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Frogboy
Frogboy
Join Date 03/2001
+2419 sdemperor

WinCustomize 2K5: Status Report

Growing Pains

December 8, 2004 8:19:11 PM from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums

Hooking up a new site that gets millions of visitors each month is a challenge and boy are we being reminded of that.

So where are we?  Well, we're currently working through performance issues across the site. And so we're trying to narrow down ways of improving performance of the site overall.

We have lots of bandwidth. The problem boils down to servers (we need more), optimizing code, and optimizing the database. 

We apologize for performance issues, we're working very very hard to keep things rolling. Stay tuned..

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Frogboy
WOM
Join Date 01/2002
+253 moderator
Reply #1 December 8, 2004 9:15:01 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
WOM will be waiting for the next report.


I take it the new servers are on the way?
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Frogboy
Island Dog
Join Date 06/2003
+1048 sdemployee
Reply #2 December 8, 2004 9:26:38 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Great job so far.
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Frogboy
qrush
Join Date 11/2003
+14
Reply #3 December 8, 2004 9:28:59 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Hmm...do I sense another subscription drive?

Anywho, best of luck!
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Frogboy
CerebroJD
Join Date 01/2003
+9
Reply #4 December 8, 2004 10:02:06 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Nice work to everyone! I really like the new site, and I'm glad things are going as well as they are.
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Frogboy
portugee
Join Date 05/2001
0
Reply #5 December 8, 2004 10:12:54 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I think this site looks good ... I'm just having some issues updating my personal information in the profile section.

Not sure if that is a known issue or not but... then I know you have more important things to deal with at the moment so its no big deal just thought i would throw that out there....

Keep up the awsome work
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Frogboy
Reppiks
Join Date 12/2002
+9
Reply #6 December 8, 2004 10:29:14 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Considering all that your doing here is to improve the users experience, what you have done so far is great. Further improvements are the icing on the cake!
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Frogboy
Chinmon
Join Date 08/2004
0
Reply #7 December 8, 2004 10:43:06 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I love the new site and I think you guys are doing a great job! Keep up the good work
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Frogboy
Sleeping Dragon
Join Date 03/2004
0
Reply #8 December 8, 2004 10:52:11 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums


Oh yeah, and I forgot;
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Frogboy
Watson
Join Date 02/2004
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Reply #9 December 8, 2004 11:21:09 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Every time the new site makes me yell 'Get Moving!' I'm going to kill a small Arabian goat.
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Frogboy
joetheblow
Join Date 12/2001
0
Reply #10 December 9, 2004 12:00:26 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
so far so good here. maybe its because I'm on dsl? had a couple of script errors when searching for stuff in the libraries, but that was yesterday. today, so far its fine.

