And we're back. As you all probably have noticed, we are now running on the new site's codebase, the result of over a year of coding by mostly Arion and myself. This should give us a stable codebase to base further additions to the site on, such as a new ACC and the legendary monster known as Possessions.
I'll let all of you explore the new site on your own, but before you do, let me highlight a small number of new features and things that are different from the old site:
- Instead of logging in using your PIN, you now have to supply your e-mail address. This should make it easier for new members to login as they do not have to remember this weird arbitrary number that was assigned to them in the welcome mail
- Most requests that target other members are no longer automatically submitted once they are entered. Instead, they first enter a 'created' state, which allows other (summit) members to add their bits and pieces to the recommendation. Once this request is then explicitly submitted, it is sent to the MAA for approval
- Battle team slots are gone, and so is the size limit on battle teams.
- Competitions and submitting to competitions now goes through the site. Those who have participated in the Independence Games will be familiar with this system.
- The site now knows about Paths, making Lightsiders into first-class citizens in the code, instead of a hack that simply displayed another order if you were in a certain set of units.
- News and reports (and comments) are now formatted using Markdown instead of HTML, making sure an accidental error in a report won't mess up the entire site anymore
- The SA has been completely overhauled: Course notes are Markdown-powered, and new question types have been introduced. Solari and his staff have worked very hard to convert all courses to the new format!
- If you're logged in, you now get what I call 'contextual news', meaning any news items pertaining to your own Clan or House is included in on the main news page, next to the default set of Dark Council and items from top-level units (Clans and Independent Houses)
- Much much more, and then I'm probably forgetting something still :P
Feel free to browse around, and make sure to report any errors or bugs you may find to the Forums. Suggestions are also more than welcome.
On behalf of the coding team,
James L. Entar Arconae
Seneschal
Huzzah! Great job!
I e-mailed this to Jam3z a minute ago thinking this would take longer -- wanted it to be public. Let's get this man a GLS!
Jam3z,
This is a big day, and I wanted to be the first to say thank you to you.
You've succeeded in completing a project that the best of the DB could never complete. We have been trying for over a decade to fix the website, as you know, and have failed at every turn. Most of us that coded on it managed to make things worse in one way or another. I am amazed every time I pull up the old site that it still works.
Put in perspective from my end: it's been six years since I coded the current design. Things have changed so much. iPhones didn't exist, etc. We needed to come into the new web era.
And that's where you came in, and we are ever so grateful for that. You and your team have done the work that will help secure the future of this club, and I am so impressed that you got it done. Unlike some others, I understand the full amount of time and effort that this has taken you. I fully comprehend the sacrifices that you've made and the blood sweat and tears you've put into this code. You are awesome.
There are a few people that I remember in this club as being those who were 100% instrumental to its survival. Thedek created a new website long ago when ours was abducted. Corran Force was instrumental in making sure that the site came over in the split. I like to think I've been pretty instrumental in keeping things afloat over the years. You are part of that club in my mind.
Later today, I will be writing out a recommendation for you to receive the Golden Lightsaber. It is beyond deserved.
Arion, I also wanted to thank you for your help. I don't know how the work split between you and Jam3z, but I know you were a huge asset, there until the end. Thank you.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Jim
Awesome! cheers for James and Arion
I agree with Jac.
James and Arion, and all the SCL people. You sweet beautiful bastards, you did it! Thank you!!
I agree with Jac as well, this is amazing James, I remember when people first started talking about Rebirth and a new website all those years ago and I'd more or less come to terms with the fact that it would never happen, and then you returned and made this.
You and your team of codemonkeys deserve a huge thank you.
Woo! Looks good on mobile! That was sorely needed.
GREAT JOB guys. This is a great day in our history and thanks to you both we have a fresh new site. It looks wonderful. There is not enough thanks I can give you both. Give them awards lots of them!
Kaira
Amazing job guys. There's probably still some small tidbits that need fixing or tweaking (like the selector tools). But those will probably be resolved when some time opens up. I do have a more general question since the CS's didn't carry over, and are currently not in the administration menu - will these somehow be brought back in time for the next phase in the crusade?
