You guys still wanna move to IPB?

[K_N]

Previously, we put this on the back shelf because there were a lot of things that Admin[/member] wanted to do with the site that would take a lot more configuration if we switched platforms.

 

Unfortunately, with JMC's passing, that's no longer the case, and the site is ending up much more forum-centric.

 

So, I ask again - does the community as a whole want to move to IPB?

 

 

If a vast majority of users want to switch software - we'll strongly consider it - with one caveat:

 

As many of you are aware, I fork over a couple hundred bucks a month out of my own pocket to keep this site hosted. IPB is a paid software - it would cost $200 for the basic functionality and forum and I don't feel like paying for that on top of the hosting costs. So...

 

If most people want to switch, and If the community as a whole is willing to piece together $200 - we'll switch to better software.

 

Let the voting commence.

 

[Raptorpat]

Is that a one-time purchase?

[mthor]

My name is mthor and I am a technophobe. Please have pity and explain in non-technical terms what difference IPB will make in my user experience.

[Rogue_Alphonse]

I have no problem contributing.

[Top Gun]

I don't really see any compelling reason to.  Another one of my forums has used SMF for more than a decade without major issues.

[StarPanda]

If it's a one time purchase sure let's do it, I'm sure we can piece it

 

However I feel we are fine right now but if everybody votes and they want to move then I'll contribute

[K_N]

Is that a one-time purchase?

Yes it is.

[K_N]

I don't really see any compelling reason to.  Another one of my forums has used SMF for more than a decade without major issues.

SMF is not in very active development and has a lot of problems.

 

I had to hack it just to get it to run on a modern server.

[K_N]

My name is mthor and I am a technophobe. Please have pity and explain in non-technical terms what difference IPB will make in my user experience.

It's fancier and faster, and will have less technical issues in the future.

[mthor]

Thank you for using words I both recognize and understand. I'm willing to pony up, but it may just be my bottle deposits; the spirit is willing , but the wallet is light.

[Ginguy]

This seems to be relevant to the discussion, and I found it enlightening.

https://invisioncommunity.com/forums/topic/408009-why-ips-over-other-alternative-open-sourcefree-softwares/

 

Here is the pricing guide for a self-hosted license. It seems like the initial set up is 200 for a forum only, with options for blog/gallery etc.. However it seems like there is a nominal $50/yr fee for an active license for the forum, with other options having similar small fees.

https://invisioncommunity.com/buy/self-hosted

[CAC]

the spirit is willing , but the wallet is light.

[K_N]

It's probably also worth mentioning that IPB would convert all of our current members, posts and forums over to the new software for us as well - nothing would be lost.

[Ginguy]

I didn't delve very deep, but I would be interesting in knowing what kind of development is allowed with that license. If we decided to change themes that probably wouldn't matter, but if we decided that we wanted to develop an ignore feature that is more comprehensive or a restriction feature, or even a real time video chat type of feature would that be limited. 

[K_N]

We can develop anything we want and add it to the software. IPB could tell us "no, don't do that" theoretically - but I could also tell them "no, fuck you" and there's little they could do about it.

 

If they sent a cease and desist I'd just challenge it in court and it'd cost them way more to defend than they would likely put money towards.

[NaBarney]

If it's just a 1 time $200 expense then it sounds maybe worth it long term if it means we can have a functional search feature and such but if it's $200 at intervals then don't bother.

[garbagepailcat]

I don't post a lot, but I like lurking here.

I don't know shit about forum software, but if it's in our best interest, I'd be willing to donate to the cause.

[NaBarney]

I will donate exactly one dollar

[K_N]

If it's just a 1 time $200 expense then it sounds maybe worth it long term if it means we can have a functional search feature and such but if it's $200 at intervals then don't bother.

It's a one time fee.

 

There's also a $50/year licensing fee to keep us up to date, but I'm willing to front that.

[StarPanda]

It's probably also worth mentioning that IPB would convert all of our current members, posts and forums over to the new software for us as well - nothing would be lost.

That's neat I'll change my vote to yes

[André Toulon]

Is undecided the same as dgaf

[Zenigundam]

I'll have to see what somebody else votes for before I cast my vote.

[naraku360]

Is undecided the same as dgaf

[Codename: Jackass]

I don't think it would be an issue for me to shell out ten bucks or so.

 

Looks like I won't have to though, seems like the early voting is in favor of this place remaining ASMB 2: Electric Boogaloo.

[bnmjy]

If it means the search function can start working again, yes. It will be from the funds that could have gone to mochi drawing miku sitting on a judas chair. :poop:

[scoobdog]

I have no problem contributing.

