Help needed with programming Amiga development forum

Cammy · 31 January 2011, 01:42

Hello everyone. Many of the remaining Amiga programmers and other creative people are in need of a new Amiga project development forum so we can work on new software, games and hardware for all Amiga systems and keep the scene alive.

We only need one person who can program PHP to help us set up the forum. We have hosting already, we just need a forum that has no or minimal CSS and is compatible and renders properly with IBrowse and AWeb.

Please help us, you will finally see more Amiga development if we have a new forum for it.

Using an existing forum isn't an option and has been discussed countless times in the past. Please try to understand, this topic isn't a debate, just a call for help.

Thank you.

HenryCase · 31 January 2011, 12:43

I do respect this isn't a matter for debate, but do wonder what this proposed forum is going to have that's different from UtilityBase, so perhaps you could elaborate on the proposed features?

For comparison, here's UtilityBase:
http://utilitybase.com/
Project section of UtilityBase:
http://utilitybase.com/projects/

Thanks.

AmigaFriend · 31 January 2011, 13:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by HenryCase

For comparison, here's UtilityBase:
http://utilitybase.com/
Project section of UtilityBase:
http://utilitybase.com/projects/

Thanks.

Malware blocked

Object: ttp://pokaqr.com/script/global.js (h removed so it can't direct link)
Infection: HTML:Iframe.inf

This is the result by Avast when accessing UtilityBase

BuZz · 31 January 2011, 18:19

is there a rule that if you develop on the amiga you must do everything else on it too? for example, c64 forums are not designed to run on the c64, and people seem to manage using both a c64 and a modern machine.

Didn't xeron offer you the forum code from the hivelytracker site btw ?

Samurai_Crow · 31 January 2011, 18:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuZz

is there a rule that if you develop on the amiga you must do everything else on it too? for example, c64 forums are not designed to run on the c64, and people seem to manage using both a c64 and a modern machine.

In this case, some people don't have any other computer to fall back on. While Cammy, herself, has access to a Linux box, some of the people she wishes to contact have only Amigas and nothing but Amigas. Also they don't typically have graphics cards installed so NetSurf and OWB are not an option for them.

BuZz · 31 January 2011, 19:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samurai_Crow

In this case, some people don't have any other computer to fall back on. While Cammy, herself, has access to a Linux box, some of the people she wishes to contact have only Amigas and nothing but Amigas. Also they don't typically have graphics cards installed so NetSurf and OWB are not an option for them.

perhaps if they only have amigas a telnet bbs would be a better solution for example?

even taking an existing forum solution and making some skin that uses html3 only would be a significant task in terms of time, and time not put to good use imho (instead of working on the games!). I realise it has been stated this isnt for discussion, but then this is a forum, and so I think a comment or two might be helpful

A lot of forums would work anyway, just not look beautiful, but still would enable discussion at least.

Personally I would go for a more "Amiga like" solution such as the bbs. Are none of the Amiga programmers in need of this forum able to help out ?

desiv · 31 January 2011, 19:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuZz

...even taking an existing forum solution and making some skin that uses html3 only would be a significant task in terms of time, and time not put to good use imho (instead of working on the games!).

My guess is, the person who would be willing to do the PHP/HTML work would be a web person and not an Amiga games developer.

I don't see a problem with that.

As for a telnet BBS, I'm OK with those as well..
The more the merrier..

Personally, I'd love to see a Classic Amiga forum that is optimized solely for 68k browsers.

desiv

Jope · 31 January 2011, 19:54

Usenet news or a mailing list.

Who needs web forums, when we have age old discussion methods that are perfect for age old computers?

Samurai_Crow · 31 January 2011, 20:28

Based on previous discussions, she wants avatars and for artists to be able to display their artwork on this forum. It's got to run in a web browser in 256 colors for this reason.

hipoonios · 31 January 2011, 20:35

Check out MiniBB. It is a simple and free forum :-)

Haven't tried it with Amiga browsers. But worth a try.

Samurai_Crow · 31 January 2011, 22:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by hipoonios

Check out MiniBB. It is a simple and free forum :-)

Haven't tried it with Amiga browsers. But worth a try.

Just looking at the manual suggests that it requires CSS on the browser to work right. That's a no-no for older browsers like AWeb and iBrowse.

Zetr0 · 31 January 2011, 23:37

this is a rock and a hardplace - aka. a catch 22

you want dynamic forum software - it needs css - simply put

1. Write a new Forum system based on frames and no css.
2. Add CSS to Aweb/IBrowse
3. Bite the bullet and develop an Amiga Portal to content after there is content

I spent nearly three weeks searching for CMS/Forum software that a basic non-css browser could use... I couldn't find any...

I even stole some time to ascertain if one could be modified, but all these applications rely heavily on CSS. So, the need to write one from scratch then - its been a while since I used frames ---- uuuunnnnggg.... just had a GeoCities flashback... sorry guys/gals.

Irony would have it I wrote a forum system based on Frames under ASP, about 6 years ago....

Jope · 01 February 2011, 14:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samurai_Crow

Based on previous discussions, she wants avatars and for artists to be able to display their artwork on this forum. It's got to run in a web browser in 256 colors for this reason.

Mail and news support attachments. :-)

Samurai_Crow · 02 February 2011, 04:52

I've got a weird idea. Back in the early '90s there used to be game terminals specifically for logging onto a BBS and playing a specific game on that BBS. There used to be one for TradeWars although I never used it since it was for the PC.

Maybe we could write a content management system that runs client-side rather than server side. It would access the site through SFTP and STelnet protocols. We could use XPK compression on all posts for improved bandwidth usage. I'd not use SQL at all since it's not available widely on the Amiga except for SQLite and even then, it's got its detractors.

