How do you envision a new and improved SSDL? =)

[L.C.]

Intro

Testtube asked me to announce this and do some research and looking around. SSDL needs an overhaul and upgrade.

 

 

1.

What is your feedback and critiques on the current SSDL website? What needs to be improved or removed? Any feature suggestions?

 

2.

Should the new and improved SSDL should be based off of an existing CMS software or rewritten from scratch?

If existing CMS software is the way to do, what CMS do you recommend?

If from scratch, do you have any technical recommendations, ideas and thoughts?

 

3.

If you are interested in assisting in the development (PHP and any other necessary languages), please say so. Do you have any inputs, thoughts, suggestions, ideas?

 

4.

Also, I think it might also be wonderful if a template could also be made. Perhaps it could reflect a resemblance to subspaceonline.com? What do you think?

 

 

Summary

In summary we are seeking for what, where, and how's for an overhaul and upgrade of the current SSDL. Any help and feedback is appreciated.

 

A SSDL upgrade would be sick.

Edited February 4, 2010 by L.C.

[Samapico]

The problem with ssdl is, it's nearly impossible to get new files up these days... Adding new files shouldn't depend on the free time of one man

 

Also, being able to update existing files would be nice... like it could keep track of versions or something

[»Lynx]

Should be simple, and focused around a tagging system. If the file is a skin, tag it as a skin - if the file is a level editor, that can also edit LVZs, then tag it as both level editor and lvz editor. It's a fast and descriptive way of sorting all of the thousands of files. I'd personally swing towards designing your own site rather than using a CMS (unless you find something perfect for you). Seeing as you've got so many files to sort, it will probably be least time consuming if you have your files 'database'/tags etc sorted in an XML file fx:

 

 

 

<file>
   <file_src> Where the file is Located </file_src>
   <image_src> Screenshot </image_src>
   <file_title> Title goes Here </file_title>
   <file_description> Description goes Here </file_description>
   <file_size> size in bytes </file_size>
   <author> Author Name </author>
   <email> Author Contact (if any) </email>
   <dwnld_count> 0 (number of times file has been downloaded </dwnld_count>
   <tag n> First Category </tag n>
   <tag n+1> ... etc </tag n+1>
</file>

 

 

 

Using something like Ruby on Rails (or even PHP) you can easily create an upload form that will edit each branch of the tree, and increment the download counter every time it's downloaded. You can also auto-generate smaller thumbnails (for pictures/screenshots) too. The only reason I am suggesting that you go for this XML style is because you can have a script run through all of the existing files, generating XML entries with the files name, it's size, it's location, and possibly utilize any screenshots that already exist.

 

It also may not be a bad idea to utilize tools that are already available that show a preview of maps/images/text files etcetera.

[L.C.]

As my own two cents of contribution, I would recommend PostgreSQL even though I don't really have any experience with it. From what I have heard, it is a lot faster and better than MySQL in every way. Some clients at BlueToast requested PostgreSQL, so we installed that and phpPgAdmin ... and one of our clients who is very experienced in several web and software programming languages exclaimed about how quickly phpPgAdmin won him over; initially this client was "just curious" about PostgreSQL.

 

Anyone here have any experience with Postgre that they could testify about?

 

EDIT: Is it possible to have a script/PHP/whatever automatically mirror uploaded files to Filefront?

Edited February 4, 2010 by L.C.

[Samapico]

I personally like IPB's download plugin, which has a versionning system, and can be made so anyone can easily submit a file. It's used here and works fine, but it would be redundant to manage files both here and at SSDL, so we didn't upload many files here.

[L.C.]

I personally like IPB's download plugin, which has a versionning system, and can be made so anyone can easily submit a file. It's used here and works fine, but it would be redundant to manage files both here and at SSDL, so we didn't upload many files here.

Perhaps the new SSDL could have a sort of module which connects to SSForum to work with this download plugin. Integration, but not core dependence on this (just in case SSForum goes down or whatever).

