rumblings of a version 2.0

The low-level brain rumblings of an Acts of Volition re-development are underway. I call it a re-development because it’s not really going to be a re-design – I’m pretty happy with the way aov looks right now. However, it’s going to be completely overhauled from the back-end (snicker).

Here’s your chance to be ignored: what features would you like to see on Acts of Volition?

To get you on the right track, here are a few vague ideas I have in mind:

  • improving the ‘recent conversations’ to highlight new items since your last visit
  • maybe a spell checker on the replies form (if I can’t find a simple one that works well and doesn’t get in the way)
  • improved searching including searchable reader replies
  • general smoothing – simplified permanent links, simplified URLs, etc.
  • more grandmother sex (hey, according to our search engine referrals, that’s what the people want!)

And for any who may be interested in the technical side of aov:

  • I’m considering a CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) layout – I don’t think the browsers support CSS well enough for complete CSS sites for my clients, but aov is a good place to experiment with it (Netscape 4 users – it’s only gonna get worse).
  • One thing is for sure – I’m going to be moving from ColdFusion to PHP as my development platform. The move follows a switch made in early 2001 by our development team at silverorange. I’ve got to keep up with them in order to take advantage of them.

Your feedback will be read mostly for our own entertainment purposes.

 

19 thoughts on “rumblings of a version 2.0

  1. PHP is good,… but no god. It seems to be starting to become the PL/I of the scripting world.

    CF is not god either, but this ship seems tighter in some area, although less in others.

  2. I have been thinking about this question of you and as I don’t give a rodents posterior about coding language (and, yes, I know I should like I should care about so many things) but I would have some nutty features that enhance the GLO-M aspect of this blog. Can you show country of origin of the posting party in a neato slowing spinning globe next to the post? You only find out the reach of AOV sometimes after a fifth post by someone.

    Can you make it alter to fit my Opera browser screen as I change the size of the screen? You are making me scroll…

    Can you provide an automated related topics notice from past threads (even related to the poster) through a constantly churning search feature? I want to know when I am a hypocryte.

    Can you forget the spell check as it will require me to increase my per post time by 50% and, really, doesn’t spell check reflect a thoroughly post-1720s attitide? My spelling is my business.

  3. Oh, and can I have a “you’re so clever” bot so that when I post something I will receive automated praise from AOV.

  4. 1. The search field should have more options. I want the choice to search between authors, articles, hyperlinks, and replies. I find the current search engine /lame/.

    2. Create user accounts so the user can log in (cookie?) to the page and have all his contact information saved. Usernames reserved for replies would be kinda neat as well.

    3. A feature where a user can customize his own site layout (font size, Dorrell photos) would be nice/a lot of work. This would solve any wacky size problems (Alan?) and stop me from saying “Fucking Garrity. Georgia is so passĂ©.”

    4. Make the site so I don’t have to use my mouse anymore. I want to just touch the screen to open things.

    5. Another thing you should address is the lack of content. It’s fine if you can’t update everyday, but you should bring back the ‘features’ section, like that Lecky interview and the concerts remembered shit (forgive the lack of links). The site lacks depth. Give the user more reasons to read AOV.

    6. As for Dorrell, its pretty safe to assume that his posts are going to be kept to a minimum. Garrity and Rob do a good job, but the site desperately needs another author. I suggest someone a lot younger, like a high school student or something. If not, then maybe a female writer? DonÂ’t mind if I do.

    Anyways, that’s enough bitching. Better get some ‘Jolt’ and do some serious after hours coding. I’m expecting all of these suggestions followed. Seriously. All of them.

  5. A community weblog, ALA metafilter, but with AOV audience but not to replace the current Blog, but to compliment it, and it woulden’t be the most prominent part of the site.

    It’d fly.

  6. Also, Georgia is not passé. Georgia makes everything you type look more refined and cool.

  7. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: democracy simply doesn’t work.

    Well, I guess I asked for suggestions. Who know there were PHP cheerleaders? At least I stated clearly in advance that suggestions would be ignored.

    Better search, it’s on the way – better cookies for posting info, on the way.

    Vince, as for customizable design, here’s what you can do: open aov in your browser, press Ctrl-A, then Ctrl-C. Now open Microsoft Word and press Ctrl-V. Now you can do whatever you want with the layout. You can even print it off and put in on your fridge.

    And if you don’t like the Georgia font – delete it from your system (or just remame it) and you’ll see aov in glorious Times New Roman.

    I’m surprised no-one asked for free actsofvolition.com email accounts and horoscopes.

  8. How bout a site that’s interesting?
    I’m sure this site is engrossing for web designers and part-time nerds, but it used to be enjoyable for geeks too.
    What happened to posts about things other than web design?

  9. I know i’m a little late to the conversation, but I had a few things I wanted to say…

    First off, I really enjoyed your discussion about css vs tables (or vs coding for HTML 4.x). I’ve been working on a CSS layout in order to expand my skill set and have been having a horrible time of it. I have trouble understanding when to float things and when to position them and how one box affects another in the box model. I’ve had an easy time finding “examples” (translation: easy ways out) on sites like Glish and bluerobot, but I’ve had a hard time finding something the explains the box model in english so that I can understand why and how they did something.

    Your article made me think a little about things. I am an average PHP coder, and a heavy user of databases. I completely agree with your comments about them being the seperation of content from layout.

    As far as PHP goes, its excellent for quick learning and basic site design. Be wary if you start to use it for more advanced things like authentication, etc. It can be made to be very safe and secure, however, there are some things to look out for. Also, for added sppeed if you have a high traffic site, try to get the zend optimizer installed on your server. It will store frequently proccessed scripts compiled in memory and save your server a good amount of crunch work.

    Umm… Yeah… I’m babbling now, so just let me say, thanks again for voicing your opinions and making me feel ok with a table based layout.

    jason

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