### Author:  [@Arkshine](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Arkshine)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2024, 2:02pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/upcoming-header-changes-preparing-themes-and-plugins/296544/6 "2024-03-15T14:02:36Z")
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> But how do I pass stuff to `ServerLink`? I need to call it several times with different URLs and different text-to-click. I can’t seem to see the stuff in that `{}` in the component.
Do you mean you want multiple buttons in the headers with different icons/text/URLs or the same button, but depending on the context, the text/URL can change?
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> And you wan’t really put javascript in before the ``, as my `console.log("")` won’t parse!
Yes, you are in a class—you would declare variables, functions, or templates there!
---
### Author:  [@pfaffman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pfaffman)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2024, 2:09pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/upcoming-header-changes-preparing-themes-and-plugins/296544/7 "2024-03-15T14:09:13Z")
> [@Arkshine](#):
>
> Do you mean you want multiple buttons in the headers with different icons/text/URLs or the same button, but depending on the context, the text/URL can change?
Yes. The links change for different users. The old code linked through an array of `servers` and pushed them into this array:
```plaintext
headerLinks.push(
h(
`li.headerLink${deviceClass}${newClass}`,
h("a", anchorAttributes, linkText)
)
);
```
And then did this:
```plaintext
// api.decorateWidget("header-buttons:before", (helper) => {
// return helper.h("ul.pfaffmanager-header-links", headerLinks);
// });
```
So then I had up to 3 links that got added to the header, each linking to a separate server URL.
> [@Arkshine](#):
>
> Yes, you are in a class
Aha. Now I get it.
---
### Author:  [@david](https://meta.discourse.org/u/david)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2024, 2:38pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/upcoming-header-changes-preparing-themes-and-plugins/296544/8 "2024-03-15T14:38:22Z")
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> OMG. So glimmer components go in `assets/javascripts/discourse/component` and embrer components go in `assets/javascripts/discourse/components`?!?!
No don’t worry - the convention is still `/components/` 😅
(Technically, you can define and pass around gjs components however you like, so you can pick whatever directory name you like. But we’re sticking to `/components/`.)
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> But how do I define a `FooIcon`?
Yeah that’s a fair question - I’ll work on writing up some ‘from scratch’ docs on how to add icons to the header so we have a better reference point.
In the meantime though, you might like to take a look at [the discourse-icon-header-links](https://github.com/discourse/discourse-icon-header-links/commit/6848c15acb56d24265bed11c174ffa731ffd3c86) update for inspiration. The cool thing about using GJS is that you can define components anywhere, and they get access to variables in the local scope.
So, if you rename your initializer to be `.gjs`, you can do stuff like
```gjs
servers.forEach((server) => {
api.headerIcons.add(`server-${server.id}`,
);
});
```
Or you can define a component earlier in the same file, and use it like
```gjs
class ServerButton extends Component {
get icon(){
// some logic to decide the icon
}
}
...
servers.forEach((server) => {
api.headerIcons.add(`server-${server.id}`,
);
});
```
Or you could move the iteration inside the template (useful if the list of servers is a TrackedArray which may change at runtime!)
```gjs
api.headerIcons.add("server-buttons",
{{#each servers as |server|}}
{{/each}}
);
```
---
### Author:  [@david](https://meta.discourse.org/u/david)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2024, 2:41pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/upcoming-header-changes-preparing-themes-and-plugins/296544/9 "2024-03-15T14:41:53Z")
While we work on some more detailed example code
---
### Author:  [@pfaffman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pfaffman)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2024, 2:48pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/upcoming-header-changes-preparing-themes-and-plugins/296544/10 "2024-03-15T14:48:28Z")
> [@david](#):
>
> No don’t worry - the convention is still `/components/`
Oh. Hooray. I thought I tried it in `components` and it didn’t work.
Thanks! I think I can make one of these things work. The link to the header links is a big help. I’m pretty sure that when I wrote my code I had enough sense to look at that very component to figure it out then.
