| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Greg Bernhardt
Radio Wave
USA
2001 Posts |
 Posted - 11/18/2002 : 23:55:47
I think it's about time we talk about the future of Physics Forums. How it's progressing, what changes need to happen and such.First of all I don't think any immediate changes need to occur. We are pretty stable as of right now, slow but consistent. The things I am worried about right now are:
Speed
Scalability
Security Let me put it to you straight. We are running on a slow and outdated script. We are running on a slow and inefficient database. We are running on a slow and packed web server. Now that I've hightlighted our problems, how can we solve them? This become a very complicated and possibly expensive tangle of problems in and of itself. First off what can we do about the outdated forum script.
We could: A. Find an updated forum script
- problem: This forum is so modded that finding an updated version of the original would be useless B. Purchase a nice commercial package
- problem: could mean we'd have to automaticly switch servers and wipe all the data. C. Install updated forum script anyway
- problem: this would mean wiping all the data and starting from scratch p.s. I could spent a while and try to salvage some of the data such as members, but with the differences in database structures it's extremely hard. So basicly, the best and worst choice is buying a commercial package and moving to a new server. Pro:
Very fast and efficient
Very secure
Loads of features and possiblities Con:
Loss of data
More money (around $1000 a year) If members have been keeping up with us for awhile, you'll remember we did a restart about a year ago and it was well worth it, but now it's a bit different with so much more on the line. To tell you the truth I didn't think PF would be this much of a success, it started out as a Physics homework project  . Now I see the problem with improper business models. What do you all think?
admin@physicsforums.com
All New! http://www.physicspost.com
Alert Mentor now
|
FZ
Gamma Wave
United Kingdom
2222 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2002 : 00:18:35
It will have to come down to a vote... just set up the poll greg...-------------
C:\DOS\
C:\DOS\RUN\
RUN\DOS\RUN
Alert Mentor now
|
BoulderHead
Gamma Wave
Canada
2364 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2002 : 00:23:20
I think PF is in a pickle. The cons are severe. What are your ideas for being able to consistently come up with the annual $1000 without running into problems with lack of funding?On the free market, everyone earns according to his productive value in satisfying consumer desires. Under statist distribution, everyone earns in proportion to the amount he can plunder from the producers.
-Murray N. Rothbard
Alert Mentor now
|
Greg Bernhardt
Radio Wave
USA
2001 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2002 : 00:35:10
I don't have a problem taking a chunk of that $1000, but I was hoping we could get enough donations to fund atleast a year. That would be like 50 members chipping in a mere $20. Unfortunately I think sooner or later we're going to have to bite our lips and weather the cons. We can go as we are for a little while, but the inevitable catches up.admin@physicsforums.com
All New! http://www.physicspost.com
Alert Mentor now
|
Another God
X-Ray Wave
Australia
1683 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2002 : 01:04:27
well, i am happy with the site atm. I must be one of the few people who doesn't apear to have to wait too long for pages to load... i also like this forum software. It works well IMO. And losing the information would be devastating! 14 pages of debate with LG ALL GONE TO WASTE!!! NO!!!!! *sob*well, maybe not. Anyway, i'm in the mind that the site can hold out a while longer as it is before it needs to be updated. One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall.
Paul Valéry (1871-1945)
Alert Mentor now
|
Greg Bernhardt
Radio Wave
USA
2001 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2002 : 01:06:47
Let me rephrase, the data won't be lost per say. Like we did with our old site it acted like an archive. Just nothing would be functional.admin@physicsforums.com
All New! http://www.physicspost.com
Alert Mentor now
|
Mistress Lilith
Visible Light Wave
Australia
954 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2002 : 11:56:59
I agree with AG, I've never had to wait very long for the site to load, and I am very pleased with the way things are atm.Then again, I don't know all the technicality involved in hosting the site...  --That's me!
Alert Mentor now
|
pnaimoli
Micro Wave
USA
118 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2002 : 12:25:05
I can't speak for those who have been here longer than I, but as for the past month or so, this site loads very quickly for me. Maybe I'm just not on at the busy hours, maybe it's because of my time-zone, but for whatever reason It's fine for me.That is not to say we shouldn't change it to make it better for everyone, but if Greg hadn't have said something about this, I would never have known it was a problem. ------------------------------
Si Hoc Legere Scis,
Nimium Eruditionis Habes
Alert Mentor now
|
Kerrie
PF Mentor
USA
2483 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2002 : 13:52:28
as far as the pages loading slowly, i have a good connection and never seem to have a problem, and enjoy PF the way it is...can we leave it as is?Never underestimate the power of the meek.
Alert Mentor now
|
Audacity Dan
X-Ray Wave
USA
1773 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2002 : 17:24:17
When I had a dial-up connection(and a crappy one at that), PF was unbearably slow. Now that I have cable, it loads pretty quickly.If you decide to go a route that costs money, I am willing to donate $20. -----------------------------------------------------
B!tching is what makes democracy great.
