This marks my first entry on the status of version 5.0.0 development, so I'll do my best to bring the processes up to date.

I hope to be able to add updates as the project progresses towards the final release of this much anticipated release, so here it goes...

I've been working on the new version for over 2 years now. So far, it's been a very long development cycle compared to the quick paced release cycles circa 4.0k. I've worked on the core code, with the help of Eric, Mark S., Alan Young, and other volunteers over the past little while to bring probably the biggest AgoraCart overhaul in the history of our humble project. here's a quick list of what has been accomplished so far:

1) Sub categories using a userfield. can have multiple sub categories in same main category. mostly used in agorascript functions in header.
2) options pricing protection. validates options prices or errors out if different than what is in options file for the product in question.
3) negative price blocks. blocks negative priced options if desired
4) minimum order amount. errors out if minimum order not met
5) speed enhancements on searches... this includes looking up products in any form or fashion
6) non-taxable indicators. if not taxable, item will be skipped if turned on and indicated in a userfield for each individual item
7) USPS shipping updated. includes international shipping in real time.
8) UPS shipping updated. this is a bit more accurate now, but the members only file recommended.
9) UPS International shipping. can ship internaionally and from 14 countries. this is a members only add-on
10) only shipping types desired and/or installed are shown in manager config areas
11) custom shipping types config for cut and paste into your order forms added to shipping manager
12) main settings manager rearranged into topical areas
13) CSS compliance added to AgoraCart... no more digging thru core code to layout and design cart to match your site and/or to chnage display attributes of cart items.. this is a huge bonus.
14) Inventory tracking. members only though. allows inventory deduction at checkout or at add-to-cart, your choice.
15) inventory checking. members only. allows you to check status of all items below certain levels... but only on items that have inventory defined.
16) discount and coupon manager. this applies to jsut about any level of discounting. percentages, flat rates, etc all supported. members only add-on
17) order management. this is expanded and still being worked on. basically you can export, track, and update individual orders.
18) electronic deleivery. members only add-on. will allow for downloadable products. can set to expire in a couple hours or use one time download then it's not available.. your choice.
19) more codehooks added for flexibility for future custom code
20) headers and footers by category. drop in and go by naming a file for each according to product category name. displays them automagically or uses default stare headers/footers if none uploaded
21) same as #20 but basically custome productPage.inc files for layouts per category
22)more cart userfields. this is the shopping cart only, not the product database userfields. this allowed us to set downloadable, non-taxable, and multiple origins for shipping
23) multiple shipping origins. you can now ship or drop ship from multiple locations in realtime ratings. uses a product database userfield. nearly unlimited origins (too many will take a while to quote out)


as far as things we are still working on, we are working on ways to check for updates and actually install those updates to the core code only, new look for the managers, new look and skins for the cart shopping areas, and a few other features.

Well I am out of time to expand on this subject, so I'll try to keep folks up to date as I can