fogartylee wrote: ↑Fri Dec 29, 2017 3:33 amIt was also known to people working on the data and testing the scripts that the database would be rapidly increasing with a lot more information. It's not practical to use ZXDB with that amount of data - or any site via SQL statements.
Are you trying to convince us that Spectrum Computing (and other SQL based sites) shouldn't be feasible?
Interesting.
fogartylee wrote: ↑Fri Dec 29, 2017 3:33 amEinar also knew this, so when he was publicly asking for the database schema, he knew full well those modules hadn't been completed yet, and therefore there was no schema.
I initially asked to see your database model
here (October 2016),
here (November 2016),
here (December 2016), etc. You ignored my requests for a few months, then finally claimed you still didn't have a database schema. Curiously, it didn't stop you from trying to import data from old WoS.
Therefore I offered instead that "
I can easily export ZXDB content into whatever format you want for new WoS" (June 2017). You claimed it still couldn't be done, and I had to wait. In the meantime, you continued to try importing data from old WoS.
Afterwards I
wrote a script that converted ZXDB to the same old WoS format (July 2017). Therefore whatever method you were using to import from old WoS, would also work for converted ZXDB. However you pretended it never happened, and you are continuing to use the same excuse that you don't have a database schema.
fogartylee wrote: ↑Fri Dec 29, 2017 3:33 amWhat you have now is exactly where Martijn was - one person performing updates, and to update the website you need to run the SQL statements. That's fine. But Einar always stated that once WoS is finished he has no intention of keeping ZXDB going. Has that changed?
Not exactly.
It was never my intention to maintain a database. I simply created ZXDB to help other people build a new WoS, at the time you decided to quit. I assumed whoever took over new WoS, would also want to adopt and maintain ZXDB. After all, nobody in their right mind would want to throw away over a year of work (cleaning WoS archive, fixing inconsistencies, adding information, etc), then waste a long time redoing exactly the same effort from scratch, right?
My opinion hasn't changed. I still prefer to spend my time creating games, instead of maintaining ZXDB.
Fortunately so many people have been helping with ZXDB content lately, that I don't need to dedicate much time to ZXDB myself anymore. As a matter of fact, I'm working on a new game right now!
fogartylee wrote: ↑Fri Dec 29, 2017 3:33 amWho is taking over? And again you have one person maintaining the data - and in this case several sites.
Wrong.
Nowadays we have different people producing game screenshots (Peter, Pavero, ...), providing game information (R-Tape, hikoki, ...), integrating with other sites (Thomas, Daren, ...), registering everything into a collaborative spreadsheet (mostly R-Tape) and reviewing it (myself). Nowadays almost all SQL statements in ZXDB are generated automatically from the spreadsheet. It may not be a pretty solution, but it's better to improve everything gradually instead of putting an entire site on hold for years while working on a fancy solution.
In latest ZXDB releases, my involvement has been limited to validate information, make adjusts in a few cases not covered by the spreadsheet yet, then pack and upload everything. Although I don't spend much time with ZXDB anymore, it has never been more complete and up-to-date!
Moreover, we are currently working on submission forms and further automation of the entire process. Soon ZXDB won't even need me anymore
fogartylee wrote: ↑Fri Dec 29, 2017 3:33 amWhat happens if archive.org receive copyright complaints? Will they argue their case, or disable the WoS files? Files which they are happy to advertise as WoS backup without actually having permission to host them.
Should I remind you that WoS also hosts thousands of files without actually having permission to host them?
fogartylee wrote: ↑Fri Dec 29, 2017 3:33 amAre they going to spend hours on the phone speaking to copyright holders, or visiting them personally, as I have done? I doubt it.
Since you took over, the number of distribution permissions for WoS has been diminishing (for instance
System 3 games).
Perhaps it's a good thing that other sites are not behaving like you!