Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

1. Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

   #1

   I need a place I can quickly throw up stuff I have changed and things I want quick opinions on. Anything that requires extra discussion will be split into it's own topic.
   
   This is a safe place just to brain blaaargh whatever is on my/your mind about the rebuild.
   
   
   My current testbed:
   http://www.strolen.com/index3.php
   
   The content pages are working except you need to add a 3 on "content".
   http://www.strolen.com/content3.php?node=4788
   
   

2. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

   #2

   Did some work on the "threaded" (not really though) comments. See if this format works?
   
   http://www.strolen.com/content3.php?node=601
   
   Not sure I am overly satisfied with it, but it is a start.
   
   Any ideas on how to better signify replies to comments.

3. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

   #3

   
   Did some work on the "threaded" (not really though) comments. See if this format works?
   
   http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=601
   
   Not sure I am overly satisfied with it, but it is a start.
   
   Any ideas on how to better signify replies to comments.
   

   
   Was there any change? :)
   
   Edit:
   Ooooh, I had to add on a 3 behind "content" and before ".php" :)
   
   To be honest I like today's formatting better than the new one.

4. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

   #4

   Current formatting is hard to do with css.
   
   I agree with you.

5. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

   #5

   Exploring all the posts today and refreshing my memory a bit about what we wanted to do.
   
   MAN we got a lot of ideas!
   
   For a little I had thoughts of adding stuff to 2.0 and working off the active site. But with all the changes that we want to do there are going to be some major code changes which I won't be able to do on a live site.
   
   Sitting down this week compiling notes and figuring out the structure so when I start I have a good grounding on where I will put things and how they will fit together. The current 3.0 that is viewable has some issues with the structure of the site that I am going to have to deal with before I start again. So that is my push for a little while, get stuff on paper so when I code I already know what I want. Stick to the plan as best I can and try and ignore the pull of new toys and ideas that come up. Get the base of 3.0 going with the modularity that it needs to expand later.

6. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

   #6

   Had a look on the new thing. It is still very bare, and clearly not enough for the masses pampered by existing great design. :)
   
   
   Didn't like: comments separated with a --- line
   
   Liked: replies to comments formatted differently from the 'main' comments

7. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

   #7

   A voice from the masses replies: I had no problem with the ---------- line.

8. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

   #8

   Current layout scrapped.
   
   Note to self: http://webnv.net/article/autosaving_with_jquery_and_tinymce  (autosave posts, niiiiiiiiice)

9. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

   #9

   Experiment #1
   
   http://www.readpostplay.com/3theme/default/
   
   Going to extreme basics. Highlighting the new Task Page navigation way. Just sort of trying to get the feel for a lean and uncluttered starting environment. Graphics are fillers (but I really like the woodcuts so I may develop the theme around them anyway).
   
   Read. Post. Play will probably all be clickable as, of course, all the orange "tasks" on the right.
   
   Sort of a starting point on my thoughts.

10. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #10

    If you make Play clickable, why not the other two as well?
    
    Read... Post... Play... all the things we do here on a routine basis. We could assign some of the planned Topic Pages to them.

11. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #11

    Bad placements of .
    
    They will all link to some kind of task view.
    
    I have done some sketches of a large modification of what is there, I think I found sort of what I want. I hope I will get to it tomorrow. Homework is kicking my ass today.

12. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #12

    http://www.readpostplay.com/3theme/default/index2.html
    
    Similiar...but different.
    
    Lost some steam when I got to the middle. Had to add a wierd fish though. :)

13. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #13

    Had an awesome chat with Moon, Chaosmark, and Kuseru last night and got a few more templates put together and lots of ideas on improving them. But now I am tired!!
    
    first try. I like the fishes
    http://www.readpostplay.com/3theme/default/index.html
    
    Moon made me get rid of the fishes
    http://www.readpostplay.com/3theme/default/index2.html
    
    Smaller footprint on the bottom. Can't remember what else I changed.
    http://www.readpostplay.com/3theme/default/index3.html
    
    Everybody likes the drop menu and the template. It might go back to this as a look, but first we need page layout! Once that is done I will make it pretty...yesssss we will my preciousssssss...we will be soooo prettyyyyy.
    http://www.strolen.com/index3.php
    
    

14. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #14

    I think it (both current and proposed) may be too abstract. I think we need some form of content - detailed summaries, teasers, etc, of higher quality subs right on the homepage.
    Perhaps the most recent Gold Submission (exerpt therof) or contest winner would be a good idea. 
    