Wow... I went to the DJB main page, this uploaded, and I was sorta shock for a second. A "what the fuck" moment. But, Ive been checking it out and it looks really great. Good jobs, gentlemen.
It's awesome! Great job!
Jac already said it, but it won't hurt to be said again:
Today will be one of those days that will go down in this club's history as one of the monumental occasions that has now secured the Dark Brotherhood's future.
Like Malik, I abandoned hope of ever seeing change years ago and had simply resigned myself to what we had. Or the number of times I have spoken to Sildrin, who being a former Seneschal and coder herself has repeatedly explained to me, the complete web layman whose mind has never been able to get itself around these things, how badly the Dark Brotherhood has been in need of cellphone support, to which I have always simply sighed and continued to just put up with what we've got.
But finally seeing these things... wow. Just wow. There's no other word for it.
And with the new Sequel Trilogy drawing ever nearer, this is a big day. With the chance now to finally, at long last, bring into action the many, many, many ideas that have been floated by just as many, many, many people over the years, but simply been dropped on the towering mountain-sized list of "Not until after Project Rebirth", this has breathed new life and opportunity -- and offered new hope for members to once again actually BELIEVE in the possibility of seeing their ideas on day be realised.
That's a big thing. It's something the Dark Brotherhood has been lacking for years. This has given people the chance to truly get inspired again.
No amount of thank yous, medals or promos will ever be enough, but: thank you, to James, to Arion, to the rest of their team, as well as to all those names and faces before them, like Jac or CG or Sildrin or Corran, whose foundations -- even if now redeveloped -- have led to this moment to allow the club to evolve into the new age.
TL;DR: Pweety website... drool
And omg, omg, omg... it did italics from my asterisks!!! squees
awesome piece of work James!
~MobileRian
it looks amazing so great job but I did notice that my prestige went from 923 to 888 any idea why?
Great job, guys!
Silent, http://forums.darkjedibrotherhood.com/viewtopic.php?f=221&t=6815
This looks absolutely amazing, James. You and Arion did beautiful work with the website. Beautiful, outstanding work. I really can't put it into words how impressed I am with all of this.
James4GLS plz.
Thank you guys for all your hard work. I 100% agree with previous statements on both the importance of this day and for a long time doubted this ever happening. You guys have created a new era for the Brotherhood and we all are in your debt. Thank you again, so much.
Outstanding, brother. Really cool. Like I told you a long time ago, the speed of this new site amazes me...almost as much as the speed with which you and your team (Arion and I go back a little ways...Arion!) got the job done for us. Tonight's beer hoisted in y'all's honor!
Thank you, gentlemen.
Cheers!
So...can I strip the site down to have a white background and black text yet?
...and not show any images at all?
Oberst: Log in, Edit your Dossier, and then pick the correct option from the Layout Preferences menu. The one named 'Oberstified'. :-)
Badass. Finally. Thanks.
Like the new site; going to have to get used to not using my dossier number to login. I've only been doing that for, like, 14 years or something...
Great work, guys.
A huge congratulations/thank you to James for seeing this through. I know there's still work to be done, but the very fact that we even have a newly coded site that is ready for the 21st century is astounding. I saw how hard James worked on this and strived for this. So many things to contend with. I wished I was able to give you much better support while I was around, James, but I am so happy that you came through. Well done, sir...well done
Outstanding work to James and his team of coders who put this together! Thank you all for the new site!
-Val
There arent enough words of thanks to James and the rest of the SCL staff. Thank you so very much for the massive effort it took to bring us here.
Looks amazing guys - fantastic job :) The only blip I've noticed is the lack of character sheets, which I'm sure you've probably been pestered about already! Looking forward to exploring the site some more :)
Wow amazing work. The new site looks awesome and more importantly works like a charm.
I agree with Jac and all the above. Astounding work by James, Arion, and his staff