[whalz]

everything has a detailed serch, there is no real page just a type search box where you type stuff in.. if you want something, you should just be able to type it in and get 10 most relevant things...

 

if type skin, you would obviously get the 10 most popular skins

 

if you type files, again the most popular 10 files...

 

if you elaborate , like skin itunes.. you would only get my skin based on itunes... and 9 skins relevant, such as skin ixxxxx or skin2ixxxx ext...

 

if you go files editor, top 10 files about editing.. you can elaborate more and go files editor tiles... and yea

 

 

would really clean up the page, and all you would need is a VERY organized library of files... where we just draw from on the webpage depending on our needs...

 

how you would add stff to the library is not something i would want to think about aTM

[Testtube]

First Let me say

 

Thank you L.C for investing time creating the topic and looking for input.

 

I have alot of experience with postgresql in a enterprise enviroment I work with root@scm:~# psql --version

psql (PostgreSQL) 8.3.8 daily

 

With that being said I LOVE postgres. However SSDL does not need a enterprise level stand alone postgres install. It just not get hammered enough to justify its use.

 

 

Regarding file updating- This is one main issue with the current setup We are using file management system made by Bajan which isnt finished. If you add a file you cant remove it (unless you manually do it from the DB) you cant edit files. its well incomplete.

 

I would like to start from scratch (again 3rd time) Give the site a facelift. keeping the layout Very simple. Allowing easy updating/adding of files.

 

The only prerequisite would be being able to pull the data from the existing file descriptions and preserving it. this is key as that would be a monumental task replicating manually all the file names/descriptions/file sizes.

 

I do feel if we get SSDL back on its feet it will have a end result of a better/larger community SSDL for the longest time and maybe up until the last month gets more generated traffic then the entire ssforum network. That's a lot of eyeballs looking at that part of the community.

 

 

Helping the community and making it the best it can be has always been one of my # one goals If it means i need to spend some cash to try to get this accomplished i am willing to do so.

 

Now is the time to step forward to help out You can reply here or add me on ICQ - 173683 we can talk about the project and figure out a game plan.

[»Xog]

Not sure if im posting as guest,Xog here.

 

What you can do is get all the downloads into 1 dir, order them all alphabetically and cut them up into big chunks, so you can hand these files out to multiple people for renaming.

Id suggest a format for filenames like BANNER_filename.zip

[»Lynx]

When you've got design ideas/main developers post them up, I will help where I can.

 

Just a quick edit: Grabbing the title and description for each download isn't hard.

Edited February 4, 2010 by Lynx

[L.C.]

I do feel if we get SSDL back on its feet it will have a end result of a better/larger community SSDL for the longest time and maybe up until the last month gets more generated traffic then the entire ssforum network. That's a lot of eyeballs looking at that part of the community.

Reminds me: we should put a Google Analytics tracker in SSDL.

 

Just a quick edit: Grabbing the title and description for each download isn't hard.

I image it would primarily consist of accessing the "old database" and moving things over to a new database of better design and structure. :]

[»Lynx]

Well, I am assuming that TT would not mind making the website available for developers to use locally - if that's the case it would not be hard at all to:

 

1. Sort the files by category

2. Get the files name (on the website)

3. Get the files actual name (within the database)

4. Get the files description

5. Get author names (if any)

6. Get the previous download count

 

... etc

[Hakaku]

My biggest issue with SubSpace Downloads is that the website feels heavily inactive, broken, and tied down to the past. It's not hard to imagine that someone visiting the website will be immediately thrown to wonder whether the game still exists, if it's even worth it. Many of the links that tell you to download the game simply redirect to the main page.

 

The layout needs revamping. Something more intuitive, friendly, and if possible interactive. It's always nice to see people be able to comment and vote on files and the such. Make it simple for new files to be uploaded. Allow screenshots so I can see what I'm downloading. Make it so that I can find all the versions of X on the same page, rather than having to search everywhere or ask myself if this file has a more recent version. Simplify the navigation. If you're going to add polls, don't keep them there for eighty years. Keep information of all sorts up to date (zone reviews, links...), and remove the old and unnecessary (calculator, dead polls, submit a link...) especially from the primary navigation menu.

