, or willing, to at least present a working OC Site Link, or something else, so possibly disclosing their miserable Life ...
But OC-Newbies are usually not aware of all this, they likely expect to have found a great big bunch of friends, able and willing, to help others, to successfully start their freely obtained Online Business. Based on knowledge of good people, trying to help others to get successful in Life. And some of those Newbies even try, to give something back to this Community. But to then eventually even find out, to get confronted with more wishes, and even demands, to upgrade older Version Extensions for later Versions, but, by nature of habits, also for free. Or then, some even start to complain
But OC has never been a social Project in the first place , it's Owner only depended on 'others' help, because it was not possible, to concentrate on the basic OC Software, as well as developing hundreds of Extensions, mainly by one Man only. So, the decision was made, to enage Dev's, to generate income, by getting a percentage of their Extension Sales. And that worked out for quite some time, as it looks. Because otherways, OC would have been long gone with the wind ....
But all this has changed dramatically, during the past few years, because meanwhile, Google is full of of info, where to get, what one is looking for, most likely for free. And this has turned many real Dev's away from this Place here, as well as from further developing OC Mods. It's no fun anymore for them, to waste their costly time, in a Place, wich obviously mostly consists out of 'hidden' Elements, just looking for a fast Buck, but without a single Bit of 'social' competence. But, they did NOT come here for this either, the FREE Software, and the Masses of FREE Mod's was all, they where looking for, and the chances, that some of the Forum Fan's would assist them, in such a giant Forum Place. Gattered by their first impression, after reading all about it, on the OC Welcome Page. So, better tax OC, like the 14'000 Extensions advertized. They really exist, but only about 2 percent of them will still work with in present versions OC. And this is also the case, when it comes to Support, where much less real knowledge exists for later Versions OC, by nature of things.
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So, better don't expect more, than you will get. And better, just take it, as it comes, and never take anything of it personal. It's just Business, and in Business, it does not matter, if you like the guy, who wants to buy one of your Cars, as long as he is able to pay for it. But don't expect your Competitors to share their wisdom with you, for free, better use the only real Friend you have on the Web, and this Friends Name is Google. It will show you everything, you'll ever need, when it comes to MVC(L), OcMod, VqMod, Twig, or whatever it might be, to get familiar with OpenCart. And it might take a little while, but then, and especially, since you seem to know Magento already, it will work out well, I assume. Even I understud the most important things, and I am not even near of beeing a Coder. It only took a little longer than expected, to first test ~80% of the goodies, just to find out, what works best for me.
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Still, it was not my intention, to scare you away from OC! It's a great Software, it just lacks on Cash, required, to eventually pay some fellows, to write detailled and understandable Manuals, at least in the english language. And this, mainly also due to the fact, that the Dark Web Market hinders OC, to generate enough income, to expand present Activities. So, it's kind of an endless loop, and of not much use anyway, trying to invest a couple of thousand hours, in some OC Version Documents, wich will not be the same anymore, after such Descriptions would be available, in the first place.
Life is full of surprises, and new OC Versions likely too ...
If you know, what I'm trying to tell ya
And it's just my very personal impression, after beeing around for a while.
Good Luck, no offense !
Ernie
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