    Like what you see? Dig deeper!
    

15. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #15

    I think you might be right. Chaos and Kuseru mentioned similiar last night.
    
    I wanted to start abstract with very little and slowly add till we found a balance...and then try to take away again. Moon had a good list but we want the index to appeal to
    
    The complete noob to the site -> The citadel is a complex beast and we are trying to remove some of it so it isn't so daunting upon first exposure. We need easy tags that a newbie can see and say "Ah, that is where I can start" without thinking.
    
    The frequent visitor -> Somebody who puts strolens on the calendar and visits occassionally. What can we put on the index that will be fresh that will be helpful to them.
    
    The hardcore -> those that know all the advanced features and know what is going on day to day. The index shouldn't be a waste of time for them, there should be something that they can use daily or many times daily.
    
    Once we get that together we will have nirvana!

16. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #16

    How about having it somewhat dynamic using those type of parameters which you can adjust in your settings once you have subscribed?
    
    Newbies get the easiest interface with the goods in the store window to suck you in.  Veterans just enter through the service door :)
    
    

17. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #17

    That will be at valadaar.strolen.com.

18. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #18

    I liked the "There are 4414 submissions and 58747 creative comments and scroll ideas for you to read through." part. We could get boisterous and make it:
    
    There are only 4414 submissions and 58747 creative comments and scroll ideas for you to read through. Then there are our forums.
    
    :)

19. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #19

    
    Where we left off last night.
    http://www.readpostplay.com/3theme/default/index3.html
    
    With a neighbors wireless because mine is down, I didn't get that much done. Just a few tweaks and balances. Nothing extreme.
    http://www.readpostplay.com/3theme/default/index4.html

20. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #20

    The newest iteration
    
    http://www.readpostplay.com/3theme/default/index5.html
    http://www.readpostplay.com/3theme/default/index6.html

21. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #21

    I jazzed up the read post play text a little as well. Too much? I think the amount is still within acceptable parameters. Just copy and paste from the original paragraph so nothing new really.

22. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #22

    How about this...
    
    I have been reading more of the CodeIgniter User Guide and I think it should be relatively easy to create an immediate redirect on the homepage to a page of choice.
    
    So once you get comfortable with the site and figure out your favorite browsing point, you can use your user panel to set up the page you want to be set to. You can be sent to any of the Task pages, a setting, your user homepage, whatever. That way you have the freedom to bypass the intro page seamlessly.
    
    The more I think of these Task pages, the more I like them. Going to have to come up with something to make them easier to code so that the userpages can mix and match "modules" off all the task pages to make their ultimate setup. The modularity of this system may make that incredibly easy....Maybe.

23. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #23

    I like the 'floating piece of paper' feel on index5, but I don't think it'll look good unless we do EVERYTHING with it. Or make the things that float actually float and be movable (Which would be an interesting customization option, for us veterans who use the service entrance).

24. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #24

    Thanks for looking at it. In 6 I stripped all the javascript just for simplicities sake. The consensus is that the shadow effect is cool and will probably keep it. Maybe more comparable to http://www.strolen.com/index3.php .
    
    The pretties will come once I get a solid design.

25. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #25

    I know it won't matter to you all much, but I got the current theme working with codeigniter and have the files all split up into views and controllers. Will probably write a module tonight/tomorrow and start the database interaction.
    
    The files really are broken down quite nicely and I can already see how much cleaner it will be doing it this way.
    
    I still need to concentrate on the damn theme though but the theme can change and the modules and controllers should remain pretty consistant so I don't think there will be a huge issue with my coding/design mood swings.
    
    www.readpostplay.com will be the working test bed of V3.0 from now on.
    
    Yes, I will mess with the theme some more. I understand not many people like the current colors and such but I SUCK at design so have patience.

26. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #26

    Themes will be pretty easy to manage as long as we retain the same base template.
    
    I updated it to be a little like the subdued one that seems to be liked. Feel free to point me to any changes you want to see in that. I will update the format/style as we go since it is no longer a big deal to do that.
    
    I have added a single accordian to see how it looks. I think it works rather nicely. Next step is to put what we really want down there and make it dynamic.
    

27. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #27

    A big day actually. I got the login working with the forum today. Took a little bit of trial and error trying to figure out how to separate everything and still be able to pass the data back and forth. Lots 'o fun.
    
    Also found the sweet codeigniter profiling system that tells me what the heck is going on in the background and how long each part takes to process. I wish I knew if that was a lot of memory it uses. :) edit: under  1mg is awesome mojo from what I have seen. Other stuff renders at 7MG+ per page. Some of our heavier may get there though with all the database calls and added complexity. Will be interesting to see the growth.

28. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #28

    It looks like crap, but stuff is starting to come together quickly. Biggest learning curve is figuring out how to do things the first time. Once you got that licked then the drool just starts pouring.
    
    Anybody find that perfect design yet?

29. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #29

    Just added another set of recents at the bottom. Going to try and get something done every night for at least a week.

30. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #30

    Did Goldens tonight.
    
    Plan on starting the content pages tomorrow.

31. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #31

    Added Hall of Honour (temporarily named to Strolenite Spotlight until we actually discuss the change) and updated the quest code.
    
    I didn't exactly waste last night and today. Aside from a birthday party that was fun to get out to I have updated the lockmor project on sourceforge and started a new module called lockmor3. So if you are truly curious you can check out the code as it is updated here http://sourceforge.net/projects/lockmor/ .
    
    If you are interested in helping out with building the site, you are more than welcome to join the development team, I guess we can call it a team...why the hell not? There is no obligation to do anything but if you are interested, let me know. Never hurts to have experienced coders giving hints and tips. I am certainly not overly experienced so probably have some worst practices going on. As long as it functions, I am happy, but if you want to help me make it pretty, that would be great too. :)

32. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #32

    Sorry Moon, went back to the theme with a little more color. Easier to work with.

33. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #33

    In payment for the style that is not your favorite, Moon, I have put up the menu system in your honor. I took off most of the fancy graphics so it is just there...but it is there. None of the links work on it and I have to totally redo them, but at least it works.
    
    www.readpostplay.com

34. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #34

    Changed the links up a little bit yesterday and today. Instead of what we have now they will be more like
    
    (these don't work right now by the way, just a demo)
    
    www.strolen.com/viewing/boots_too_fine_for_the_earth
    www.strolen.com/viewing/mathom_the_god_of_delays
    
    www.strolen.com/browsing/npcs/combative
    www.strolen.com/browsing/items/potion
    
    the task pages
    
    www.strolen.com/exploring
    www.strolen.com/hunting_for
    
    www.strolen.com/submitting
    www.strolen.com/updating
    
    Stuff like that. All the old links from V2.0 will be redirected so they will still work for any that are still out there but v1.0 links will probably not be forwarded any longer.
    

35. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #35

    Backwards compatibility is a must, sad but true. (It is not entirely out of question, that there are some old links somewhere.)
    
    Also, don't forget many will link by submission number. It is often more practical.

36. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #36

    Numbers will still be 100% useable, but all the links the site creates will default to the words instead.
    
    (note to self: remember to allow numbers to be used. :) )

37. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #37

    I find numbers preferable as they don't break if you change the sub name...
    
    

38. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #38

    Name links are dynamically created so it shouldn't matter that way either. Numbers are good for 'permalinks' though.

39. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #39

    Nothing today. I am sick. :(

40. Re: Lockmor 3.0 Blogish Kinda Thread

    #40

    Stalled already, but can't be avoided. Family is coming in for spring break and then I will be working the weekend of the 4th. After that I will be back in force but will be stalled through then. Will be spending some time thinking through the permission/admin/mod system as well as some other things to help keep things going. Always easier to write when you have an outline.
    
    I will still be around, just not developing.

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