 

On the backend, make it simple for administrators and the such to be able to make modifications of all sorts (including managing downloads, pages, navigation, layout, settings). Ease skinnability. Modularity is always a plus. Perhaps integrate the login with SSForum if possible, which you could also use for stuff like player comments and ratings. Make permissions configurable and flexible, so that you could allow more people access to updating and modifying certain stuff such as pages, or block certain users from say, commenting on files.

[Testtube]

Well i am interested in getting started. Whos on board who can help what needs to happen.

[»doc flabby]

I personally like IPB's download plugin, which has a versionning system, and can be made so anyone can easily submit a file. It's used here and works fine, but it would be redundant to manage files both here and at SSDL, so we didn't upload many files here.

Perhaps the new SSDL could have a sort of module which connects to SSForum to work with this download plugin. Integration, but not core dependence on this (just in case SSForum goes down or whatever).

The best way would be to use ssforum database for the user authentication (for uploads/comments) and allow anonymous downloads

 

That way if ssforum when down, all the downloads would still be available.

 

 

I'm sure there is probably software already written that will do what ssdownloads does alot better, its just a question of finding the right piece of software and customising it

 

Something like sourcewell http://sourcewell.berlios.de/html/ would be a great ssdl replacement with a decent html/css skin

Edited February 4, 2010 by doc flabby

[whalz]

i louve u guyz now i will use ssdl again. (if i ever need too!)

 

just make sure you keep my itunes skin!!! as it is MOST popular

[rootbear75]

$5 those are artificial dls.... someone clicking dl over and over again

[Samapico]

Some download accelerator software can screw up statistics badly too... I remember some DCME version being downloaded like 1000 times over a few days from an attachment on the forum It was just... wrong.

[whalz]

in any case, the numbers r epic rootbear, jus cus no one wants a fat dude and hamburgers for buttons for their subspace skin doesnt mean 6000 people didnt want mine SERIOUSLY .. ocnsidering it has ipod in the name i wouldnt be surprised if people were not redirected from all over the place jus to get a piece. hah

 

hamburgers :\

[MikeTheNose]

Some download accelerator software can screw up statistics badly too... I remember some DCME version being downloaded like 1000 times over a few days from an attachment on the forum It was just... wrong.

 

 

Possible to program statistics that only list 1 ip per connection rather than all connections going to statistics?

[»Lynx]

Yep.

[rootbear75]

in any case, the numbers r epic rootbear, jus cus no one wants a fat dude and hamburgers for buttons for their subspace skin doesnt mean 6000 people didnt want mine SERIOUSLY .. ocnsidering it has ipod in the name i wouldnt be surprised if people were not redirected from all over the place jus to get a piece. hah

 

hamburgers :\

i didnt even look at the numbers dude. telling me it IS 6000 downloads says something.

How many of those are actual legit downloads, and people actually still using them; rather than someone downloading it, looking at it, and saying "This is a piece of shit"

 

And odds are, it got more downloads for the simple fact that it WAS the most downloaded skin there.

Edited February 6, 2010 by rootbear75

[whalz]

well i didnt say i was a marketing genious did i???

 

it wasnt that great no, but it sold like hotcakes, 2 bad there wanst google adds attached to it...

 

^should put google adds on most popular downloads on ssdl... (hidden until you click the d/l, then a harmless things comes up .. w/e its not like you download constantly... and adds would be removed at a 1$ VIP access to ssdl.. (lol<)

[X_PennyWise]

Get the comments back up and I'll be happy. Some of the files have a terrible description, and last I checked the comments were still disabled. Makes it impossible to find out what the hell your downloading

[»Lynx]

maybe validate against the ssforum user/password database