---
### Author:  [@pfaffman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pfaffman)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2024, 10:26pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/upcoming-header-changes-preparing-themes-and-plugins/296544/11 "2024-03-15T22:26:09Z")
### Seeing a glimmer of hope!
Hey @david and @Arkshine ! I did it!
> [@david](#):
>
> So, if you rename your initializer to be `.gjs`, you can do stuff like
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? Just rename it? That’s bananapants. But sure enough. I did it, and now
```plaintext
servers.filter(Boolean).map((server) => {
const linkHref = `/pfaffmanager/servers/${server.id}`;
const linkTitle = `click to configure server ${server.id}`;
let host = String(server.hostname);
const linkText = host.replace(
/www.|community.|forums?.|talk.|discourse./,
""
);
const serverLink =
;
const beforeIcon = ["chat", "search", "hamburger", "user-menu"];
api.headerIcons.add(host, serverLink, { before: beforeIcon });
});
```
And it’s doing what it did before, which is what I wanted!
> [@david](#):
>
> Or you could move the iteration inside the template (useful if the list of servers is a TrackedArray which may change at runtime!)
Yeah, Now that sounds very cool, and even more of what I want, but those things don’t change that much, so I’m going to call it a day on this. If they change a hostname, they’ll have to reload the page to get the link to change.
I presume you’ll delete my extra cruft here when you update the stuff above (or I might not have been so chatty in a documentation topic. . .)
---
### Author:  [@david](https://meta.discourse.org/u/david)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2024, 12:49pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/upcoming-header-changes-preparing-themes-and-plugins/296544/12 "2024-03-22T12:49:52Z")
I’ve updated the OP with some fully-fledged gjs examples, and included a link to the upstream Ember documentation. How’s that look to you @pfaffman? Anything else you think would be worth adding?
---
### Author:  [@pfaffman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pfaffman)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2024, 3:02pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/upcoming-header-changes-preparing-themes-and-plugins/296544/13 "2024-03-23T15:02:45Z")
It’s better since it has a working example. But I do understand correctly that there are ember components and glimmer components? And if that’s right, you should say that a glimmer component is required, I think?
And maybe link to the glimmer docs about how those work?
It seems like you can have inline components as in your example, and another kind where you assign it to something like a variable in the same file or put it in another file that you put in the components directory and then include? I think all of that may be too much for this topic, but I’d love a dedicated topic about that.
---
### Author:  [@david](https://meta.discourse.org/u/david)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2024, 3:12pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/upcoming-header-changes-preparing-themes-and-plugins/296544/14 "2024-03-23T15:12:45Z")
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> But I do understand correctly that there are ember components and glimmer components? And if that’s right, you should say that a glimmer component is required, I think?
They’re totally interchangeable - you can use a Classic Ember Component, or a Glimmer Component. And for either of those, you can choose to author them using the old-style `.js`/`.hbs` format, or the new-style `.gjs` format.
I’ll see if I can work in some links to the Ember documentation 👍
---
### Author:  [@david](https://meta.discourse.org/u/david)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2024, 5:28pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/upcoming-header-changes-preparing-themes-and-plugins/296544/15 "2024-04-10T17:28:12Z")
📣 Today we merged [this change](https://github.com/discourse/discourse/commit/3733db866c0fe49a38c834c9baebb942fc77bdc4), which will automatically enable the new header implementation for sites with compatible themes/plugins.
If your themes/plugins are not compatible, then the legacy header will still be used, and a warning will be printed to the console alongside the existing deprecation messages. In the near future, this console warning will be upgraded to a warning banner in the UI.
In the unlikely event that this automatic change causes issues, you can temporarily override this ‘automatic feature flag’ via the `glimmer header mode` site setting. If you do that, please let us know the reason in this topic.
