TechnocratTechnocrat’s Random Thoughts

I was talking to someone who was writing a blog post about different CMSs.  I am sure they are wondering why they picked me after my comments during the conversation.  Here are some of the things I responded to.

How do you think Nuke-Evolution is seen in the CMS world?
Very poorly!  We have never got any respect from anyone in the CMS world.  For example we have been a packetpub finalist twice.  TWICE!  How many other nuke versions have done that?  None!  Yet places like opensourcecms.com refuse to list us.  Why!?  I wish I could tell you but they seem to generally ignore us.

The people at Wikipedia didn’t feel that we had enough of a following to have our own page.  Really!?  We have the second highest user percentage behind only the original nuke flavor.  We are in the top five of total users on a nuke site.  We have had many translations and sister sites in different countries.  What else do you need to qualify?

I still get a bunch of grief on different sites when they find I work on a phpNuke project.  Their biggest argument is that it is insecure.  Well the original flavor was (probably still is) for sure.  Do you know how many times a major secruity flaw has been found that would allow hackers into your site with Evo?  Once.  One time and it was in the original Evo release.  We patched it one hour after it was found.  I don’t know for sure how many sites were affected by the number that were reported to us was 5.  5 sites seems like a pretty good number when it was downloaded 5,000 times at that point. Sure there have been other security issues found but none of them have the ability to get past the security we have implemented.  So the argument of poor security doesn’t fly.

They also state the phpNuke is slow and outdated.  That’s true to a degree.  We have done so many things to strengthen and improve Nuke that we barely recognize as it once was.  Evo and Nuke are not even in the same league anymore.  Is Evo perfect, no.  But I think it can hold its own against other CMSs.

What is the future of phpNuke?
There isn’t one.  Nuke is dying a slow death.  FB (the original author of Nuke) let Nuke fall apart.  He didn’t listen to his users, ignored security issues, and let the project become stale and outdated.  Now with phpBB ending the 2.0.x branch there is a nail slowly being hammered into Nuke’s coffin.  Is it the final nail?  Hard to say for sure.  My opinion is yes.

Nukes days are numbered.  I am not sure how big that number is but it’s counting down.

There were some other questions but they weren’t anything big.  I wonder if he will actually post this??

So I have tested all my first set of indexes and after realizing that going overboard was a bad idea.  But I have some more that have really helped.  This will probably be my last set of them.

ALTER TABLE `nuke_stories_cat` ADD INDEX ( `title` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_donators` ADD INDEX ( `dondate` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_downloads_downloads` ADD INDEX ( `hits` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_downloads_downloads` ADD INDEX ( `active` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_evo_userinfo` ADD INDEX ( `active` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_modules` ADD INDEX `active_inmenu_catid` ( `active` , `inmenu` , `cat_id` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_modules_cat` ADD INDEX ( `pos` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_modules` ADD INDEX ( `inmenu` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_users` ADD INDEX ( `user_level` );

Over the last few days I have been expanding my knowledge on MySQL indexes along with other useful tidbits.  I am not super strong on SQL.  I know enough to get by but it’s an area I would like to know more about.

Anyways after reading some good articles I began to find areas where we can improve both phpBB-Evolution and Nuke-Evolution.  One of which is the lack of proper indexing.  Nuke is a villain when it comes to this.  The indexing in its piss poor to put it nicely.  So I figured it would be a good place to implement some of the ideas I have found.  No better place to do it than the NE site….right!?

So I started going through and making better indexing.  I started with the core files and I just got done.  I have to say the difference is extremely noticeable.  I can already tell the page is loading much faster in many areas.  I also turned off the optimizing so I can see what tables get overhead and I can use that as a key as to what needs fixing.  So we shall see what the effects are long term but so far it has been positive.

If you are interested I have been keeping note on what I have done.  So give it a try if you want.

[UPDATE] So I went too far with some indexing.  Though it sped up the site it took up to much memory and caused SQL to crash   so I had to reboot the server and the site was down for a day.  So I took out the biggest indexes and I am leaving just the ones that I think will help and not cause memory issues.  Enjoy.

