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 Both have been replaced by the extended topic system.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. :-)

[NittanyLion]

BTTT.

[Kiwigal]

Peabs: "bum licker". ROTFL!

JJ and peabs: I love you guys! Happy New year.

Golly peabs, I'm still snickering over your calling JJ a bum licker.

[MeekOneGOP]

THE WORLD COMES TO AN END TOMORROW

---

Do you have any idea when they'll take it down and whether it will be down ALL DAY or when it'll be back up????
--Nervous FReep-a-holic

[k2blader]

Thank you for your hard work bump! :-)

[mystery-ak]

LOL.....Im already suffering withdrawls and FR isn't even down yet!

[3catsanadog]

What about the cheese?

[Clintons Are White Trash]

Hi, I'm Terri and I'm a FReepaholic.... it's gonna be a looonnnnggg day....

[3catsanadog]

Seriously, good work, John. Hope all works out well for you with your changeover. Then you have yourself a very Happy New Year!

[L.N. Smithee]

Please ohhhh please bring back the archives. All the way back to Feb of 97 if possible.

That would be a mixed blessing. When FR was unknown for the most part, there were things that I sent out into cyberspace that I don't want coming back to haunt me.

[smith288]

Dotn forget about me too! It was handy to smear a DUng.com poster. But you wised up on us sneaky guy you. Do you have a date on when all the goodies are activated? Im CSSd out and looking for something else to mess with.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Are we really done with the move - phase I yet?

BTTT!

[Don Joe]

What would be the possibility of allowing a thread-initiator to check off an option to make replies by-invitiation only, or alternately, to allow the thread-initiator to retromoderate replies? There is a growing problem with aryan nation/christian identity types hijacking any thread with the word "Jew" in it. It sure would be nice to be able to carry on a discussion without all the nazi propaganda.

[jjbrouwer]

Did my friend Ben contact you about the chat rooms? I got an email from him yesterday. He has been away over Christmas and should be back at work on Thursday.

I've been looking at the Hotmail chat rooms too. Some of them are better than Yahoo and are as fast as typing into an IM.

However, I understand there are some security issues with MSN.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

What advantages have been gained with the changes? What are the resultant stats indicating?
Hope you had a nice Easter.