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 Both have been replaced by the extended topic system.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

[Fury]

Thanks for the heads up and all you folks do!

[Harp]

Could you squeeze in a way where you can figure out (click to reach) the particular post that someone was replying to? That was the one feature of the old style that is sorely lacking.

[xm177e2]

There will be only 'article' type threads in "Breaking News" for example.

Hey, didn't you just post this VANITY in Breaking News? ;-)

[VinnyTex]

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

[MeekOneGOP]

Bump for later read!

[ex-snook]

Thanks for the headsup. Happy Landing and Merry Christmas.

[summer]

Wow. bttt.

[xm177e2]

Just click on the words "in reply to #" at the top right of the post, and you can jump to the post they are replying to immediately.

[Fury]

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

Do you have to throw cold water on the two, like one has to do with dogs? LOL...

[Poohbah]

Well, hopefully a moose won't bite the server while you move to Verio.

[6ppc]

Bump. Looking forward to the new features. Try to have a Merry Christmas John! Don't spend the whole week working on the system.

[JDoutrider]

I'll lay in some extra tranquilizers for the transition...I know... I know...but a day without FR is hard to take!

[Delta 21]

GO FOR IT !

Hey, When are you guys gonna take a vacation?!?

Delta 21

[B Knotts]

Sounds neat! Thanks for the update.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

IMPORTANT NOTICE PING
There is no need to reply to me, any questions should go to John.

If you would like to be added OR removed from my ping list
please send me a FReep e-mail and I will edit my list upon receipt. Thank You.

[BraveMan]

I feel bad now; I didn't get you anything . . .

[Michael Barnes]

wow...good luck chief...Murphy and his laws are gonna try and rear their ugly heads....Here's to a smooth transition.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Sounds nice. Categories instead of bump lists! good.

[deport]

3 posted on 12/21/01 7:22 PM Central by Harp
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

Doesn't clicking on To 1 in your post take you to the post being responded to?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

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.

The problem I see (if I see this correctly) is that many groups will become "clubs", and lose the "forum" format. Already it is headed that way. Once these clubs have self-governing moderators, it will no longer be open to all, but to those who are favored by the moderators and members. Is this possible?

For instance if I run a forum thread called "The Gridiron" and someone posts there who insults my Miami Hurricanes, can I ban them or nuke them from FR because I don't like that they dislike football or "my team"?

"FreeRepublic" and many "mini-me's"? Hope it works for you, John. :)

Thank you for allowing us onto your website.

[RightOnline]

Well damn, son...............now if you can just shave some off of my tax bill next year and tell me a quick, painless way to lose about 15 pounds, I'll REALLY be impressed. :)

[davidosborne]

Could you squeeze in a way where you can figure out (click to reach) the particular post that someone was replying to? That was the one feature of the old style that is sorely lacking.

3 posted on 12/21/01 5:22 PM Pacific by Harp

I concur.. that would make it much better.. eliminate having to state "REPLY TO POST #21" etc..

David

[Poohbah]

Actually, you'd just boot him from The GridIron, and then he's free to trash your decision on the rest of FR.

[smith288]

hows about email system, Image storage, CSS enhancements other? I love the changes and look forward to the new stuff. You rule.

[mdittmar]

Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts.

Arnold Bennett

[Old Professer]

Pay per view?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

LOL! Thanks for clarifying!

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Overall, bandwidth will be less expensive 2002 by about $25,000 which will be passed straight to Free Republic.

Split the savings with us? ;)

[headsonpikes]

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

And a healthy and prosperous 2002.

Thanks for everything!

[Tree of Liberty]

Amazing job, Mr. Robinson. If I could pester you for one additional change, could the system clock be placed on either Pacific or Eastern time? For the life of me, I can't figure out what time zone it's currently set for.

[tacticalogic]

Will that mean a change of IP address? There was a problem awhile back with DNS, and I think some people may have this address in their HOSTS file.

[AStack75]

.

[Uncle George]

Could you create an "ICON" to indicate a "BARF" alert? Like a dog barfing or someone on his knees at the comode? It would simplify announcing a sicko thread. I think it would be interesting.

[RonDog]

"Most important, on the 27th, Free Republic will be down..."

Thanks for the advance notice, John!

FReep-addiction treatments will be administered at:

http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/freerepublic

.

If you listen to Hugh Hewitt, or read his commentaries,
this PING list is for YOU!

Please post your comments, and BUMP!

(If you want OFF - or ON - my "Hugh Hewitt PING list" - please let me know.)

Personal note: I will be travelling - and OFFLINE - for most of next week anyway, so...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

[RonDog]

ping

[American Preservative]

The FRtimes they are a'changin' ping.

[jjbrouwer]

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.

John: The message board on our British locale is one of the busiest on the site. Some of the members are *pinged* here. Does this mean we could have a proper message board with (dare I say it?) some British moderators? Only asking!

[rdb3]

Heh, heh.

You said "bang" and "bump."

Heh, heh, heh.

Yeah!

[RonDog]

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

If you know of - or can GUESS - at least ONE (four-character or longer) word in the title of the article, virtually ALL of FR is currently accessible - RIGHT NOW!

See:

Free Republic Search Engine *Experimental*
Posted on 12/7/01 4:42 PM Pacific by John Robinson

I have used this new feature to find articles posted as far back as THIS ONE:

About this forum:

Post notes about this forum here.

Thanks,

---

Posted by: Jim Robnson (jimrob@psnw.com)
01/16/97 14:12:28 PST

[Palladin]

Sounds good, John! Big savings at Verio. You always do a fine job of tweaking and fine-tuning the forum. Looking forward to the new and easy ways to post a topic.

[lelio]

Could we have some sort of XML tags in the posts? Would be handy to use those for a program I'm writting for my personal use to just get the articles I want.

[sistergoldenhair]

great improvements

[johnboy]

break a leg.

[Shenandoah]

Could you explain all that again?

[Admin Moderator]

Thanks John, I'm sure we will all adjust to the new and improved versions ........groan........

[Pete-R-Bilt]

go to the top of the page, click on settings, and choose your time zone,
though its only good from maine to hawaii

[Dominic Harr]

Keep up the good work. Thanks for everything.