Re-Writing 6GC...Feature Suggestions Welcome Options

[Coomer]

With my senior project behind me (and an A to show for it, yay! ), this quarter is going to be far easier than the last two, so I'll finally have some time to work on 6GC.

I've actually already started re-writing 6GC from the ground up. I've got the login stuff and a lot of the key core components done. For those that care, I'm using extensive object oriented programming along with several design patterns, including basing the site on a model-view-controller. Technical details aside, the site will be faster, less intensive on the server, more secure, and easier to work on.

Of course, there will be new features as well.

So far, here's the tentative list that I'm striving to achieve:

• Better Member Profile URLs, like http://www.6gc.net/members/coomer.
• Member Profile Photo Ordering
• Ability to Remove your High-Res Photos
• Better Administrative High-Res Photo Management (so photos get authorized much, much faster)
• Some AJAX-based enhancements...for example, not leaving the page when you post a comment (these may be implemented at a later date, after site re-launch)
• Some non-AJAX, JavaScript-based enhancements...nicer submit buttons, etc.
• Better transaction feedback system that integrates with the main site's design and doesn't require popup windows
• Ability for members to add parts and part photos
• Downloads section, with wallpapers, sticker design in multiple formats for taking to your local sticker shop, etc. Probably no videos, as bandwidth is a killer and I'm already paying a lot for web hosting
• Better member search page
• Printer-friendly pages
• Multimedia forum (for posting pics and vids)
• Tentative: More contact options, besides AIM. Maybe MSN messenger, Yahoo messenger, ICQ...I'm not sure on this one...what does everyone use the most?
• Tentative: 6GC store, using Cafepress integrated with the main site

What do you guys think? Let me know if there's more you'd like to see.

My goal is to work on the site for a few hours every day until it's done. Most of the hard parts of development are completed (the basic framework, login functionality.) It works out well since I have more time with my senior project done, I'm too broke to finish the Celica, and most of my friends up here don't do anything but drink, which I don't really enjoy.

So with any luck, the site will be re-launched within a couple months. Let me know what you'd like to see.

[Coomer]

I think I'm actually more excited about the redesign than everyone else. It's not going to look a whole lot different and there will be minimal new features, but the backend is soooo much nicer. Now that the core functionality, classes, libraries, and models are done, development goes so quickly.

This morning I was able to get the add photo and add high-res photo forms done, as well as getting the remove photos functionality working.

I'm bored and taking a quick break from coding, so here's a list of some of the new features that are already done.

• Better member profile URLs
• Better add photo form
• Ability to remove high-res photos (with some neat unobtrusive JavaScript effects)
• Ability to add parts and add part photos (I'm hoping people with parts on their cars will begin adding photos of parts once the site is re-launched.
• Improved part detail pages
• Improved control panel overview page
• Multimedia forum (actually online already)