---
### Author:  [@anon48433008](https://meta.discourse.org/u/anon48433008)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2024, 10:48pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/upcoming-header-changes-preparing-themes-and-plugins/296544/16 "2024-04-16T22:48:50Z")
I wasn’t looking to make any changes but the depreciation notices tell me otherwise,
> [@isaac](#):
>
> How do I update a theme/plugin to support both old and new header?
So there’s a choice and perhaps an easy way to just keep the status quo?
or
> [@isaac](#):
>
> How Do I Try the New Header?
What would I be missing to elect to try and maintain an old header, I don’t understand what the new one means, I see group settings, custom tailoring to different groups is intriguing, but what can be made custom?
This is what I found today,
I’m no guru or wiz with these changes, they take time and I don’t do them often enough to really desire to learn the techniques the users here seem to easily comprehension/know
I somewhat begrudge having to do them in the first place, but before I scream like an old man who ran out of pudding I’d like to know, what why and where is this going?
---
### Author:  [@pfaffman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pfaffman)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2024, 12:11am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/upcoming-header-changes-preparing-themes-and-plugins/296544/17 "2024-04-17T00:11:50Z")
> [@anon48433008](#):
>
> I don’t do them often enough to really desire to learn the techniques the users here seem to easily
I do this for a living and and I still find this javascript stuff far from easy.
> [@anon48433008](#):
>
> before I scream like an old man who ran out of pudding I’d like to know, what why and where is this going?
I’m an old man and I feel your pain.
It’s just progress, I’m afraid. This ember upgrade broke a bunch of things and it’s not over yet.
You “asked for it” when you did that customization. I bet in the past five years you’ve gotten a new phone or laptop.
> [@anon48433008](#):
>
> I don’t do them often enough to really desire to learn the techniques
If I were you (and you were like me, without the full time discourse gig), I’d post in #Marketplace. If I were me, I’d likely not respond for under $300, but there’s a reasonable chance that someone else will for $100 or $200. I’d guess that it won’t break again for another 5 years or more.
I think the hamburger theme selector you can get rid of and use the sidebar.
---
### Author:  [@anon48433008](https://meta.discourse.org/u/anon48433008)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2024, 11:47am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/upcoming-header-changes-preparing-themes-and-plugins/296544/18 "2024-04-17T11:47:55Z")
Nice honest reply, appreciate it but not much to work with, perhaps there’s more to come (I hope)
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> I still find this javascript stuff far from easy
I didn’t even know it was java we were dealing in here 🤷♂️
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> I feel your pain
Don’t want anyone taking your pudding either 🤭
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> It’s just progress,
Sure, but what is the desired goal, this software dabbles in so many things I wonder who sees what end?
Is this simply needed from the ember upgrade?
I don’t know why ember was done either but if it works why fix it, I’m sure there’s a long deep explanation that all leads to the future of things but is there not a true vision to be shared?
I visit other forums that use very aged software, personally I see discourse as much better than any of them, but they don’t seem to suffer in comparison, they have the same growth issues, most are personality vs software IMO, too many old timers who lost their pudding, I’m wondering, is there a future IOT that will literally make all those forums obsolete where they won’t work at all and discourse is aware and prepping?
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> You “asked for it” when you did that customization.
There’s more of that honesty you provide 😁 true enough, and I was more eager to learn, more ambitious, felt the worthwhile more, been beat up run over and left for dead since then
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> I bet in the past five years you’ve gotten a new phone or laptop.
ok you’re on, I’ll take that bet and as you’ve already lost you help me out with this, we’ll be friends.
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> If I were you
Then you’d of likely quit a long time ago, the beat up run over and left for dead was a bit of a euphemistic description, its just me left at the wheel, I guess anyone else is in some panel somewhere trying to fix the hyper-drive, IDK as I don’t often communicate with others, we have no funding, we (FULL30) were de-platformed from social media and discourse as well, I wonder how many other paying customers discourse willingly cut loose or how many others were deemed so offensive in their beliefs discourse publicly put money out against them?