ALTER TABLE `nuke_modules` ADD INDEX ( `active` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_blocks` ADD INDEX `active_weight` ( `active` , `weight` )  ;
ALTER TABLE `nuke_blocks` ADD INDEX `time_bid` ( `time` , `bid` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_stories` ADD INDEX `topic_ihome_time` ( `topic` , `ihome` , `time` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_stories` ADD INDEX `topic_sid` ( `topic` , `sid` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_banner` ADD INDEX `position_active` ( `position` , `active` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_session` ADD INDEX ( `uname` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_evolution` ADD INDEX ( `evo_field` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_bbadvanced_username_color` ADD INDEX `groupid_groupweight` ( `group_id` , `group_weight` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_bbranks` ADD INDEX `rankspecial_rankmin` ( `rank_special` , `rank_min` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_bbcategories` ADD INDEX ( `cat_title` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_themes` ADD INDEX ( `theme_name` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_nsnst_admins` ADD INDEX ( `password_md5` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_session` ADD INDEX `guest_uname` ( `guest` , `uname` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_session` ADD INDEX ( `host_addr` );
ALTER TABLE `nuke_bbadvanced_username_color` ADD INDEX ( `group_name` );

I have spent the last few hours trying to figure out why Google hate me so much. Nuke-evolution.com has fallen from the top search result for nuke-evolution to the 4th page back. Behind sites that aren”t even active any more. What the fuck! We have thousands of link backs. Every fucking site setup with NE has a link back. How the hell are we so low!

phpBB-evolution.com has fallen to the second page of results behind the SVN and other stuff. Why the hell is this happening? I know it’’s new and I could see us behind sites like phpbb.com but seriously!?

I used as many tools as I could find online to analyze the sites. Not one of them pointed out any serious issue. We are still tops on all the other search engines including MSN and Yahoo! So what’’s the deal!? My only guess is that the link advertising at the bottom of the page is the cause. Because only in the last month or two has the NE site fallen like that and that was around the time that I put those links on. So that’’s my only guess. If they hadn”t paid for a year I would pull them off and see what happens.

So I guess word to the wise don”t do what I did. >:XX>:XX

Thank you to everyone that has brought this to my attention. I figured I would get this off my chest and hopefully let everyone know what the deal is.

Just as an FYI I am doing it on my blog because I want to keep the NE site clean of crap like this.

I am not selling a version of Nuke-Evolution nor the project itself. What is happening is that a person who will remain nameless has gotten their hands on an outdated copy of the project and is claiming that he “fixed” it and is trying to sell it.

Before I get to the “fixed” point I want to cover why are they selling it and not giving it to me to use. Two reasons, first is because the person selling has a strong dislike of me for not being bullied into a situation that I felt was not right with our users or the Nuke community as a whole by him. Because of this the person became aggressive, angry, and bitter and choose to lash out in a child like fashion. As a result I blocked him from my IM and banned him from the site. His unprofessional attitude and idiotic threats were inexcusable. In his child like mind his answer was to do this, which is fine because of my second point.

Secondly is because I don”t want it. He encrypted part of the system to hide some features that he added and keep them from being removed. I don”t know about all the features that were added except one. The reason for that feature was to block people that he deems as “bad” from your site. He wants to keep a database of users that he feels have “stolen” from the community. When these users try to go on to your site they will be blocked from accessing it. You as the admin have no control over it. What’’s so bad about that you ask? Well lets break it down.

I should state this is all done on the assumption that the system is still based around the ideas he pitched to me. I might be wrong but I doubt it.

First the db would be run by him on his site. So people put on this db are done so by him. You have no control over it and since you can”t remove it because it’’s encrypted then well your stuck. Also people on that list had no way to get off it if they made a mistake or changed. So once you were on it you were stuck on it. Just to prove my point all my the staff on NE and I am on his list as his way to get back at us. Hmm…that seems impartial and fair right?? :-/

Secondly I haven”t seen the code, but I am going to assume he has done it stupidly because the php questions he used asked me made it appear that his skills were slightly better than novice but not by much. Let’’s say that this become popular and say 5,000 sites use it. So each time a user even goes to the site it will have to call home and ask if this person is someone that should be allowed to use the site or not. Imagine all the traffic that would generate in just requests!? Do you think he has purchased a server big enough to handle that? There would be no way I would want to pay that out every month. What do you suppose will happen when the server bogs down, or is down completely? Think your site will continue to work correctly?

Finally how efficient do you think this method is at stopping people? What are you going to do block every proxy? What happens if someone gets a new ISP? What about people that share the same IP pool? Remember this process is fair, so surely he would rectify the situation….right? So just think of all the logistics that go into this, so you think one person can handle it?

Oh did I mention that encrypting software like this violates the GPL license? So basically he is being the same type of person that he is trying to protect you from. Kettle meet pot comes to mind.

Now I would like to cover his concept of “fixed” 2.1.0. I know the biggest bug in the system is one that someone of his limited skills in PHP couldn”t fix. It’’s a bug that doesn”t show up but in certain situations. But when it does it’’s very problematic and will bring your site to a crashing halt. So I am sure he doesn”t know that it exists but it will surely show it’’s ugly head at some point in his version. It’’s the bug that ReOrg and I have been battling for some time and we are having a difficult time correcting it 100%. So I imagine that it’’s still and issue in his version and I can”t wait for the person that buys it comes across it and wonder WTF! Why can”t I get this site working at all.

