We're considering de-emphasizing the forum. Since it is only used by mIRC scripters our thought is to only include a link to it from the mIRC homepage. The feeling is that with such a prominent link coders of other disciplines might have a look and think this site isn't catered for them. I do realize there are quite a few mIRC scripters using this site, so what suggestions do you have?
@Sorasyn One consideration is to create a Questions section that's tied to the platforms we have on the front page. The forum categories are maintained separately and the software is quite old. The thing is that Stackoverflow already has questions and answers covered really well, so Hawkee is better suited as a site to share your code, apps and scripts rather than a Q&A site.
@Hawkee I agree in that Hawkee should remain independently unique compared to other technological sites, and a forum re-structuring could be a nice way to set yourself away from the pack. However, making the forums only accessible from the mIRC page is not the way to do it; I think it will be sending the message you're trying hardest to avoid.
A question type system could be beneficial though. Have, say, Java's forum accessible from the Java home page, mIRC forum from mIRC's homepage, etc.
If I understand you correctly:
I'd rather keep it the way it is now. I like to actively browse the forums (specifically the Java sub-forum), and having to go looking for a link to access the forums isn't my cup of tea. In essence, all you would be accomplishing is to diminish forum bound traffic. Of which is already low as it is, and to make that traffic near 90% mIRC users? No thanks. They already have a depressingly dominate grasp here as it is...