Massive Free Republic Changes

[John Robinson]

There will be some massive changes to Free Republic from now through the end of the year. I'll quickly iterate those changes now.

1. Most important, on the 27th, Free Republic will be down while I move my network along with Free Republic to a new host. We're moving from UUNET to Verio. This in itself is a massive undertaking, and availability of the site may be intermittent. We will use all available resources to mitigate outtage. Verio underbid UUNET by about $17,500 on a one-year contract, so this is really worth it. ;-) Overall, bandwidth will be less expensive 2002 by about $25,000 which will be passed straight to Free Republic.

2. I'm making massive changes to the structure of the database, will be replacing the posting program, and the latest posts program. While I'm converting the database and working out bugs some features may be down. Hopefully for not too long.

3. When Free Republic's new posting program is online, the routine to post an article will be different. First, an article will be indexed into many topics. So instead of a pulldown to select the topic, there is a field where you can list as many topics as you feel appropriate. And at any time later an article can be added to additional topics.

   Second, no more "Category" and "Section". Both have been replaced by the extended topic system.

   Third, the posting of an article and a comment have been decoupled.

   Fourth, there will be different types of articles you can start. Shouldn't really call these articles anymore, discussions is a better term. The very basic "Discussion" requires just a topic, title, and body. "Article" requires topic, title, body, source, source url, etc. Some topics may not allow some types of discussions. There will be only 'article' type threads in "Breaking News" for example.

4. The topic system in general will be completely changed. Once again you will be able to create your own topics. But to keep the topics from becoming the anarchy they were before my 1999 changes, all topics will live in topic groups. Those groups: General Interest (all existing topics); Highlights (Breaking News, Extended News, etc -- these are their own topic now); Hot Topics (current interests, such as Anthrax Scare, etc.); Local Topics (These will replace the Locales); User Defined (a sea of Freeper topics.)

5. Bump Lists will be integrated with the new topic system. Bang_List could have its own topic.

6. It will be possible to host many forums within Free Republic. Each forum would have its own management features, user list (with independent user levels), moderators, etc. Some forums may be private, some may be created for special projects, some may just be alternatives to Free Republic.

7. Finding articles should be much easier. There will be a title search, you will be able to list articles in a specific topic, or with a specific keyword. Maybe full searching of the article itself or its comments. (Looking for the right technology.) And Author and Source searches will work again.

8. Sidebars. Any topic can be added to your collection of sidebars.

9. There are more features, but I'm really pressed for time. :-)

[uglybiker]

With all these new changes, John, I'd suggest you get with one of our Radio FreeRepublic hosts and do a show focusing on all the new features! You can explain what the new features are and maybe walk us through a few of them.

[F16Fighter]

Nice job, both fiscally and technically. Thanks for the heads up...

[Mercuria]

I second VinnyTex's request for archives.

Also, self-search and broader abilities in the search feature...like we used to have.

I'd like an open, no-host drinks bar, too, but I mustn't be too fussy...

Oh...but this isn't The Request Line, is it?

Just sign me...

Mercuria the Unappeasable

**with a little wink to my better-natured Bushie pals...**

[Mercuria]

Not on Unspun, ugly. No way.

We don't do "computer techie". LOL!!!

[John Robinson]

Clarification. Bandwidth in 2002 will be cheaper than bandwidth in 2001. We tried renegotiating our contract with UUNET, and they bid one price which was lower than what we pay now. (Mind you these are minimum one year contracts.) We also sought quotes from several other vendors, and Verio came in with the lowest of all.

Funny, when we approached UUNET, we stated our contract was about to expire and wanted to renegotiate a new price. The sales rep, from my impression, was shocked. He tried to convince us that there was no need to renegotiate, that we could pay the existing price on a month-to-month basis. I think we had to beg him to get the machine rolling, and when we did he yielded a quote significantly lower than what he urged us to keep. Heh. Verio still beat 'em.

[jjbrouwer]

Actually, Victoria may have a point about cliques. But I think there are cliques already.

A lot of the Brits only post on Brit threads and chat on the non-HTML message board provided in the locale.

Perhaps a better idea would be a Commonwealth forum consisting of the UK locale and New Zealand and Australia. I know there are scores of people who would be interested in that.

[John Robinson]

Little confusing.

Jim Robinson = father

John Robinson = son

Jim owns and operates Free Republic, LLC.

