Kandi Pad v5: Phase 1 is Live!

I am so incredibly excited to announce that KPv5 Phase 1 has officially launched! A massive thank you to everyone in the community for your continued support, feedback, and patience as I worked on these updates. This Phase 1 update brings a fresh new look to the site, huge performance upgrades, and the beginning to what are lots of highly requested features for profiles, galleries, and the forums. *See the [KPv5 Roadmap](https://kandipad.com/forum/announcements/kpv5-update-info-roadmap-97992058) for complete information.* **Check out the full changelog below for everything included in this update:** ## **Site-Wide & Performance Updates** * **Overall site redesign** for a fresher, more modern (but still fun!) look. * **Massive backend updates** to significantly improve page load speeds and content delivery. * **New Site Theme:** Added a third site theme, "Electric Midnight." *Theme switching is now seamless and no longer requires a page reload.* ## **Galleries & Patterns** * **New Default Gallery View:** You can now view patterns of all types (fuse bead and pony bead) in the main gallery, while retaining the ability to filter by a specific type. * **Improved Search & "Best Match":** Site search has been improved, and a new "Best Match" gallery option has been added for the most relevant pattern searches. * **Pattern Stats:** Gallery patterns now display the number of times they have been collected and remixed, *along with the option to click and view the associated collections and remixes.* * **Bulk Export:** Added the ability to export bulk pattern data as *.csv* file(s) via your user settings. * **Bug Fixes:** Resolved various minor gallery bugs. ## **Profiles & Accounts** * **Profile Layout Update:** Refreshed the profile layout and introduced compact profile cards (which will play an even bigger role in the future). * **Bio Expansion:** Increased the profile bio character limit to 2000 characters. * **Pronouns:** Added an option to easily include pronouns on user profiles. * **Dynamic Profile Galleries:** You can now search and sort within dynamic profile galleries (Gallery, Favorites, Likes). * **Username Changes:** Lowered the username change limit from once every 6 months down to once every 3 months. * **Social Links:** Added Tumblr and Bluesky to the available social links on your profile. ## **Forums & Community** * **Category & Topic Restructure:** Restructured forum categories and topics for better organization. * **New Creation Flow:** Added the ability to create new forum threads directly from the forum home page and select your forum topic during the new thread creation process. * **Content Ratings:** Introduced a new content rating system for forum threads. This rating system will expand to the pattern gallery as well in the next update or two. * **Spam Prevention:** Implemented new forum access and spam rules, including a 4-post-per-hour limit for most users. * **Topic Removals & Archival:** Removed the *Events & Meetups* category, as well as the *Organize a Meetup*, *Venting & Drama*, *School*, and *Food* topics. Existing posts in these removed topics have been archived. *(Note: Please email [email protected] if you would like a copy of your archived posts).* ## **Moderation Updates (PQCs)** * **Moderators are now PQCs:** Rebranded current "Moderator" roles as "Pattern Quality Controllers" (PQCs). * **Upgraded Cosmetics & Integrations:** Rebranded and expanded PQC profile frames, and added new PQC-connected Discord Roles. * **KP Pro Requirement Change:** **Important note for current PQCs who earned free KP Pro by reaching level 10:** The new level to reach for free KP Pro through being a PQC is now **level 12**. * *If you have earned free KP Pro but have not yet hit level 12, you can maintain your KP Pro status by continuing your moderation streak.* * *If your streak falls and you lose your free KP Pro, you will have to wait until you regain it at level 12.* **Enjoy exploring Phase 1!** And as always, I love feedback. So let me know what you think so far! ❤️ Derek