914world is showing its age Options

[930cabman]

Maybe a few more admins so Andy does not bear all the time and responsibility. He has probably done more than we know to "keep the dump running."

My last favorite site died this way, single point of failure, he left to run a company, just keep the site going, it crashed and we lost everything. They decided to move on and the void was filled many ways, never the same.

If this was a corporate eval I was on it would fail. Anyone still using Win 95, 98 or Millennium, Server 2000 to run a successful business. While this is not a business, it could be treated as one.

For many good reasons, seems like we have kicked the can down the road and done just enough to keep it running. Again, NOT a dig at Andy. The time has come to pay up though before it is too late.

Most corps I have worked with or at adopted an N-1 architecture for critical infrastructure. Not bleeding edge, let others work out the bugs, no more than a stable version behind. Then create a migration plan and get it done every few years.

Maybe start a committee, some zoom calls, get into the weeds, come up with some plans. Go public with it and get to work funding it and doing the work.

Times, hardware, software, applications, services have all moved on, Moore's Law anyone? Not transistors and it has slowed down lately but we are still behind.

all very good points, include myself to where ever I can assist

[iankarr]

I'm sure that we can collect enough in a gofundme to hire programmers to find a way to port the content over to a new platform. If that ends up being too complex, maybe we stop all future uploads here and start a new platform fresh, linking to this old one for archival info? We're grateful for everything you do, Andy and will help however we can!

[vjb206]

Count me in to donate towards whatever solution retains all of the data accumulated here over the years. This resource (people + historical threads & images) has been invaluable in my recently-started 914 journey (ca. 2020). Maybe we get a PA/NJ/NY/CT fundraiser/meet-up going to help fund the transition to more a modern infrastructure & design? Again, happy to help.

[flipb]

With a little help from GenAI, how difficult would it be to write a script to copy all the existing content over to a new platform?

(Also: Add my name to the many who would gladly contribute to the cost.)

[Krieger]

I have a suggestion to reduce storage space and annoying repetition. Too many people when replying to a thread needlessly recopy photos. Andy, if you could make it so copying photos is a more deliberate action,would it save space here and now as well as the planning for the next gen?

[SirAndy]

I have a suggestion to reduce storage space and annoying repetition. Too many people when replying to a thread needlessly recopy photos. Andy, if you could make it so copying photos is a more deliberate action,would it save space here and now as well as the planning for the next gen?

It's not the storage space (hard-drive space is cheap these days) or the size of the images but rather the actual number of images and how they are stored that is causing issues.

As for quoting images in a post, that does not create a duplicate image for us, the quote simply contains a link to the image in the original post.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

[Jeff_72]

@Sir Andy This is also a field I work in. If there is a group that decides to get together and hash out a migration strategy/plan, Id be happy to volunteer to participate. Also in to provide cash to help support this effort. I am not a mechanic so I cannot provide any kind of valuable information to the majority of this group, so if this is where I can be of value, Im in.

[Dion]

I don’t know didly squat about computer systems but more than happy to contribute financially.
Thanks SirAndy for keeping the lights on.

[infraredcalvin]

I'm in for fresh start and some sort of archive access... happy to contribute to a GFM...

Thanks Andy!

[BillC]

Just let me know where and how much to contribute. This is one of the best car sites on the internet, and it would be a disaster to lose it.

I very much prefer the migrate-everything-to-a-new-system approach, rather than the archive-off-and-create-new-site option. A big part of the utility of 914World is the easy cross-reference to the vast store of knowledge here.

I also work as a software engineer, so if I can help at all, please let me know.

[worn]

I'm in for fresh start and some sort of archive access... happy to contribute to a GFM...

Thanks Andy!

This is a great site because of Andy. And all of the other folks who are great too.

[TJB/914]

I don’t know didly squat about computer systems but more than happy to contribute financially.
Thanks SirAndy for keeping the lights on.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)
I am in when needed.
Tom

[Chris914n6]

It's not the storage space (hard-drive space is cheap these days) or the size of the images but rather the actual number of images and how they are stored that is causing issues.

As for quoting images in a post, that does not create a duplicate image for us, the quote simply contains a link to the image in the original post.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

So how hard is it to upload all new pics to a new folder and keep links to the old folder?
I would think you could get links to search the new folder first then the old until success.
Or something like, if date before 1-22-25 use /images else use /images2

Just brainstorming something simple...

[SirAndy]

It's not the storage space (hard-drive space is cheap these days) or the size of the images but rather the actual number of images and how they are stored that is causing issues.

As for quoting images in a post, that does not create a duplicate image for us, the quote simply contains a link to the image in the original post.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

So how hard is it to upload all new pics to a new folder and keep links to the old folder?
I would think you could get links to search the new folder first then the old until success.
Or something like, if date before 1-22-25 use /images else use /images2

Just brainstorming something simple...

Yes, that's basically the solution.
Have a folder for each year and month so the number of images per folder remains manageable.

/uploads/2024/10/
/uploads/2024/11/
/uploads/2024/12/
/uploads/2025/01/


Not too hard to do actually, but only an option if we have full control of the forum software.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[HansJan]

Sorry to report that I'm computer illiterate.
But you guys have saved me Thousands of dollars in advice and support. The least I can do is pitch in a few hundred.

Please keep it an all-in-one site.
I also like the Garage, where all different types of topics are discussed without sub-categories. It provides exposure to issues that you won't have if there were separate groups.

[pfreiburger]

I want to second something that was said above, this site is great BECAUSE of Andy, thank you!

Also, I agree with those who are not a fan of social media options.

I would be in for $100 to start and would be happy to subscribe. I don't go many places every day, but this is one.

[targa72e]

I also would be happy to help fund what ever the decision.

john

[bkrantz]

I'm in for $100 if neccesary. And my biases are to keep our past info accessible, and to stay independent, especially of major social media.

[930cabman]

I have a suggestion to reduce storage space and annoying repetition. Too many people when replying to a thread needlessly recopy photos. Andy, if you could make it so copying photos is a more deliberate action,would it save space here and now as well as the planning for the next gen?

It's not the storage space (hard-drive space is cheap these days) or the size of the images but rather the actual number of images and how they are stored that is causing issues.

As for quoting images in a post, that does not create a duplicate image for us, the quote simply contains a link to the image in the original post.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

thank you for everything you do here and I will bet many many others share the same gratitude.

[campbellcj]

Yes, that's basically the solution.
Have a folder for each year and month so the number of images per folder remains manageable.

/uploads/2024/10/
/uploads/2024/11/
/uploads/2024/12/
/uploads/2025/01/


Not too hard to do actually, but only an option if we have full control of the forum software.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

This came up in my day job as well (enterprise software) and we resolved it the same way - have a customer with over 5 million photos/docs linked to database records. There is also the option of storing blob/raw data in the database but there are tradeoffs.

I'll be glad to pitch in too any way I can help and look forward to "next-gen" 914world!