DropShark 2 Final Beta Download

[cambler]

First the beta caveats -

1. You need a licensed copy of 1.0 to run the 2.0 beta. While it will run in demo mode like 1.0 does, getting real data requires an account. If you've not yet purchased DropShark, you can still purchase 1.0 and use your account for the 2.0 beta, and you will be licensed for 2.0 as well.

2. All 1.0 users will receive 2.0 licenses at no cost.

3. This is a final beta. As such, it's large and it's slow. The download is just over 13 Megs. The startup is slow and the loading even more slow. The package creates an internal analysis of load metrics and sends them back to the server.

4. The package looks at what you're doing, but it does NOT REPORT WHAT YOU'RE SEARCHING FOR BACK TO THE SERVER. I'm watching HOW it's used, not WHAT you're looking for.

5. There are a number of places that have a single (or sometimes two or three) kinds of data or searches. This looks a little barren, and it's on purpose. The idea is to make sure that the module for that kind of search or data works. After the final beta, all searches and data points will be enabled. They're all pushed from the server based on the license you've purchased. At this time, though, the existing license allows for all search types - it's just configured so that if someone provides additional services, I can proxy them on a per-license basis.

6. The Overture tool sucks. This is because Overture sucks. Their lookup system fails more than it succeeds. You all know about this. I am open to suggestions, including just getting rid of it altogether.

7. DO NOT tick the Overture box on anything other than small dictionary searches, or Overture will surely shut you off.

8. The "enhanced" dictionary search is PITIFULLY SLOW. I highly recommend that you not use it except for single-day loads. Even in the release build it's still slow. That's a bug in this beta that we're working to fix.

9. When doing a dictionary search, there are right-click options now. The Alexa data isn't terribly useful (how many top-100,000 names drop?!), but it demonstrates the module nicely.

10. Do not erase you 1.0 install folder! This being a beta, there might be problems. Unzip this package into a new folder (preserve directory structure!) and use it from there.

The download: download.dropshark.com/DS2FinalBeta.zip

 

[Frontline]

Good work Chris, now you can get back to sipping margeritas and enjoying life.

 

[cambler]

Good work Chris, now you can get back to sipping margeritas and enjoying life.

Like heck! Now I get to watch the usage reports, handle bug reports, and try to get this thing finalized ASAFP so I can get to work on the data feeder. That's what I'm jazzed about right now.

Well, that and a change in the whole drop that I expect to happen by this Summer that I'm doing some code to prepare for right now. I suspect DS3 will be somewhat different, as I expect the whole market landscape to change in the next six months or so, and I want to be ready for it.

No vacations on my radar until December.

 

[MediaHound]

the same .profile xml?
I can drop this file in no problem, no?

 

[cambler]

I've been asked what point #5 means - what it means is that all features are now modular in that they get their configuration data from the server. This, in a nutshell, allows me to add search types and data items as they're completed, and you need not download an update unless I add a new module type.

Take, for example, the "archive.org" option in selected domains. It's a configured way to submit a domain to a web site to get the results. I can add any number of groups and buttons like this at the server, and when you start up DropShark, they'll just be there. No download, no upgrade.

The same for most of the right-click analysis points (like the Alexa graph, for example).

In this beta, I've enabled one or two of each to ensure that they work. As I'm comfortable that they're working, I'll be adding new ones. You'll just see them one day.

This also lets users suggest sites that they find useful, and I can add them to the server for immediate turn-around.

So yes, a lot of pain getting it to work right, but now it makes adding functionality that much easier.

Does that make sense?

the same .profile xml?
I can drop this file in no problem, no?

I've not tried that - but I believe it should work fine. There are new fields that should be populated automatically.

If you get an error doing that, let me know, because that's something that should be supported. (but also let me know if it works for you, so I can smile).

 

[MediaHound]

alright I'm on the case
and thanks.
Now that I got you and the open communication once again, please look for my pm (elsewhere, you know where)..been a bit since I wrote it, (I know your up to here with work cut out) but if I could get that functionality we spoke about... well, does this release do what we spoke about in private? It's downloading now.. I guess I'll know soon enough. But if it dosent, then if we could pick up where we left off..
danka

 

[cambler]

well, does this release do what we spoke about in private? It's downloading now.. I guess I'll know soon enough. But if it dosent, then if we could pick up where we left off..
danka

It should. And if it's not exactly what you're after, then let's clarify and I can turn that around quickly now.

We're back to turn-around time being 100% me at this point. I have no code or testing being done by others until I go into the pre-release cycle for DS3. And, I suspect, I'm just going to keep quiet about that until it's all done

 

[pelican]

what are the new features?
i cant seems to find the linkpop function.

i thought there will be linkpop checker in ver 2?

 

[eSology]

First the beta caveats -

10. Do not erase you 1.0 install folder! This being a beta, there might be problems. Unzip this package into a new folder (preserve directory structure!) and use it from there.

The only way I could get it to work was to place all the DS2 files inside my 1.0 folder.

 

[guiwang]

A small bug,after I changed my account and re-start it again,I got:
This version, 2.0.1031.1 is up to date.

Welcome to DropShark 1.0!

Thank you for purchasing DropShark!

The welcome version still is 1.0,need change.

 

[cambler]

A small bug,after I changed my account and re-start it again,I got:
This version, 2.0.1031.1 is up to date.

Welcome to DropShark 1.0!

Thank you for purchasing DropShark!

The welcome version still is 1.0,need change.

Actually, not a bug, but deliberate - that way, 1.0 users aren't forced to upgrade yet.

The only way I could get it to work was to place all the DS2 files inside my 1.0 folder.

Really?! What error did you get when you unzipped the beta package into its own folder?

what are the new features?
i cant seems to find the linkpop function.

i thought there will be linkpop checker in ver 2?

You will see that there are Yahoo and DMOZ values in the main list. There are quite a few more columns in the data stream, but I enabled just those two for the beta to make sure that it works. I'll enable the others over the next week or two as I see usage patterns that make me comfortable that things work.

When bugs are revealed, it's much easier to have a single code-path to debug than try to determine which element caused a problem.

 

[MediaHound]

no problem with swapping the .profile
pm sent re: the other thing