Inspired by an exchange on the EYB Forum, I wanted to preview the transition as Eat Your Books becomes CookShelf. I know that change can be difficult, especially when you are comfortable. It's like well-worn slippers: so easy to slip on and so cozy. But just like old shoes start to come apart at the seams and must be replaced, websites get a little rough around the edges after years of operating on the same platform. Currently, the EYB website is running on outdated software, held together with the digital equivalent of duct tape, baling wire, and vibes.

As Jane mentioned in the Forum thread, a couple of years ago she was approached by Katie Thatcher, a long-time EYB Member who wanted to develop an app using EYB data. Members had clamored for an app for years, but it was an expense that was out of reach until Katie expressed an interest. As Jane was looking to retire after 20 years of owning and running EYB, the two of them worked out a deal for Katie to build the app and take over EYB. The timing seemed serendipitous.

When people learned that EYB would be moving to CookShelf, a few people thought that Jane had sold out to a PE/VC firm that would strip EYB for parts before jettisoning it, as has happened with other sites. However, Jane resisted those kinds of offers and only sold the company when she was certain that the new owner would continue to build upon what Jane and her sister Fiona started back in 2009. The CookShelf app came first, as Katie and a small team of developers created one out of whole cloth. There was no template from which to begin as EYB is a unique property in the digital world.

Now that the website has been released into the wild, the time has come to sunset the EYB brand and move everything over to CookShelf. I'm getting cranky as I approach my dotage, so I admit that the thought of switching to another platform did not thrill me. However, as I have used CookShelf, I have come to appreciate the fast response and intuitive interface. I use the website more than the app, but adding books to my shelf is super easy with the app's barcode reader. I find that on the website, My Shelf operates intuitively, and I like the Bookmarks portion containing my lists and favorites. The Recipe Box feature is lovely too, and I could probably utilize it better. Same goes for Meal Plan and Grocery List, which are integrated between the app and website, meaning that you can use the desktop to create a meal plan and populate a grocery list, then take your phone to the store to conveniently view the list on the app.

There are also welcome improvements on CookShelf's website: for one, the Calendar of Events is now arranged chronologically, and you can filter it by location and type of event. I also like being able to click on New Releases and Upcoming Releases (from the website click on the "Get inspired" dropdown then choose "Browse Cookbooks") to see the latest books. 

The vital framework that we all rely on - a gigantic database with millions of recipes from thousands of cookbooks - is more robust than ever. Katie and her small team have worked hard over the past two years, first to create an app and now a new website: one that is fast, reliable, and flexible. It's a work in progress, however, and we can expect continued improvements as the site is fine-tuned. While not every single facet of EYB is available on CookShelf, more features will be coming in the next weeks and months. Using a newer development platform means that the CookShelf is more flexible than EYB, so the on-ramp for new features isn't as long.

Because the CookShelf team is small, not every improvement or feature can be worked on at once. That said, new features were just released today - watch for the upcoming newsletter to learn more about them! What the developers have been able to accomplish in under two years is impressive: integrating a massive amount of data into an entirely new system while simultaneously developing an app and coding a website. We hope that you will give us grace during this transition, as there are bound to be a few hiccups. If you have questions about the CookShelf website, please visit the help section or send an email. Our hope is that you will find CookShelf to be as valuable as EYB, and hopefully even better.