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 Both have been replaced by the extended topic system.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

[jjbrouwer]

What about java appletalk chatrooms like the Yahoo ones?

Actually, I suppose if we had our own forum we could just link to Yahoo chats.

[John Robinson]

I used to be "woof_em" on Yahoo. A year or so ago Yahoo blocked woof_em's access to Yahoo until I provided them with a credit card. No way!

You see, woof_em is age 007. Not SEVEN, but DOUBLE-OH SEVEN. But their program reads that as 7, which is too young to be on Yahoo I suppose.

[John Robinson]

You shouldn't lose anything.

Speaking of Bookmarks, they will become topics in the new system. I don't know if I will actually list them on the topic list or not, but technically they are topics.

[Quix]

This may seem like hyperbole . . . but I don't think it is. . .

Given all the givens. . . WTC, economy, Christmas season, Some people losing FR for even a few days could be driven over a rather depressive edge. I'd suggest fairly RAMPANT advertising of the Yahoo alternative chat group the 24-48 hours before shut-down.

[shaggy eel]

,,, John, a BUMP of support for jjbrouwer's initiative. I've found a good number of FReepers who are curious about issues in Australasia and we've made some superb friendships thru FR.

All the best from Kapiti Coast, New Zealand.

[John Robinson]

I'm actually thinking about merging Public and Private replies into the same form. There will be a HUGE (if I can make it) checkbox to note if it is public or private message.

[John Robinson]

Exactly.

And see the "Search" button to get at those archives.

[John Robinson]

Freepmail and the forum will be more closely integrated, and yes, that is one thing I will fix.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Excellent tutorial on the capability that I think is really extraordinary!

Sounds like John has some interesting new ideas on expanding this, although I don't see how he can improve it that much.

Maybe we are going to get that automatic bump to those that sign up for various topic areas that he talked about when he set up the Official Bump Register.

[John Robinson]

Interactive chat is another thing I'd like to do.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Thanks!

[John Robinson]

You can do this to some effect through the "View Replies" and "To #" functions.

[John Robinson]

Egads! NO!

[KEVinSHANNONnz]

If you are taking votes for a commonwealth/Australasian section, count me in.

[John Robinson]

Maybe you will be a proponent of additional/alternative forums at Free Republic? I think what you are experiencing is the popularity of Free Republic. The more people that come into a forum the more impersonal it feels. I also prefer a small environment, maybe 50 or so people tops. That "Cheers" environment, where everybody knows your name. :-)

[nutmeg]

Speaking of Bookmarks, they will become topics in the new system. I don't know if I will actually list them on the topic list or not, but technically they are topics.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Does this mean all our current bookmarks will change?

Anyway, thanks for all that you do for us here at FR! :-)

[John Robinson]

That is one of my goals. I don't want to alienate people.

[John Robinson]

Thanks, glad we could work out our schedules. :-)

[nutmeg]

Heads up!

[John Robinson]

I've bookmarked your article. I'll have to read it later. Or maybe now. Hmm. I'm just trying to catchup to the end of this thread so I can take out the trash! Hehe.