Overview

Engaging with your audience is crucial for any online platform. Whether you're gathering feedback, conducting surveys, or running contests, having the right tools makes all the difference. Today, we're excited to introduce GIBS.Module.QuickPoll, a comprehensive polling module built specifically for Oqtane, the open-source modular CMS framework built on .NET.

GIBS.Module.QuickPoll brings enterprise-grade polling capabilities to your Oqtane site with an intuitive interface, robust vote tracking, and real-time result visualization—all built with modern .NET 9 and Blazor technology.

Why Polling Matters

Polls are powerful engagement tools. They:

• Gather Feedback: Get direct input from your audience
• Boost Engagement: Encourage users to interact with your content
• Drive Decision Making: Use real data to guide editorial or business decisions
• Increase Time on Site: Interactive elements keep users engaged longer
• Build Community: Make users feel heard and valued

But implementing polling functionality from scratch is complex. You need to handle database persistence, prevent vote fraud, display results dynamically, and manage the entire user experience. That's where GIBS.Module.QuickPoll comes in.

Key Features

Technical Excellence

Built on Modern .NET

GIBS.Module.QuickPoll leverages the latest technology stack:

• .NET 9: Latest framework features and performance improvements
• Blazor: Interactive UI with C# instead of JavaScript
• Entity Framework Core: Type-safe database access with migrations
• C# 13: Modern language features like records, pattern matching, and top-level statements

Clean Architecture

The module follows Oqtane's architectural patterns:

• Client-Side: Blazor components (Index.razor, Edit.razor) with service layer
• Server-Side: API controllers, business logic services, and data repositories
• Shared: Common models (QuickPoll, PollOption, PollVote)
• Database: Automatic migrations ensure schema is always up-to-date

Extensible Design

The modular architecture makes it easy to extend:

• Implement custom vote validation logic
• Add new result visualization methods
• Integrate with external analytics platforms
• Customize UI components for your branding

Under the Hood: Vote Tracking

One of the most innovative aspects of GIBS.Module.QuickPoll is its vote deduplication system. Here's how it works:

┌─────────────────┐
│ User Opens Poll │
└────────┬────────┘
         │
         ▼
┌──────────────────────────┐
│ JavaScript generates     │
│ browser fingerprint      │
│ (device/browser specific)│
└────────┬─────────────────┘
         │
         ▼
┌──────────────────────────────┐
│ User selects option &        │
│ clicks vote button           │
└────────┬─────────────────────┘
         │
         ▼
┌──────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Server validates:                    │
│ • Fingerprint not already voted      │
│ • User permissions correct           │
│ • Poll is active                     │
│ • Option exists for this poll        │
└────────┬─────────────────────────────┘
         │
         ▼
┌──────────────────────────┐
│ Vote recorded in database│
│ Results updated          │
└──────────────────────────┘

The server maintains vote history indexed by fingerprint, user ID, and IP address, providing layered protection against fraudulent voting.

Use Cases

Getting Started in Minutes

Installation

1. Download the latest release from GitHub
2. Extract to your Oqtane modules directory
3. Build your solution (dotnet build)
4. Run your Oqtane application—migrations happen automatically!

Create Your First Poll

1. Navigate to the QuickPoll module on your site
2. Click "Add QuickPoll" button
3. Enter your poll question (e.g., "What's your favorite coffee?")
4. Add voting options (e.g., "Espresso", "Latte", "Americano")
5. Set optional start/end dates for scheduling
6. Click "Add" to publish

Monitor Results

Watch votes come in real-time:

• Results display automatically for users who've voted
• View full results when the poll ends
• Edit poll text if needed
• Delete polls you no longer need

Advanced Features

Localization Support

The module respects Oqtane's localization framework:

• Multi-language support through IStringLocalizer
• All UI strings are localizable
• Results display in user's local timezone

Security Integration

Full integration with Oqtane's security model:

• Edit Access: Create, modify, and delete polls
• View Access: See and participate in polls
• Role-based permissions work automatically

Database Flexibility

Works with any database Oqtane supports:

• SQL Server
• MySQL
• PostgreSQL
• SQLite (for development)

Automatic Entity Framework Core migrations handle all schema changes.

Performance Considerations

GIBS.Module.QuickPoll is built for performance:

• Lazy loading of poll data
• Indexed fingerprints for fast duplicate-vote detection
• Optimized vote count aggregation
• Minimal JavaScript payload
• Server-side rendering where possible

Even sites with thousands of active polls and millions of votes perform efficiently.

Roadmap & Community

This is just the beginning! Planned enhancements include:

• Weighted Voting: Give votes different weights based on user role
• Multiple Choice Polls: Allow users to select multiple options
• Conditional Logic: Show follow-up polls based on previous answers
• Advanced Analytics: Detailed demographic breakdowns
• Export to CSV: Download results for further analysis

We welcome community contributions! Have an idea? Found a bug? Visit the GitHub Issues page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Technical Specifications

Conclusion

GIBS.Module.QuickPoll brings professional-grade polling to Oqtane without the complexity. Whether you're a content creator looking to engage your audience, a developer building a custom solution, or an enterprise managing complex feedback mechanisms, this module has you covered.

The combination of modern .NET technology, intuitive user interface, and robust vote tracking makes it the ideal choice for any Oqtane-based platform.