Yet while I speak the truth I don’t take offense, live and let live, I know there’s a future coming, what I don’t know is why I’m still here and still trying, but I am, so, I’ll keep trying, like AA, just for today 🤗
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> I think the hamburger theme selector you can get rid of and use the sidebar.
But it was all the rage when I employed it 😑
The sidebar (here) can be closed with a hamburger menu, there’s not much difference in function, it opens and closes a navigation window, but mine can’t easily be saved?
Yes, I’d love and prefer to pay someone to clean up my customized code and make things work nice, and I’d happily pay, I enjoy employing others, sharing the wealth, when I grow up I want to be a philanthropist, but today I need a philanthropist 😇 and again appreciate any help others can offer.
---
### Author:  [@pfaffman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pfaffman)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2024, 12:05pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/upcoming-header-changes-preparing-themes-and-plugins/296544/19 "2024-04-17T12:05:10Z")
The other way to play it is to ask your community for help, stop doing whatever the customization was, start a new topic that shares your code am ask for help. I’ve gotten lots of help in such matters recently.
---
### Author:  [@david](https://meta.discourse.org/u/david)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2024, 12:09pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/upcoming-header-changes-preparing-themes-and-plugins/296544/20 "2024-04-17T12:09:54Z")
> [@anon48433008](#):
>
> So there’s a choice and perhaps an easy way to just keep the status quo?
Unfortunately not. The ability to stick to the ‘old header’ is just a temporary thing during the transition period. Soon, the new header will be the only option.
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> start a new topic that shares your code am ask for help
Yup! We’re always happy to help with questions in #Development. Plus, sharing the code and the solutions publicly creates a useful resource for others.
---
### Author:  [@anon48433008](https://meta.discourse.org/u/anon48433008)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2024, 12:37pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/upcoming-header-changes-preparing-themes-and-plugins/296544/21 "2024-04-17T12:37:53Z")
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> ask your community for help
phew, my community is more in tune to other issues
Surely I could share here but then it goes the opposite, what coder finds interest in helping us?
The irony, coding may well be the firearms of the future, may well cause far more death and destruction as well, I digress
> [@david](#):
>
> the new header will be the only option
Very well, that means what exactly for me, create one user group, public and not logged in perhaps?
These group settings, I perceive they are based on trust levels vs actual different groups, like a hunting group and a fishing group?
First I need to understand the goal, and where my efforts as a lone ranger will effect the most bang for my buck, saving time and saving the custom feel for my forum.
* * *
I don’t wish to derail anyone’s thread, if its deemed this should be its own thread I’m fine with it
but how will there ever be a true cohesive relationship when people feel the need to remove something that offends them?
It takes patience to understand others, the link removed, it showed a missing logo after but not while posting, another header issue to discuss?
It was a post on my forum written by a man I believe well into his 80’s, I could ask for sure but he refuses to talk to me, do I berate him,ban or shun him?
No, why, because there’s a better way but it means putting up with others and how they think, I find good people in bad areas, good people who look bad, and just the opposite in both.
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> Just what is it that’s about to be broken, anyway?
Exactly, I just found the errors, wish to address them but don’t understand the root cause other than the future is moving on, we need a new header, ok fine, whats the correct course to set my sites on, simple tuning, a full course correction?
Are we discussing only needing these three areas worked on?
I have mixed component usage, started with none then learned they can be beneficial, I never went full component and have a mixed bag.
Here’s my theme for what its worth without the components
[discourse-full30-ii.zip](https://meta.discourse.org/uploads/short-url/pDRMomJOArXMOQApwgeoc0l8S2m.zip) (10.1 KB)
I can post those too, some, the modals, are already not working as of recent
[Next page](https://meta.discourse.org/t/upcoming-header-changes-preparing-themes-and-plugins/296544.md?page=2)