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I'm trying to figure out what path I'm going to take for my next web project. I am familiar with Snitz as an end user, and I like a lot of what it offers, however, I'm not sure if it will be right for me. Your answers/guideance is appreciated:
First, here's my goal: I intend to revamp my current retail site, and add a substantial social networking site. Not a dating site, but a place similar to facebook, etc. to complement my existing and future content.
Features I'll want: Groups! with group forum, group calander, etc.; general forums, categorization/search of groups, Who's online now (by user name), and various other bells and whistles of lesser importance such as blog/wiki, etc. UPWARD limitations/scalability are a big factor. Lastly, I want the script myself, rather than a shared hosting solution.
Here's why I want to use a free solution like Snitz: 1) Cost obviously. 2) I want access to the code so I can make modifications and intergrate it into the rest of my site. The authentication/password system is of particular interest.
Lastly, I have access to Windows based system, Sql Server, and also My SQL, php, asp, asp.net. I'm far more comfortable working with ASP (and some of my site is already using it). This factors into my decisions.
SO here's my choices: 1) Snitz
2) PHPBB
3) Some more integrated existing social networking platform based on PHP.
ADVANTAGES:
SNITZ: ASP I'm already comfortable with, simple, "clean" design - easy to work into my site, helpful support team/forums/staff with mods.
PHPBB: Many better features, more complex design, but easy to work into my site assuming I don't have to learn PHP to do it, helpful support team/forums/staff with mods.
PHP Integrated solution: All/most of the features I want in one package. Probably requires shared advertising space.
DISADVANTAGES:
SNITZ: fewer features, requires mods to get the social networking tools, not geared toward social networking, possible upward limitations with code. Mods by nature are not a great way to work without solid programming experience due to base code upgrades (which may outdate the mod).
PHPBB: I have to learn PHP in order to intergrate mods. I'd likely have to learn PHP in order to integrate my site and future additions of my own content/site. Mods by nature are not a great way to work without solid programming experience due to base code upgrades (which may outdate the mod).
PHP Integrated social network system: I would have far less control over the design/features beyond that in the package itself. I'd have to learn PHP.
First, here's my goal: I intend to revamp my current retail site, and add a substantial social networking site. Not a dating site, but a place similar to facebook, etc. to complement my existing and future content.
Features I'll want: Groups! with group forum, group calander, etc.; general forums, categorization/search of groups, Who's online now (by user name), and various other bells and whistles of lesser importance such as blog/wiki, etc. UPWARD limitations/scalability are a big factor. Lastly, I want the script myself, rather than a shared hosting solution.
Here's why I want to use a free solution like Snitz: 1) Cost obviously. 2) I want access to the code so I can make modifications and intergrate it into the rest of my site. The authentication/password system is of particular interest.
Lastly, I have access to Windows based system, Sql Server, and also My SQL, php, asp, asp.net. I'm far more comfortable working with ASP (and some of my site is already using it). This factors into my decisions.
SO here's my choices: 1) Snitz
2) PHPBB
3) Some more integrated existing social networking platform based on PHP.
ADVANTAGES:
SNITZ: ASP I'm already comfortable with, simple, "clean" design - easy to work into my site, helpful support team/forums/staff with mods.
PHPBB: Many better features, more complex design, but easy to work into my site assuming I don't have to learn PHP to do it, helpful support team/forums/staff with mods.
PHP Integrated solution: All/most of the features I want in one package. Probably requires shared advertising space.
DISADVANTAGES:
SNITZ: fewer features, requires mods to get the social networking tools, not geared toward social networking, possible upward limitations with code. Mods by nature are not a great way to work without solid programming experience due to base code upgrades (which may outdate the mod).
PHPBB: I have to learn PHP in order to intergrate mods. I'd likely have to learn PHP in order to integrate my site and future additions of my own content/site. Mods by nature are not a great way to work without solid programming experience due to base code upgrades (which may outdate the mod).
PHP Integrated social network system: I would have far less control over the design/features beyond that in the package itself. I'd have to learn PHP.
Posted
Here's some questions directed at Snitz, that will help me to answer my questions:
1) Besides mods, what is in the future for Snitz?
A) Are user groups in the works, and group based sub forums? B) Are who's online features in the works (this is crucial to add to grouping for social networking)? C) Is private messaging (in-system) in the works?
2) What is Snitz's current limitations:
A) Does Snitz do page caching or other tricks for optimizing server load? B) Are Snitz resulting pages search engine friendly (URL, etc.)? C) What is the upward limitations of Snitz on SQL Server? Can it handle massive forum usage? D) Are these in the works?