John owns and operates Robinson-DeFehr Consulting, LLC. We've contracted with FR, LLC to provide maintenance, tech support, bandwidth, etc. All the technical aspects of running this website.

To make it even more confusing, I was once partner in FR, LLC. :-)

[nunya bidness]

Mercuria the Unappeasable

All hail the Unappeasables!

Right!

Right?

There's no pleasing some people...

[WVNan]

I really hate to be a wet blanket, John, but every time you make a change Free Republic grows further away from me. It's losing the "personal" touch that it used to have. I find myself just reading the news headlines and going off to bed. The addiction is wearing off because it has become so impersonal. I miss the "village" feel that we had when we just posted and replied and it was a virtual "free-for-all". I even miss the guys we used to pick on, like Ash. I must be getting old. I like "comfortable", as in "a rut". But it's your and Jim's baby to spank any way you want to. I'll still try to read the news if I can figure out how to find it.

[1John]

As I have been posting, for the Mac users at least there is a very fine spell checker which not only works with browsers, but with all other user applications. I have it on line for download (check my profile) and it obviates the need for a FreeRepublic spell checker (for Mac users). I would guess that the new(?) PC spell checker offered elsewhere in this thread would do likewise. Not that I am trying to tell you what to do, but it would seem to me that it would save you a lot of time and trouble if you don't have to "re-invent the wheel". Plus..... let others fix errors, maintain compatibility and so forth. I am really looking forward to a lot of fun with the new configurations ( What a Christmas present!! ) and tying you up with spell checking doesn't seem too productive.

Just my 2 cents........

[John Robinson]

New forum software is owned by Robinson-DeFehr Consulting, LLC, though I suppose the customizations are owned by Free Republic, LLC (ie: this old thread format is a custom job. The 'out-of-box' software does not look like this. Go mess with your "Settings" and choose the experimental setting for the 'Focus' style for a look at the new interface.)

Free Republic, LLC is a licensed beta tester. Since it is beta quality software, there is no charge. However, customizations are billed. And that is rolled into the monthly contract price, along with bandwidth and other technical services.

[peabers]

Perhaps a better idea would be a Commonwealth forum consisting of the UK locale and New Zealand and Australia. I know there are scores of people who would be interested in that.

I for one support jjbrouwer's suggestion of a Commonwealth forum. There's also FReepers from Commonwealth countries worldwide (Zimbabwe and South Africa to name two more).

[John Robinson]

There is no way to "get on" the bang list. It is just something you click to read.

Mind you these lists are just a bandaid, because I disallow "invented" names in the "To:" field. They will transform into topics as soon as that is ready.

[jjbrouwer]

Also the good thing about a Commonwealth Forum would be that we could introduce our own Conservative friends there. Wean them in before letting them into the big boys's pool, the main forum on FR.

I know the site doesn't need more members but I am sure it would get hundreds more from a Commonwealth forum alone.

[Exit148]

Are we (those of us who are tech-impaired) going to be able to adapt to, and understand this new-fangled stuff?

[T'wit]

I won't be online on the 27th. Please feel free to shut the place down.

:-)

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Sounds great. But this one caught my eye:

It will be possible to host many forums within Free Republic. Each forum would have its own management features, user list (with independent user levels), moderators, etc. Some forums may be private, some may be created for special projects, some may just be alternatives to Free Republic.

Isn't this a bit like the Delphi Technique? So, Have You Been Delphi'd?

[Rowdee]

Geeze, Merc....thanks a lots!!! Just when I needed to ask a question about Windows 95 and using something called Autoplay and whatever the hell happened to MS-DOS!!! Sheesh.....as I said, thanks a lot!

[Quix]

STILL BUCKING FOR SAINTHOOD, I SEE.

ACTUALLY, at this rate, it appears you've been there a long time.

THANKS TONS.

[John Robinson]

Probably will allow editing, on the condition that prior edits are available for viewing (people will be able to page back through your edits, to dissuade people from changing an argument after it has already been made.) I hate it when I see an "Edited by Foo" and no way to see what was edited.

Like Delphi, I will have an option to choose if you want to use HTML tags or not. There should also be a way to easily post links and images without requiring HTML. And eventually I'd like a Java-based "word processor" applet, with buttons to bold, italics, underline, etc.

But probably won't have signatures, and definately not those "cute" little faces, they're all yours for as much as I care.