[Theforum] evolt.org revamp comment period open

.jeff jeff at members.evolt.org
Fri Jan 31 20:50:29 CST 2003


garrett,

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> From: Garrett Coakley
>
> > TECHNICAL ARCHITECTURE:
> > * To move the backend db to another technology (either
> >   an OSS solution such as Postgres or MSSQL). MSSQL
> >   will likely require a Windows-based provider who
> >   will also supply necessary license for operating
> >   system and DB. To maintain the current CMS will also
> >   require finding a CF license supplier.
>
> If we want to reduce costs, is looking at a platform
> where licensing fees are involved (ie: Windows2000/MSSQL)
> a good idea?  Would we be looking at the provider to give
> those licences gratis? What would happen in the event of
> us growing and needing another machine? Could we
> guarantee that we would be given another license? What
> are the current Microsoft licensing costs?
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imo, this is completely a non-issue.  there's nothing that says that, once
updated to work with mssql, weo couldn't be put with any of the quality
shared hosts on the planet.  a number of them have connectivity unlike
anything we've ever had and facilities that make the operations we're used
to look like dank, basement hosting.  they all are running cf5.0 or cfmx and
mssql.  they foot the cost of hardware -- depreciation, upgrades, failures,
maintenance, etc. -- and software -- upgrades, patches, license, etc.  they
also employ full-time support staff that are only a phone call away.  we no
longer have to worry about any of that.  even better, once the cms is in a
place (code-wise) to be put on a host like that it can be moved with very
little effort should we need to suddenly change hosts for weo.

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> > * To make such changes as are necessary to the CMS
> >   layer to cope with that change. This will be a major
> >   undertaking as it has a large amount of
> >   Oracle-specific code.
>
> Well that's jeffs area. Jeff? I didn't see anything in
> the steering thread about this. Is there any abstraction
> between the logic and data storage? I'm guessing the
> work to move from Oracle to any db (PgSQL, MSSQL etc)
> is going to be pretty much the same?
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there is currently no abstraction layer.  at the time the cms was written
there wasn't any foreseeable need to ever move away from oracle as the
database server.  furthermore, at the time the few of us that were actually
coding the current version of the cms felt we were under a time-crunch to
get it done and delivered.

as to the amount of work necessary to move from oracle, you're right in your
assumption that it'll be approximately the same regardless of what database
we convert it to.  however, i'd suggest that our best option is mssql since
pretty much every cf host on the planet offers mssql as the enterprise
database option.  porting the code to any other database would only serve to
greatly reduce our hosting options for weo down the road.

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> > MEMBERS.EVOLT.ORG (MEO):
> > We don't think that the current meo service is
> > sustainable or develops the evolt.org community much,
>
> It's like it's own little island. My vote would be to
> drop it and make the evolt.org member features more
> involved, so they come more under the weo umbrella.
> Pretty much as you laid it out.
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my only concern with completely dropping it is that there are some of us
who've used the service (most notably the pop email account) for 3+ years
now.  i'd be totally screwed if my meo email account suddenly quit working.
likewise, giving me 6 months to try to account for it's eventual departure
is hardly enough time to undo 3+ years of posting that address all over the
net in my webdev related meanderings.  what i'd like to suggest is that if
we alter the service so that users can manage redirects for http traffic and
forwards for email.

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> > FRONTEND & CONTENT:
>
> XHTML1.0 and CSS2 please.
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sure.  you going to be the one to go update the html in all the articles?

.jeff

http://evolt.org/
jeff at members.evolt.org
http://members.evolt.org/jeff/




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