-----
In a world without leaders, who'd start all our wars? - Dexter Holland
Alert Mentor now
Edited by - Audacity Dan on 11/19/2002 17:24:37
|
schwartzchildradius999
X-Ray Wave
USA
1857 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2002 : 19:31:54
Greg, how much more space is left on the server before its 'full' or whatever?I'd say that so long as it works, there's no essential need to change it. Often frequent upgrades are unnecessary. Sure, members are willing to throw money at it to keep things going but, hopefully it will never get to a place where there are ads all over the place etc you know what I mean, but my philosophy is that a simple system is good.
Alert Mentor now
|
zimbo
Micro Wave
Australia
194 Posts |
Posted - 11/21/2002 : 16:03:47
On the topic of slow loading . . .How about an option to turn off the 'topic review' function when you type a reply? On a 56k it takes a couple of minutes just to load the reply page when I reply to a long thread. I don't expect to ever need all 300+ replies to a particular topic staring in front of me as I type a reply. I would rather open the reply screen on a new window and just use cut and paste on the original posts. * * * * * * *
Could a neurosurgeon reach in and perform some delicate operation to lower your gullibility, otherwise leaving you alone? If you believe this, you are pretty gullible, and should perhaps consider such an operation.
-Hofstadter, GEB
Alert Mentor now
|
CJames
Visible Light Wave
USA
659 Posts |
Posted - 11/22/2002 : 09:13:15
I mention this only for emergency. If something awful should happen and there is no possible way to continue on the server, there are websites like ezboard.com that can be used. This is not a first choice. For one thing you'd have to drop the name physicsforums.com and end up listed at the end of a long adress where nobody would ever find it, and for another I don't think you're in control of basically anything except the subjects and a few indirect controls. But the sites are cheap. LAST RESORT.Other than that, I really see no reason to make upgrades for speed or to keep it up to date. It's up to date as is IMO. There are a few changes which I just suggested, and I'd be glad to hear any responses... "From the start to the end no matter what I pretend the journey is more important than the end or the start, and what it meant to me will eventually be a memory of the time that I tried so hard."--Mike Shinoda, Linkin Park
Alert Mentor now
|
BoulderHead
Gamma Wave
Canada
2364 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2002 : 17:41:16
I vote to shell-out and get a more reliable, faster PF.Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.-- Mark Twain
Alert Mentor now
|
DarkLink
X-Ray Wave
USA
1028 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2002 : 17:54:51
Over all I am happy. But the server seems to have a lot of bad days where you can't do anything. I am willing to pay the $20 a year to get it off the server it's on now. During the good days the speed seems fine, but there seems to be a terrible day at least every two weeks."Heisenberg may have slept here." - A Bumper Sticker
DarkLink@Physicsforums.com
Alert Mentor now
|
Audacity Dan
X-Ray Wave
USA
1773 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2002 : 18:12:32
OK, I'm willing to bump that up to $40.-----------------------------------------------------
B!tching is what makes democracy great.
-----
In a world without leaders, who'd start all our wars? - Dexter Holland
Alert Mentor now
|
raven1
Infrared Wave
USA
202 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2002 : 18:47:33
i am always had a problem with pages loading slowly, if at all and i wouldn't mind paying 20 dollars a year for a new server if it helps. i am stuck with a dial-up connection so that migth part of the problem. wish i could get cable or dsl but can't get where i live
Alert Mentor now
|
Nicool002
X-Ray Wave
USA
1323 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2002 : 15:22:08
Greg couldn't you upload the data onto a CD rom? I know there wouldnt be hardly enough room on a floppy disk but maybe a cd rom.
If not couldn't you use a system link and transfer the data to another computer, make the transfer to another server, then put the data back in? Sure it would be a lot to do but we would still have everything.
"Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. That's relativity." Albert Einstein
Alert Mentor now
|
Nicool002
X-Ray Wave
USA
1323 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2002 : 15:25:37
Well for the time being PF seems fast lately...
But if the problem is with us taking too much of the server making it slow cant you just delete the acounts that people never used? There are like 40 pages of people that have never posted that would save some space. Although i dont know how much...
"Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. That's relativity." Albert Einstein
Alert Mentor now
|
Nicool002
X-Ray Wave
USA
1323 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2002 : 21:07:36
do we have a "yes" a "no" or a "maybe so" on this?Happy Holidays Everyone!!!
Alert Mentor now
|
jackle
Infrared Wave
United Kingdom
336 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2002 : 17:44:20
This is probably the last option you would want to consider but if you were really hard up you could get a sponser who sells physics products, equipment, courses or literature and advertise for them42 is just another number Edit: are they sponsors at the bottom of the main page, fear phyics, physics lessons.com etc?
Alert Mentor now
Edited by - jackle on 12/13/2002 17:49:18
|