 

Me neither.  I can contribute a couple hundred.

[1pooh4u]

I'll contribute the entire amount.  That way no one can say, "You can't do yaddah yaddah yaddah to me I paid money for this" :catlol

 

 

[scoobdog]

I'll contribute the entire amount.  That way no one can say, "You can't do yaddah yaddah yaddah to me I paid money for this" :catlol

 

Heck, I'd pay that and let them ban me for shits and giggles.

[1pooh4u]

Heck, I'd pay that and let them ban me for shits and giggles.

:catlol

ACESS DENIED!!!!!!!11111!!!!!!!ELEVENTYHUNDRED11111!!!!!!!!

:catlol

[Ric]

Me neither.  I can contribute a couple hundred.

 

A couple hundred what? :it:

[scoobdog]

Hey, only $200 to get abused is like a good day for Scoob.

[scoobdog]

A couple hundred what? :it:

 

Blowjobs.

[1pooh4u]

Hey, only $200 to get abused is like a good day for Scoob.

Yeah, people pay big bucks for that shit :catlol

[Raptorpat]

Shut up scoob.

[CAC]

Lets just wait till the donation thingy gets to the $200 and then go for it.

[1pooh4u]

Lets just wait till the donation thingy gets to the $200 and then go for it.

I thought Zintar handled that and he's not here anymore  :catsad

[katt_goddess]

Yeah, people pay big bucks for that shit :catlol

 

People pay out the ass to get kicked in the ass by someone wearing high heels.  >

 

Undecided currently. I need to look at some things first.

[Hornshire]

We have no strong feelings one way or the other, but if the majority of the community opts for it, We would be willing to make a contribution towards the cost.

[scoobdog]

I thought Zintar handled that and he's not here anymore  :catsad

 

Is that why it isn't working?

[CAC]

I thought Zintar handled that and he's not here anymore  :catsad

 

oh

[1pooh4u]

Is that why it isn't working?

Could be

[1pooh4u]

oh

:catsad Too many changes  :catsad

[K_N]

If the poll ends with more yes votes than no votes, I'll throw up a donation thingy for it.

[scoobdog]

But I'm interested in donating regardless of the outcome.

[André Toulon]

Look man, I'll give you some money if you don't kill the board, but what legit benefits do you see moving to IPB with such a small user base.  This may have already been addressed but I read the OP and kinda got exhausted.  Truth be told, don't pay anything out of your pocket, you're already the host.

 

If anyone still wants to come here, we can bang out that $200 a month and the switch money for whatever reason.

 

Now I have to ask, because I AM that asshole, what server are you using that's costing you 200 a month......I mean iirc, it's not an onsite that you host, so how are you paying $2400 for this server.  Just asking, this isn't a dig, just don't know what you're working with over there.

[K_N]

The biggest thing about switching software is that in order to keep my server secure, I have to keep updates to things like SQL, PHP and Apache going.

 

SMF is developed so poorly and slowly that it doesn't work with newer versions of that server software - so every time I end up updating the server, I have to hack more of SMF to get it to work, and more shit breaks. Eventually we're going to get to the point where SMF just doesn't work anymore.

 

As for the server - I originally was hosting this on a $25/month VPS. That's when we had all the slowdown and crashing issues. The fact of the matter is that this site can see anywhere from 10 - 120 people actively clicking around and using it at any given time and that takes enough processing power that it really isn't suitable for a virtual server. So I used a server that I own, and the couple hundred a month I pay is to have it co-located in a data center instead of running out of my home internet connection.

[Raptorpat]

I definitely don't think we've hit the limit on user-base size. Which isn't to say that we've figured out where to go from here, but the pure fact that we've gotten this number of people purely by word-of-mouth (and a convoluted treasure hunt based on some old post on the [as] subreddit) means that there is definitely low-hanging asmb fruit left out there that just hasn't gotten the memo about UEMB.

[CAC]

So maybe we all need to get the word of internet mouth out there and see what numbers can be brought in and then we'll have a better idea on switching.

[K_N]

I don't think bringing more people in before we switch is a good idea.

 

That was one of JMC's main concerns actually, was switching so we could have a reliable platform for new users.

[Raptorpat]

Which makes sense. On the flip side, I'm sure we've all got connections to other asmb people who just haven't heard yet, and each new/returning voice makes the place a little more whole.

 

So - I guess, while we aren't doing any sort of major outreach initiatives right now, don't not tell your other asmb friends that the place is here and that it's more than just a splinter board.