DropShark 2 Installer Back (finally)

[cambler]

I just got an email that the install set for DropShark 2 is on my FTP drop site, which means that I can integrate it in tonight and push this final beta out the freakin' door. What with the holiday madness, this will be a good chapter to close and move on to the HUGE list of feature requests for the new codebase.

Hang in there, and remember, when things look hectic and you feel overwhelmed, just repeat this to yourself: "At least I'm not Ambler. At least I'm not Ambler."

I just wish that worked for me! :approve:

PS: while I'm here, I'll also point you at something I did this past weekend that's still cracking everyone around here up: http://www.cafepress.com/lingeriemodel.16357994 - We had a lingerie shoot this weekend, and while shooting, we were joking about all of the people on LiveJournal who pretend to be what they're not. So naturally, one of the models said, "I'm on LiveJournal, but nobody knows I'm a lingerie model," and the idea was born. Once realized, it had to be done.

 

[unclewilco]

good news.....

oh and lovely model......does she have a shed? btw

 

[Jack Gordon]

soooo.........

what does this mean? there will be a new version available tonight? tomorrow?

 

[cambler]

soooo.........

what does this mean? there will be a new version available tonight? tomorrow?

If the install set compiles out of the box tonight, I should have it wrapped up in an evening or two. Plus I might sneak in a few more features on the 2.1 list if things go exceptionally smoothly, and I can convince one of the models to come over and give me a shoulder rub

 

[Togoodhlth]

Please convince her!
If you need to take an extra day or 2 but get another feature or two worked in then I wouldn't mind waiting.

Thanks

John

 

[cambler]

No, I need to get this out there so the new codeset can be tested thoroughly by real users and not my test crew (they're good, but they're not real users). The backend has lots of new code, and there's a new analysis engine in there that needs to go around the block a few times before a lot of the 2.1 features get added in.

 

[pelican]

great. will you email us when you have done?

 

[cambler]

great. will you email us when you have done?

I will post here and other places. Data validation passed last night, and I've told my wife that I'm off-limits on Sunday

 

[Jack Gordon]

any news?

 

[cambler]

It's Sunday, I'm at the computer, I'm finishing up the retail build (removing all debug code), the package validates, and I'm trying to get it done before I fall over.

I'll be taking a short break to post about what happened last night in my personal blog, for the morbidly-curious who want to know why I'm running on only 3 hours' sleep right now.

 

[mike031]

dang! chris is in slave mode right now :-O

...take it easy my friend, another day or two wont hurt im sure!

 

[cambler]

No, I have to get this done. It's late, I have other things backing up as a result, and I *hate* it when my to-do list is more late items than not.

Besides, I'm not complaining about the lack of sleep. Last night went from a "Oh, well, I have to go do this thing" into "Oh. My. G-d." in about an hour.

 

[mike031]

heh, alrighty.. enough with the small talk, lets leave the man alone and let him wrap things up

chris.. how many features, ie; google, alexa, etc.. are going to be included in this version?! last question.... i promise! :smartass:

 

[cambler]

This being the final beta, there are three feature paths enabled, each with a single data source.

1. There is DMOZ data in the data feed
2. There is an overture checker, which uses YOUR COMPUTER to look things up. At your own risk, naturally.
3. There is a generic page scraper for Alexa data

Depending on which works best and feedback, I'll pick one (or more) path to go down for all the data.

There's also an enhanced analysis engine, a HUGE contextual analysis engine (that might be slow - remains to be seen), some new graphs, and a completely new data feed and external analysis system. What that last item means is that as new analysis sites or data feeds become available, I can simply make the information available at the server, and DropShark will pull down what it needs to put them on the toolbar. You'll boot the program up one day and notice new analysis buttons.

That means that as new analysis sites and data come online, you don't need to download a new version. DropShark configures itself and downloads the code in the normal course of getting drop lists.

And, of course, there's a new multisource system on the server to get "exclusive" drop lists a-la Snapnames's deal with Netsol.

Lots of major code changes, quite a lot that is "behind the scenes," that's required a LOT of testing, and now I need to get into all of your hands.

So there you go.

And I hope you like my story about last night on my personal blog, about how a work assignment (for my photography) got completely screwed up and turned into a very late night, proving that I'm not getting any younger.

You had to be there. I'll have photos on my blog in a day or so.

 

[actnow]

Chris,

When do you expect to release the new version?

 

[cambler]

Shhhh. Don't tell anyone. Today.

 

[MediaHound]

~~ takes a deep breath

 

[Jack Gordon]

drumroll please...............

 

[cambler]

You guys are works of art

Mind if I take a dinner break before I close up the last module and run the packager?

Okay, it's done - final beta, all features in, most of them painfully slow because of all debug code and checkpointing as well as timing.

I've pushed the package to the server and notified my evil minions to update the authorization file and enable the download page. Hopefully they'll get to it presently (okay, not they, actually he, and he's not so much evil as just misunderstood).

I'm going to treat myself to a Tivo'd episode of the West Wing and then check things before I hit the sack.

It'll be made very clear on the download page, but I'll say it here again - this is a final beta. There's lots of crud under the hood checking everything. The enhanced dictionary search is DAMNED SLOW. No apologies, it's being tested. The Alexa tool is blindingly useless because how often does a domain in the top 100,000 drop? I mean really? But it's the single-site test for the integration of that feature, and if it performs without crashing, then all of the services can get turned on.

Oh, and it also has restrictions for biz/info/org/us, but those data feeds aren't on because who wants an already slow beta to be even slower?

My testers have only fit-and-finish bugs logged. If this survives a week without any serious functional bugs, I'm more than likely going to just rebuild the release version and call it good. Light a candle. Say a prayer. Sacrafice a chicken. You know the drill.

Now where's my drink?

 

[actnow]

Chris,

Glad you got the beta 2.0 done. I look forward to taking it for a "spin".

However, I guess it will be awhile before we can download the new version.

Your site is still showing the old version to download. And, when I download
tomorrow's (today's) list. It shows that my old version is current.

Is there a particular place I should go to download the new 2.0 version?
Or, do I need to wait for someone to update your server with the new version?