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 Both have been replaced by the extended topic system.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

[Senator Pardek]

Free Spell Check Software

Works great with FR's reply boxes.

[afraidfortherepublic]

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

This sounds really neat (along with all of your other promised improvements.) I hope I am really busy on the 27th so that I don't miss FR too much when it is down. :(

Thanks for all you do.

[snopercod]

The topic system in general will be completely changed.

Good move. The present system has "bothered" me for a long time. The basic conflict is between "News", and everything else. Something can be news, but at the same time be related to "Business" or "Government" or "Philosophy", etc. I'm glad you have addressed this logical inconsistency.

Fixing the "Search" feature will be a blessing. As much as I like google.com (which, unfortunately I am forced to use to find older articles), it has different "priorities" than I have in mind. I can do a google search for something that I know is in your database, but their engine simply doesn't find it many times.

The "memory" [posting of full articles] function of Free Republic is one of it's best features, but if you can't find an article from six months ago, then what good is it?

Here's wishing you and your Dad have a happy holiday and a prosperous new millenium.

[MeekOneGOP]

Most important, on the 27th, Free Republic will be down while I move my network along with Free Republic to a new host.

---

(((PING))))))
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[TwoStep]

**Ping**

[kylaka]

How will the archives be handled, when and if they come back online John?

[VinnyTex]

It works great. Just found what I'm looking for.. Thanks

[strela]

I'm pleased to see that you're dumping SpewSpewNet. They account for about 10-15 percent of my total spamload, and I'm glad that they won't be receiving any more of your money.

Well done.

[jaime1959]

Thanks, John.

[let freedom sing]

Private forums at FR? Pretty shady. If anyone has something to say, they should say it to everybody.

[nopardons]

With all of the new bells and whistles, ot would be better, by far, if FR went back to the way it used to be; mostly articles, editorials, political cartoons. This didn't used to be a CHAT ROOM, with teen threads, rockband threads, religious threads ( that aren't political, but PHILOSOPHICAL ! ) , " singles " / flirt threads, T&A threads, bash women / men / regions / Lincoln threads, " what's the best line in a movie, rock song,etc. thread, and the rest of that dort of thing. The way things are now, these threads overwhelm " hard news " !

[Lancey Howard]

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

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.

Whew.... massive, yes. I see that you are pressed for time, but when you get time, I would be interested to know why these changes are being made, why would you want to "decouple" articles and comments, and what's this about "private" forums? Could end up getting a little "cliqueish" around here, no?
Anyways, good luck with the move.

[Poohbah]

Of course, the big questions are...

Did Ted Nugent come up with this idea?

And:

Will we be logged in?

[rockfish59]

i'm glad you didn't go to 'network 54'.
what a sKrewed up mess that place is!

[LibKill]

Sounds good to me. You must be some kind of Internet genius.

Your father must be proud to have a son like you.

I would be.

[smith288]

I like to use these types of threads as a good way to get some good FR info out

Useful links

[monkeyshine]

Wow! Great. Keep up the good work.

[Lancey Howard]

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

I second that. I have tons of empty bookmarks that I leave in place just to keep a record of the thread title, just in case all the archives are ever resurrected.

[harrowup]

We've been talking about you behind your back for several weeks now...that's why you didn't get invited to the Christmas Party in Denver.