Does Amiga support STelnet and SFTP? I'd rather not use the nonsecure versions except for anonymous access due to the fact that passwords are transferred non-encrypted.

Jope · 02 February 2011, 07:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samurai_Crow

Maybe we could write a content management system that runs client-side rather than server side.

How about installing a usenet news server somewhere, newsreaders on all the developers' machines and letting the discussion begin?

I'm sure there'd be a game ready in no time. The only thing you'd be missing of the features gathered so far is the avatars, and those are hardly a pre-requisite for amiga game developing.

Samurai_Crow · 02 February 2011, 18:40

@Jope

There is more than avatars, there is the issue of not having a moderator on such lists. I'm sure Cammy would like to kick off any Microsoft trolls for bashing Amiga.

Jope · 02 February 2011, 21:10

Usenet News also supports moderated groups. Both pre- and aftermoderation. :-)

Samurai_Crow · 03 February 2011, 03:51

I think you're onto something there, Jope. :-)

http://newsguy.com/overview.htm hmmm... $19.95 a year for a low bandwidth site...

HenryCase · 06 February 2011, 17:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by xpect

Malware blocked

Object: ttp://pokaqr.com/script/global.js (h removed so it can't direct link)
Infection: HTML:Iframe.inf

This is the result by Avast when accessing UtilityBase

http://amigaworld.net/modules/newbb/...order=0#599874

Site fixed.

31 January 2011, 01:42	#1
Cammy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tasmania, Australia Age: 39 Posts: 1,189	Help needed with programming Amiga development forum Hello everyone. Many of the remaining Amiga programmers and other creative people are in need of a new Amiga project development forum so we can work on new software, games and hardware for all Amiga systems and keep the scene alive. We only need one person who can program PHP to help us set up the forum. We have hosting already, we just need a forum that has no or minimal CSS and is compatible and renders properly with IBrowse and AWeb. Please help us, you will finally see more Amiga development if we have a new forum for it. Using an existing forum isn't an option and has been discussed countless times in the past. Please try to understand, this topic isn't a debate, just a call for help. Thank you.

03 February 2011, 03:51	#18
Samurai_Crow Total Chaos forever! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Waterville, MN, USA Age: 49 Posts: 2,188	I think you're onto something there, Jope. :-) http://newsguy.com/overview.htm hmmm... $19.95 a year for a low bandwidth site... Last edited by TCD; 03 February 2011 at 07:38. Reason: Back to back posts merged. Use the edit function.

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31 January 2011, 12:43	#2
HenryCase Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bath, UK Posts: 125	I do respect this isn't a matter for debate, but do wonder what this proposed forum is going to have that's different from UtilityBase, so perhaps you could elaborate on the proposed features? For comparison, here's UtilityBase: http://utilitybase.com/ Project section of UtilityBase: http://utilitybase.com/projects/ Thanks.

31 January 2011, 18:19	#4
BuZz Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Oxford / UK Age: 47 Posts: 583	is there a rule that if you develop on the amiga you must do everything else on it too? for example, c64 forums are not designed to run on the c64, and people seem to manage using both a c64 and a modern machine. Didn't xeron offer you the forum code from the hivelytracker site btw ?

31 January 2011, 19:54	#8
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,880	Usenet news or a mailing list. Who needs web forums, when we have age old discussion methods that are perfect for age old computers?

31 January 2011, 20:28	#9
Samurai_Crow Total Chaos forever! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Waterville, MN, USA Age: 49 Posts: 2,188	Based on previous discussions, she wants avatars and for artists to be able to display their artwork on this forum. It's got to run in a web browser in 256 colors for this reason.

31 January 2011, 20:35	#10
hipoonios Amiga Hardcore Gamer Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sweden Age: 46 Posts: 1,207	Check out MiniBB. It is a simple and free forum :-) Haven't tried it with Amiga browsers. But worth a try.

31 January 2011, 23:37	#12
Zetr0 Ya' like it Retr0? Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: United Kingdom Age: 49 Posts: 9,768	this is a rock and a hardplace - aka. a catch 22 you want dynamic forum software - it needs css - simply put 1. Write a new Forum system based on frames and no css. 2. Add CSS to Aweb/IBrowse 3. Bite the bullet and develop an Amiga Portal to content after there is content I spent nearly three weeks searching for CMS/Forum software that a basic non-css browser could use... I couldn't find any... I even stole some time to ascertain if one could be modified, but all these applications rely heavily on CSS. So, the need to write one from scratch then - its been a while since I used frames ---- uuuunnnnggg.... just had a GeoCities flashback... sorry guys/gals. Irony would have it I wrote a forum system based on Frames under ASP, about 6 years ago....

02 February 2011, 04:52	#14
Samurai_Crow Total Chaos forever! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Waterville, MN, USA Age: 49 Posts: 2,188	I've got a weird idea. Back in the early '90s there used to be game terminals specifically for logging onto a BBS and playing a specific game on that BBS. There used to be one for TradeWars although I never used it since it was for the PC. Maybe we could write a content management system that runs client-side rather than server side. It would access the site through SFTP and STelnet protocols. We could use XPK compression on all posts for improved bandwidth usage. I'd not use SQL at all since it's not available widely on the Amiga except for SQLite and even then, it's got its detractors. Does Amiga support STelnet and SFTP? I'd rather not use the nonsecure versions except for anonymous access due to the fact that passwords are transferred non-encrypted.

02 February 2011, 18:40	#16
Samurai_Crow Total Chaos forever! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Waterville, MN, USA Age: 49 Posts: 2,188	@Jope There is more than avatars, there is the issue of not having a moderator on such lists. I'm sure Cammy would like to kick off any Microsoft trolls for bashing Amiga.

02 February 2011, 21:10	#17
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,880	Usenet News also supports moderated groups. Both pre- and aftermoderation. :-)

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