I'll find ways to break the system. I have a nack for that.
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Frogboy
GT3RSR
Join Date 12/2003
0
Reply #11 December 9, 2004 12:39:19 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Looks pretty good and seems to load quite a bit faster. Navigation looks to be easier too, but I have only taken a cursory look so far. Keep up the great work!!
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Frogboy
Boss019
Join Date 09/2004
0
Reply #12 December 9, 2004 12:46:21 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Working mostly fine, had a couple times it didn't want to load but doin good, and I do like the new setup, been using it on and off for a couple weeks and I like the way the articles and such are featured more.....stuff that I tended to miss before..gonna be a much nicer site once everyone figures it out....us and you...Well Done
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Frogboy
Jan Oscar
Join Date 12/2002
+1189 moderator
Reply #13 December 9, 2004 7:21:30 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
It's slow (slower than the old site), I get a lot of server errors and sometimes the page don't show up at all, I have to click on more links on the new site to get me where I want to go, the rating system don't show what or if you have rated a skin before, doesn't work very well with the Opera browser and more... Seems like beta to me so far, and I really hope to see a lot of changes.
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Frogboy
bookworm_kate
Join Date 04/2003
0
Reply #14 December 9, 2004 7:43:56 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I try to update my personal information (the age is incorrect) and I keep getting logon failed, I've added the site name to my allow list, but still get the same problem, any suggestions?
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Frogboy
Farquard
Join Date 08/2002
0
Reply #15 December 9, 2004 9:34:19 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
On the old site I was able to limit the "Gallery" to the particular libraries I wanted to see available. In other words, I did not have to see references to libraries of skins to programs in which I have no interest. This new site does not allow me to trim the very lengthy list of "galleries" of libraries available for viewing and I have to wade through the long list to find the three or four that interest me.
I suggest you create a way to allow each user to personalize or limit the available Galleries to their own need.
Additionally, under the old site, I was able to bookmark a WinCustomize Library to return to. Now I cannot find a way to do this. Therefore, I am finding the difficulty mentioned above (the inability to limit viewing of available Galleries) a hindrance in getting to the areas of the new WinCustomize I use the most. This means I don't check the site as frequently as I used to because each return visit can't be as quick due to the need to set up each new visit with a winnowing down of which Galleries I want to see. Additionally, I am unable to personalize which "view" I want to see the Gallery in - "Light View" or "Enhanced View." Although my choice hasn't changed, I have to adjust the site each time I check a different Gallery. Very annoying, eh? Could this be part of the site personalization?
Other than these difficulties, I think you have done a great job of improvement. It is a work in progress.
Thanks.
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Frogboy
todds
Join Date 01/2002
0
Reply #16 December 9, 2004 10:17:02 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
overall a great improvement. here's something though: if i let Zonealarm Pro block web bugs, the spacers between the "Watch List" "My Account" and "My Skins" tabs at the top don't render, and if i look at the source it appears that a cgi bug is being blocked. i can't insert the actual line here because of the way the messages render. what is this all about?
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Frogboy
Dovelady8
Join Date 01/2004
0
Reply #17 December 9, 2004 10:29:15 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I'm having the same problems as Farguard. I don't come here that often now either because of these problems & much slower loading of the site/subsequent pages. Problems aside, the site is more pleasing & informative. I can see how much hard work has been put into this new site & I appreciate it. Thanks!
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Frogboy
BRYAN FEBLES
Join Date 04/2002
0
Reply #18 December 9, 2004 10:58:33 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Regardless of anything, you guys are doing a hell of a job. I recommend you guys to anybody who wants to skin anything. Kick Ass!!!
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Frogboy
butch123
Join Date 01/2004
+201
Reply #19 December 9, 2004 11:02:29 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Really great work so far, looking good.
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Frogboy
Thomas Thomassen
Join Date 01/2003
+10
Reply #20 December 9, 2004 12:28:22 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Wasn't ODNT subscribers also suppose to be able to create their own userpages?
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Frogboy
Frogboy
Join Date 03/2001
+2419 sdemperor
Reply #21 December 9, 2004 12:36:27 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Yes. I believe they already can.
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Frogboy
Kyhlwch
Join Date 12/2002
0
Reply #22 December 9, 2004 2:02:36 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Looking good - very tasteful! ok - I'm using WinXP. My screen res is 1280 x 1040. I have large fonts enabled. I'm using FireFox.

I was able to log in without any trouble. I had some screen spacing weirdness before I logged in (tiling graphics &I had to scroll horizantally, blech!) but logging in resolved most of that. The only problem I'm still seeing is that the background graphic for the "Browse Site" side bar is still tiling. It's only that one sidebar. The background for the other sides - "This Just In" and "Resources", etc - look perfect.

I only mention this because you asked for feedback. Good luck on the rest of your redesign!
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Frogboy
Dark-Star
Join Date 08/2002
0
Reply #23 December 9, 2004 3:03:29 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Hello Kyhlwch,

I'm testing the site in FireFox (0.9.2) I can't seem to duplicate your issue. If you could please, tell me what page you are viewing (or better still, send me an email with a screen shot at GMarsack@Stardock.com) so I can determine how to fix the issue.

Thank you Kyhlwch!
George
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Frogboy
PurrBall
Join Date 02/2003
+23
Reply #24 December 9, 2004 3:51:29 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
I'm sailing through the site now. The only performance issue is the picures for skin previews are still a little slow, but there's really no way to fix that.
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Frogboy
LeegleechN
Join Date 11/2002
+8
Reply #25 December 10, 2004 12:28:06 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
A bunch of points: I'm on a fast connection using firefox and it doesn't seem to load any faster. I like the new streamlined interface, I think you guys did a great job. Looking at the source, it looks like all the graphics pointers have absolute urls. Why? How about having alternate styles you can switch between? For example, you could "preview" Universe Metal on the site by choosing the appearence to be that. That brings another idea. It wold be nifty if you could make the site in the style of some of the more popular or intereresting skins. Then you could have a "like this skin? Download it here!" link. Alright, I ran out of stuff to say. Out.

PS. Green smilies????
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