1) Besides mods, what is in the future for Snitz?
A) Are user groups in the works, and group based sub forums? B) Are who's online features in the works (this is crucial to add to grouping for social networking)? C) Is private messaging (in-system) in the works?
2) What is Snitz's current limitations:
A) Does Snitz do page caching or other tricks for optimizing server load? B) Are Snitz resulting pages search engine friendly (URL, etc.)? C) What is the upward limitations of Snitz on SQL Server? Can it handle massive forum usage? D) Are these in the works?
Posted
For the record, if Snitz were able to accomplish what I want, I'd be much more inclined to lean that direction. I'd be particularly happy if Snitz were working in that direction (categorized user groups). But I'm concerned that the user grouping features are a bit of a stretch with the existing code (doable, but would have higher server load due to ineffiecient code needed to make it turn into a social network base).
My time-frame for this project is further out, so I don't need to decide right now. However, if I need to learn PHP, I want to begin that process as soon as possible.
My time-frame for this project is further out, so I don't need to decide right now. However, if I need to learn PHP, I want to begin that process as soon as possible.
Posted
Hi,
Code for 1. A, B and C are available as mods (well there is a user groups mod, not sure how it works with subforums)
2. A. Snitz doesn't use page caching or other stuff to optimize server load. B. Not sure what you mean, I am no SEO expert
C. To handle big usage, Snitz would probable require some modifications. We have a user who gets to 25,000 members online and he has used some tools optimized for SQL Server.
Not sure at all about what will happen with Snitz. I would offer development has not been very strong and have nothing to conclude that will change in the near future, to be honest.
Code for 1. A, B and C are available as mods (well there is a user groups mod, not sure how it works with subforums)
2. A. Snitz doesn't use page caching or other stuff to optimize server load. B. Not sure what you mean, I am no SEO expert
C. To handle big usage, Snitz would probable require some modifications. We have a user who gets to 25,000 members online and he has used some tools optimized for SQL Server.
Not sure at all about what will happen with Snitz. I would offer development has not been very strong and have nothing to conclude that will change in the near future, to be honest.
Posted
Originally posted by ruirib
Hi,
Code for 1. A, B and C are available as mods (well there is a user groups mod, not sure how it works with subforums)
2. A. Snitz doesn't use page caching or other stuff to optimize server load. B. Not sure what you mean, I am no SEO expert
C. To handle big usage, Snitz would probable require some modifications. We have a user who gets to 25,000 members online and he has used some tools optimized for SQL Server.
Not sure at all about what will happen with Snitz. I would offer development has not been very strong and have nothing to conclude that will change in the near future, to be honest.
Thank you for the answers - that was helpful...
A) I've seen the who's online mod (in use) (the Australian motorcycle site has a nice setup for example), and that looks solid, and would fit my needs fine. It is one of the base functions needed to run the user groups properly.
B) Do you (or anyone) know the most stable mod for groups on the current Snitz version, and/or preferably a working example. I'd love to see how it is implemented. That may help answer some of my questions right off the bat. I have a preliminary outlined method to make user groups (with sub forums, add as friend, etc.) work with Snitz that doesn't require a ton of hard coding if I go down that path. Categorization of groups isn't too hard to do, but I'd like to see what is already in place. Obviously Snitz wasn't designed with this in mind, but it definitely could be a natural extension.
C) Could you (or someone else) provide a link to Snitz a/the user(s) with a huge amount of users. It would give me something of a baseline to look at. I expect to have a fairly sizeable community in a relatively short amount of time (once I set it up and give it time to mature), and I need to factor that into my decision making.
Regarding Search engine optimization (I'm no expert either): Beyond the metatages, my understanding is a lot of search engines ignore, or are incapable of the following:
1) Spidering into a database. 2) Spidering on a URL that contains ? or & signs in it.
One way to overcome that is page caching, and using Search Engine friendly URL's (that don't contain ? or &). This can be done a few ways such as page caching, generating static asp/html pages, and altering the URL structure, and some other tricks I don't know about using XML, etc..
Posted
There is only one user groups mod, coded by Nikkol. Think it shows on this forum as a beta version.
I don't know the specific URLs to busy forums, maybe someone else will post some here.
Again, maybe someone else will chime in on the SEO thing.
I don't know the specific URLs to busy forums, maybe someone else will post some here.
Again, maybe someone else will chime in on the SEO thing.
