The future of File Sharing - "A big if"

[Talisman]

As SMF moves towards a stable release of version 2.0, I'm getting the distinct impression that the Sphinx portal we've been using isn't going to be available for 2.0.  In view of that, I'm considering options for the future support of our downloads section and looking at what can be done to streamline and enhance the process contributors follow to make modules available.

Although it's been a couple years since I last looked seriously, I was never able to find a file management system that would integrate with the forum and provide all the features I wanted, nevermind customizing to meet our community's specific needs.

At this point, I am considering the possibility of a homegrown solution - but no guarantees at this point in time.  What I would like to hear from all of you is what features and abilities YOU would like to see incorporated in the "final solution".

Some things I'm thinking:

- Predictable download link for inclusion in files (could be autogenerated during upload?)
- Ability for users to upload files rather than relying on attachments
- Submitted file queue pending administrator approval
- Custom fields including author name, category, compatible versions (what else would you all like?)
- Custom fields self-populate from contributor's account info when suitable
- Full search functions (current forum searches don't check downloads)
- Ability for users to manage their submissions
- Autogenerate a "recent additions" list
- Manage module names/versions to avoid conflicts

So - feel free to expand on your feelings on anything I've mentioned or add stuff that I haven't mentioned.

[Astarael|Jack]

Could'nt we try find Lonnyl and see if he could do anything. He was a good coder.... actually any of the yesteryear programmers were...

[Edward]

Could'nt we try find Lonnyl and see if he could do anything. He was a good coder.... actually any of the yesteryear programmers were...

Speaking of Lonnyl, his site has been like that for... a year, plus, possibly? :/. I don't think there's much of a chance of him returning and all... . Chris disappeared(college, right?). Saucy doesn't come here all too often(saw her on here maybe once ). Nightborn spawned off to a new version.

Long story short, the good ol' gang isn't exactly around, compared to what it was in the past.

We love you Talisman, and Elessa. . <3.
Odd way to put it, but you really do rock.
It's quite understandable why other people left and all. I don't know. I am awful with things like this... without you, LoTGD would be, well, really not what it is.

(short version: lots of the old team 'gone', and we appreciate you both, Talisman, and Elessa, a lot - not the kindergarten way of 'a lot', but the scientific way of a lot... meaning, iwe are dabbling in exponents)

[Astarael|Jack]

Could'nt we try find Lonnyl and see if he could do anything. He was a good coder.... actually any of the yesteryear programmers were...

Speaking of Lonnyl, his site has been like that for... a year, plus, possibly? :/. I don't think there's much of a chance of him returning and all... . Chris disappeared(college, right?). Saucy doesn't come here all too often(saw her on here maybe once ). Nightborn spawned off to a new version.

Long story short, the good ol' gang isn't exactly around, compared to what it was in the past.

We love you Talisman, and Elessa. . <3.
Odd way to put it, but you really do rock.
It's quite understandable why other people left and all. I don't know. I am awful with things like this... without you, LoTGD would be, well, really not what it is.

(short version: lots of the old team 'gone', and we appreciate you both, Talisman, and Elessa, a lot - not the kindergarten way of 'a lot', but the scientific way of a lot... meaning, iwe are dabbling in exponents)

If we don't try, we wont succeed
http://www.pqcomp.com/modules/contactus/
-We could ask Eric and JT as sorta like a reunion (5 or 6 years isn't it?)



that would be epic...

what about Sixf00t4 or programmer16. Least I think thats him... This guys connected with Hogwarts Now and is a Website Developer by trade...

[Talisman]

Please stay on topic.  The topic is what features and abilities would you like to see in a homegrown file management system?

Don't worry about who's going to code it.

[Afkamm]

I was actually going to make a post regarding old module versions, whether people just deleted them when they release a newer version like I do.

Would anyone still want old versions of a module when a newer one is available? Of course, remove an old module completely if the newer version fixes bugs, but otherwise on the module's download page, display the download links and short descriptions of these older versions below the newest? To avoid conflicts have the version as part of the zip file name. eg: module_name_v0.0.3.zip

I still think a module being added to the download section should be a staff thing, and yes admin approval would be good, but that requires time and maybe more than one person checking it over?

A page for each user showing the modules they've had approved would be nice, maybe have it in their profile, or be able to sort the downloads section by user to list them that way.

A better search function would be more useful. Some sites use google, is that a possibility?

[Boris735]

I was actually going to make a post regarding old module versions, whether people just deleted them when they release a newer version like I do.

Would anyone still want old versions of a module when a newer one is available? Of course, remove an old module completely if the newer version fixes bugs, but otherwise on the module's download page, display the download links and short descriptions of these older versions below the newest? To avoid conflicts have the version as part of the zip file name. eg: module_name_v0.0.3.zip

I had started to post about making old versions accessible earlier, but then offline life interrupted.  I think there is value in having the various versions around, particularly when core updates necessitate changes in how some things must be done.  (As I am assuming will happen at some point.)  Additionally, it provides a simple mechanism for "tutorial" modules -- building up functionality piece by piece, and having them all available.

[Talisman]

I'll be including a means of maintaining an archive of superceded versions, and hopefully the ability to sort by compatibility.

The search function will be internally managed.

One of the many things I'm planning is for the download link to be generated and automatically inserted in the file.

Auto-creation of the discussion thread, and provision of linkage

I've started development work on this now, but have no idea when it will be ready for any sort of testing...but I'm still looking for ideas on what the community would like to see included in this system.

Ideas can include info included with files, stats tracking, limits/controls, search tools (recent, popular) and so forth, plus anything else I haven't mentioned...

[Novelus|Grant|DarknessFalls]

I'm curious as to if there was a way to set up an automated translator for those who don't have English as a first language, or vice versa.

Say someone only knows Spanish, but has a really long question. A translator is ready to translate what they say into another language so that someone is able to help them out. Have this for like basic languages, such as Spanish, English, German, etc.

It was just a thought.

[Talisman]

The translation question seems more oriented towards the site in general as opposed to the specific topic of managing filesharing here.

At any rate, no, I will not investigate automated translators.  Amongst other things, I have no way of assessing the accuracy of a specific translator.  Non-english speaking users usually have their preferred translation tools anyhow, in addition to the current German and French language help sections.

If you wish to discuss this particular issue further, please do so in a new thread for that topic.

[informative]

I'm brand new to this game and php coding.  File sharing is done between myself and friends via the Mojoportal admin functions or gallery content uploads area.  If anyone hasn't played around with that portal package its nice.  Nicer than Joomla or Mayando or Moodle (for educational portals I think) and a few others I had tried to teach myself web stuff.  There is also a google code ( http://code.google.com/ )  site for personal software repositories Free project hosting similar but less restrictive than sourceforge or some of the more formal release systems.

The weak point of the game is the limited graphics.  Might be good to look at getting some more art-focused players involved in adding graphics for all the monsters instead of them being text (complete imagination) maybe?  I just came here to find out where to add races to the new game I was playing around with and felt the urge to share my thoughts.  Hope I'm not too far off topic. 

Stuff I find most beneficial in the current game is "Game addons" which I think make the whole game more fun than just fighting monsters and players.

[jonsjava]

Hey guys. I've been a member for a while now, but never really followed the site that much.  Busy, I suppose.  I'm writing because I code in PHP quite a bit.  I may be able to give you a hand, or at least troubleshoot bugs you run in to.  If you need the help, or want to see some of my work, Google JonsJava and check out my sourceforge projects, or hit up my profile on PHPFreaks.com.  Something like 500 questions answered with about 2000 posts there.  I'm not the greatest, but I can always find some solution to any given coding problem. May not be the best, but it will always work.