He is also claiming that he doesn”t want us to get the “fixes” because we don”t deserve them and acts like we will never find and fix these problems. Yeah….right. I have never said I can”t fix them, it’’s simply a matter of priority and time. I just don”t feel that my time is best spent working on this (or writing this stupid blog post on him). ReOrg has managed to actually fix a number of bugs yesterday and today. It’’s probably a lot more stable today then the version he surely has. But what ever.

I would like to end with this fact, 2.1.0 is open to anyone that really wants a copy. 100% free. It always has been. I have said it before and will say it again, I will give you a working copy if you want. The only reason we keep it private it to stop people from using it when they shouldn”t be (like before yesterday’’s fixes!?). It’’s not some top secret project. It’’s a GPL project and we stick to that. Just drop me a line.

So if you want to buy or use some 1/2 done version of 2.1.0 by a person that can”t code, is childish and unprofessional, and is forcing his beliefs and crappy code on you, then by all means go right ahead. But don”t come crying to me when you realize you have made a HUGE mistake.

Damn how far we have come in 2 years. How many things have changed and how many things have stayed the same. How many people have come and gone. How many uphills and downhills we have had. It’’s crazy to think about where we have been and where we can go. I still enjoy getting up and working on this project.

I think to celebrate we are going to have a contest. I haven”t decided 100% but I think a scavenger hunt. Hopefully people will enjoy it

Some times I wonder why I do this. I get shit on a lot over this project. Its hard not to let people get to you, but it happens. Kids on the forums bitching and complaining. Not reading the directions, or searching. Drives me crazy.

Then when I see the project getting little respect from other sites/projects it makes me wonder. Take for example:
http://www.packtpub.com/article/list_of_nominees
This is the list of all the CMSs that were nominated for the award.

First bitch I have was why even bother asking for people to submit their CMSs for the award. Look at the nominees, its all the big CMSs. Wow that’’s a totally unexpected surprise! Your telling me that those got better submission than the little guys, with grass root campaigns? You must be joking. Why not just put them up in the first place instead of bullshiting everyone. I am not bitter that ours did not get put up, but seriously I know there are fanatical users on many of these CMS sites. There is no way a few of these did not get more.

My next bitch is the fact they spelled the project name wrong. I mean come on! Your company writes books, how the fuck do you misspell evolution. I mean seriously!

Royally pisses me off.

[EDIT] – After sending them an email they have changed the spelling. It used to be Nuke-Evoltution.

In an effort to keep things current I keep an eye on other CMS and distros. I noticed today that at least 2 other Nukes have died. Its funny how many have come and gone since we started this project. But I guess that is what happens, people get tied of the project and quit.

Anyways the recoding is going slowly. I have the new donation module about 50% done. It will have more features than any other PP module out there. I think its GREAT!

Jeff has coded a new cache system and sped up the core some more. So its really starting to come along.

In the mean time we just got to finish everything else that needs to be pulled, plus work on fixing bugs and such. But we are moving forward people. Dont worry

It’’s with a heavy heart that I feel I have to post something about Shellz.

I knew The_Mortal for some time. Not personally, but I helped him out a number of times and I would talk to him off and on over the past year or so. When we started work on Evo he ones on of the first people to want to beta test for us.

Due to personal health issues he had to take some time off. But he wanted to be a part of the logo contest we had running at the time. So he sent Shellz over to the site with his entries. It was the first time I ever spoke to her. Seems like she never left after that.

Not long after that she began to create and port themes for the Evo users. I never heard anyone complain about her work. From what I heard it was always high quality and nearly perfect. If it wasnt she would also work hard to insure that it was.

She was always nice and a good person. I don”t really know much about her because everything we talked about revolved either around Evo or themes. It’’s a shame looking back how I didnt get to know her better.

I wish The_Moartal the best. I hope he can overcome this some day.

I have people PM and IM me all the time asking me questions or talking to me about something that we discussed days, weeks, or even months ago like I remember. Then they seem insulted when I do not remember. :crazy:

I talk to so many people every day that there is no possible way for me to remember anything most people say to me. It drives me nuts.

True story just the text has been changed
“hey are you ready now?”
“Ready for what?”
“What we talked about”
“Umm….I have no idea what you are talking about”
“Don”t you remember you said you were going to help me with xxxxx”
“I did?” (Checks trillian logs)
“You forgot me?!”
“We talked about this almost a month and a half ago. Did you honestly expect me to memeber that?”
“Umm yeah”