General Club Discussion - Just a tech opinion WhoNeedszzz - Aug 24, 2009 - 10:15 PM Post subject: Just a tech opinion
Hey so I just joined, name's Mike (DDR Tim has met me). I happen to run multiple forums (using SMF) and couldn't help to notice the loading bar. That's pretty annoying IMO and should be able to be avoided. If by any chance the admin would like to make a new forum I'd be happy to help, especially if it is with SMF. So yeah just an opinion. Take it how you'd like.jokeyxero - Aug 24, 2009 - 10:45 PM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
The loading bar just comes with the theme, which comes with Postnuke. I haven't bothered taking it out, nor have I managed to make the time to make a completely new theme either. Feel free to make a Postnuke theme and send it to me.WhoNeedszzz - Aug 24, 2009 - 10:47 PM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
You can remove theme features by editing the code (if it doesn't have options in the config). SMF makes that SO much easier.
If you send me the theme package I can make the modifications necessary and send it back (or if it's simple enough just tell you which lines to edit).WhoNeedszzz - Aug 24, 2009 - 11:49 PM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
In fact try renaming "themes/SeaBreeze/javascript/loadtimerbar.js" so that it doesn't get loaded.WhoNeedszzz - Aug 25, 2009 - 09:51 PM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
So are you going to rename the file or what...? It's so annoying...WhoNeedszzz - Aug 25, 2009 - 10:03 PM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
A basic SMF forum: http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php
One of my forums: http://nola-scifi.geek.id.au/GIR - Aug 26, 2009 - 01:20 AM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
i am sure he will get to it when he has time. In the mean time, chill out, the loading screen while slightly annoying, is not going to kill you....
although if it did manage it it would be an interesting deathGoji_of_the_Squirrel - Aug 26, 2009 - 07:45 AM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
It should be stated that the forum admin is actually an alumni, and not a current student. As such, he's got other priorities, and probably can't check this site too often. So let's all just sit back and relax with a nice, cold glass of Dr. Tran's Dickables.WhoNeedszzz - Aug 26, 2009 - 06:13 PM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
I know I just joined, but I run 2 forums already so I'd be happy to maintain (or at least help maintain) this forum. I'd even host the forum on my VPS if the person in control of the DNS record points it to my IP.PhukFace - Aug 27, 2009 - 05:38 AM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
yes yes xero is an old guy with a real job... sorry to point out the obvious...WhoNeedszzz - Aug 28, 2009 - 01:42 AM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
Which is exactly why I'm suggesting I can relieve him of his duty or at least help him out. It's his call.PhukFace - Aug 28, 2009 - 05:36 AM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
Ill call him tonight.WhoNeedszzz - Aug 28, 2009 - 06:04 AM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
Okvandyl - Aug 30, 2009 - 05:34 PM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
you're not going to be able to relieve him of shit. He's like a tick - you have to torch his assjokeyxero - Aug 30, 2009 - 09:06 PM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
get the fire ready *digs in* I'll get rid of it since it apparently affects your life in such a negative way.
I don't need any help running the site, it does that by itself. But I would love someone to find the time to make a new theme. I just haven't managed to make the time. I know, I suck.WhoNeedszzz - Aug 30, 2009 - 11:44 PM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
I'm not experienced with this sad excuse for forum software (no offense to you). Now if you were to use SMF I could help you make it look fantastic and add many awesome features. But unless that happens you're on your own. Now I bet you're thinking, "Aw hell no that would require me moving all the current stuff!". That's not true. You could have SMF as the new forum and then have a link called "Archive" that links to this shitty forum, but with posting abilities turned off so that it's read-only. Sound like an idea?Goji_of_the_Squirrel - Aug 31, 2009 - 09:48 AM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
Jesus, what are you, an SMF sales rep? I can't even analyze what you're saying for worth, cause all I hear is you saying how massive your hard-on is for SMF. Somebody else explain whether or not he's got a good idea.Bandit - Aug 31, 2009 - 05:15 PM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
It's really quite simple. He wants xero/gamers to change to a new forum, that is a bit more modern with a different theme. xero is comfortable with what we have now, and since this is out of hide for him, I doubt he's all for learning anything. The only other option is to hand control over to a relatively unknown. If that is what the club demands I imagine xero will do it. But I doubt he will jump at that, since there is a good logical fear that anyone the reigns are handed over too will either not hang round past their tenure in the club.
Good:
You get new features and a new look.
More new guy support.
The bad:
Forum information is non-transferable, all post ranks reset, all searches must be done twice, once on new once on old forum.
Less xero support.
You decide.WhoNeedszzz - Aug 31, 2009 - 09:09 PM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
It's not non-transferable, it's just really difficult and thus easier to make an archive. Also you don't have to search twice. You would only go to the archive if there was something specific you wanted to look at. Also I believe xero would be fine with SMF as operationally it isn't that much different. It just looks different, but still follows the same general flow.PhukFace - Sep 01, 2009 - 05:24 AM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
Change!!! [/BHO]
...yes we can?Bandit - Sep 01, 2009 - 08:09 AM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
OMG don't bring Hussein into this, otherwise your Prez will start naming Ctzars!PhukFace - Sep 01, 2009 - 06:39 PM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
lulz, the gaming czar... the tigerlan czar... the bandit czar...
oh lordie lord, the world is coming to an end...jokeyxero - Sep 06, 2009 - 02:16 AM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
So here is the reality. SMF looks exactly like PHPBB2, except the big buttons are little links. Operates exactly the same, but with one extra post tracking feature. I'm not sure what huge difference you're seeing. There is also more to this site than forums. The portal/cms system is Postnuke (which has been renamed Zikula now). We have content outside of the forums.
