Mahz's Dev Journal

[Mahz]

Huh... Looks like my logout issue has corrected itself with some Firefox update. That, or it was some odd fluke, and it'll be back the next time around. Remains to be seen.

@Shienvien

great news. hopefully it really was just a patch-level fluke because after scrutinizing that code a dozen times over the year, i've officially run out of ideas.

I noticed something that may need to be addressed on a thread management level.

In the roleplay discussion area there was a thread with the lovely title of "**** you" and I am proud to see that the mods addressed it so that it was removed and blocked from the members sights, however the link for the thread's existance remained on the front page of the site as it was the last thread to be posted in.

@NuttsnBolts

Thanks.

I need to automate the demotion of hidden threads, but it was 1/100th of the work to just create a "Refresh Forum" button for mods to manually click after hiding a thread. And even if the mod remembers to click the button, it won't actually be updated on the homepage until the cache cycles which I believe is every 60 seconds or so.

In other news, I'm doing playing some guild catch-up today on my PMs and other duties. Hopefully I get to deploy some code improvements, too.

[Ellri]

Looking forward to any new code features, @Mahz.

Especially that "anvil to the head of user that doesn't obey our every whim no matter how in(s)ane" button you spoke of.

[LegendBegins]

@Mahz

Also, I've come across a form a thread vandalism for the most dedicated trolls that I've outlined here. In keeping the Guild a troll-free, well oiled machine, is there a simple moderator tool to combat this?

[BBeast]

@LegendBegins, I think we might be needing a post edit history for that. I don't believe Mahz has implemented that yet. Once he does, that should probably be simple. For damage which has already been done, though, you may be out of luck. Possibly, Mahz could delve into the backups and see if he can get you something, although that might be more effort than Mahz has time to do. If you're super lucky it might be on one of those internet archives, or in your cache if you have a large enough cache.

This is all my opinion, though. Nothing official.

[LegendBegins]

@LegendBegins, I think we might be needing a post edit history for that. I don't believe Mahz has implemented that yet. Once he does, that should probably be simple. For damage which has already been done, though, you may be out of luck. Possibly, Mahz could delve into the backups and see if he can get you something, although that might be more effort than Mahz has time to do. If you're super lucky it might be on one of those internet archives, or in your cache if you have a large enough cache.

This is all my opinion, though. Nothing official.

@BBeast

On the bright side, we use quotes, so his entire post history exists. However, it would be convenient if it were to be restored; I believe I remember some sort of rollback system, but it's possible I am misremembering.

[NuttsnBolts]

As a side thought, let's say a particular post is edited by a member a lot for uses of spite, can the mods get a tool to lock that post so it can't be edited? (Eg char sheets, original posts, etc)

[Ellri]

We have noticed today that the post new reply/topic window is lagging severely on our tablet. This is most inconvenient. Any thoughts on causes, @Mahz?

Local net is sub-optimal, but other sites are not slow, all other typing is of acceptable velocity.

[AlteredTundra]

We have noticed today that the post new reply/topic window is lagging severely on our tablet. This is most inconvenient. Any thoughts on causes, @Mahz?

Local net is sub-optimal, but other sites are not slow, all other typing is of acceptable velocity.

@Ellri

Oh thank god it's something with the site itself. I was getting worried that might be my net, which is odd since I have xfinity internet(AKA one of the fastest internet services to have in the US of A).

I mean, obviously it's not a good thing, but I'm just glad that there's a good chance it's not my net. Still, hope it's resolved soonish(once Mahz figures out what could be the cause for it). ^^;

[NuttsnBolts]

We have noticed today that the post new reply/topic window is lagging severely on our tablet. This is most inconvenient. Any thoughts on causes, @Mahz?

Local net is sub-optimal, but other sites are not slow, all other typing is of acceptable velocity.

@Ellri

I occasionally get an error when I open a page and the reply text box is only a few pixels high so I can't even select it, let alone type. A simple refresh fixes it anyways so it's not a major concern.

Edit: and my current post seemed to post up at a reasonable speed. Just thought I'd test off my phone.

[Ellri]

Checked just now. Still slow on our tablet. this time on a fast connection, so definitely not net-based or tablet-based error, combined with @Altered Tundra's mention, the issue is probably server-based or code-based.

Browser: Firefox
OS: Android

[Twhirtley]

Is there an form of ETA on GM Tools/Toolkit becoming a thing? And what all might be included in that? The ability to delete and edit posts? Because being able to put Inactive Character Sheets in hiders would be wonderful.

@Twhirtley To my knowledge, the only "GM tools" planned would be a "0^th" post on each tab that the GM+Co-GMs can edit, to put important information/etc in. Post deletion, editing, etc. will definitely not be included.

[Ellri]

We found it practical to demand that players put their CSs into hiders from the start. Makes it a lot easier to navigate all of them.

The problem with giving an ETA is that it would depend on when Mahz can take time off to code.

[Ellri]

@Mahz
Have you had time to look at that issue with tablet-based posting window being extremely slow? Its making it highly difficult to use the guild on a tablet. Having to wait 5-7 seconds after typing two words for it to register what you wrote is less than practical.

[Mistress]

This has probably already been mentioned (and I'm too lazy to scroll past 137 pages of text), but is a feature which gives us the ability to delete specific pms ever going to be implemented? In terms of user experience, the fact that I have to scroll past 15 unnecessary pm conversations to get to the one I'm looking for is really a huge hindrance.

@Mistress Yes, PM management in general will have a lot of work done eventually.

And for future reference, you could have searched for it with the search page, which has a button on the top of the website. You can search everywhere, specific forums, or specific topics, which would be the most helpful in this case.

[NuttsnBolts]

@Mistress I believe @Ellri has a thread in the bugs and suggestion sub forum which has a list of things discussed and possibly implemented. Worth checking that out cause it's cool to see what things might come to the forum in the future.

Edit:
roleplayerguild.com/topics/83669-plann..

[Ellri]

Aye, @NuttsnBolts. Unfortunately we lapsed new posts in it for a while, so while we can edit it, new posts within are impossible due to the anti-necromancy field.

[NuttsnBolts]

@Ellri Haha. Still, it's at least a list to help check off.

[Ellri]

Aye. We update it irregularly.

It's not as motivating to do it with an ever-expanding list, as nothing beats removing entries due to them being implemented, but it is also understandable that the guild's dark overlord has a real life that takes priority.