SMF does not interface with Postnuke, though it does interface with Mambo. There is a converter to take everything from PHPBB2 to SMF. But not a good converter for Postnuke to Mambo.
I would like to switch to Mambo or Drupal, but that's going to take an entire weekend. I've already tried it two or three times without being able to complete it successfully. I've been playing with Drupal and Fireboard, but to no avail as last I checked I would have to write my own conversion scripts.
SMF is a PHP port of a Perl app, that does not make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It's also not as old or highly used as PHPBB2, which means it hasn't been put through its paces for security and scalability.
I agree, PHPBB2 sucks in many ways, it's ugly, it's poorly organized, usability is a joke, it's buggy in some browsers, but it's reliable and secure.
It is also skinnable if we want to change the theme to give it a fresh new look (which it does need).
So basically, switching to SMF gains me nothing but one feature for a long weekend of headaches, then several weeks of ironing out bugs.
I can make a deal though. Get 80 attendees (that actual play games) at this TigerLAN, and I'll find a way to give us a whole new slick website without losing any content by 01 Jan 2010.WhoNeedszzz - Sep 06, 2009 - 06:24 PM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
SMF is definitely not the same thing as PHPBB2. You say it operates the same, it doesn't. This is evident in the fact you said "I agree, PHPBB2 sucks in many ways, it's ugly, it's poorly organized, usability is a joke, it's buggy in some browsers, but it's reliable and secure." SMF is good-looking, very well organized, great usability, not buggy in most browsers, and is reliable and secure. So that sure looks like SMF is better in every way except one which it is equal to.
Also there is an awesome portal software for SMF called TinyPortal. It's very nice. That's a great thing about SMF, it's got very easily installable modules that are easily maintained and upgraded.
If there's a good converter for PHPBB2 to SMF then there shouldn't be any issues. There is nothing in PostNuke you have that you can't easily set up again in TinyPortal.
You say a weekend of headaches...I could get it done in a few hours.jokeyxero - Sep 09, 2009 - 09:56 PM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
From what I've seen, they look exactly the same. They are organized the same. Myself and maybe the mods will get a couple of easier bits of functionality.
The main thing I'm worried about in the conversion is losing users and forum posts. I refuse to make everyone create a new account, and refuse to have two separate places to go to have you search for information. You tend to lose a lot of people in those types of moves. If I lose news I don't care, I can re-add downloads, quotes, and FAQs.
When it comes down to it, so long as the users of the site can find information and do the tasks they want to do, then the back-end and style does not matter.
I will look into them, but I do not have the time to babysit security patches and performance problems, so proven security and reliability weighs much more on my decision than anything else.Scorpion - Sep 11, 2009 - 06:43 PM Post subject:
Have to side with xero on this one.
Superficial upgrades are just not worth the potential headaches.
It's the same reason I don't use a 3d browser even though there are several decent ones available.kurtmax_0 - Sep 11, 2009 - 06:55 PM Post subject:
Scorpion wrote:
It's the same reason I don't use a 3d browser even though there are several decent ones available.
But.. dude.. like... the Power Glove is so.. rad!
I bet you don't use VRML either!Goji_of_the_Squirrel - Sep 14, 2009 - 08:24 AM Post subject:
Power Glove?
hehehe. Keanu Reeves and the internet... hehehe. PhukFace - Sep 14, 2009 - 01:01 PM Post subject:
roffles...vandyl - Sep 23, 2009 - 04:44 PM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
wow. I would like my bandwidth back.
xero, didn't we start a redesign like... ten years ago? And now we've got mall rats telling us our doodoo smells funny?
FRO RLLY?PhukFace - Sep 24, 2009 - 12:17 PM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
ruh-roh shaggy, you said a bad word...jokeyxero - Sep 24, 2009 - 09:57 PM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
We did about 10 half redesigns. Never could settle.vandyl - Sep 24, 2009 - 10:14 PM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
I remember. We couldn't focus because of all the iVagina.Bandit - Sep 25, 2009 - 05:21 AM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
I'll have to put that on the list to try.PhukFace - Sep 25, 2009 - 08:10 AM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
lmfao.Goji_of_the_Squirrel - Sep 26, 2009 - 03:33 PM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
LOL! Hey, I ain't secretary anymore. Let the noobs censor you guys from now on.PhukFace - Sep 29, 2009 - 09:08 AM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
wasnt face this time...
and xero is my hero, btwjokeyxero - Sep 29, 2009 - 10:54 PM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
*bows*vandyl - Sep 30, 2009 - 07:49 PM Post subject: RE: Just a tech opinion
yeah, don't you mean "curtsied" you skirt-wearin gingerkid?
