Bartertown.com

Here are the fixes implemented today:

Patched the underlying phpBB software to the latest version, this gave us:
- Anti-DoS attack, it's not foolproof by any means, but it looks like this is what was overwhelimg the board for the past 3 months or so (you would see mysql connection problems or just couldn't access any part of the site). The security team at phpBB is hush-hush and so they didn't really mention it in the patch notes or else I would have got there sooner.
- Much Improved visual confirmation when you register. This is the fuzzy numbers/letters you have to type in the box. Turns out someone hacked the original phpBB one and so that's how the automated spambots were getting into the site and posting the pr00n and v14gr4 ads. This should keep them to a minimum.

- New smilie/emoticon interface for the admins. This will allow admins to upload smilies to the page into categories. No new ones are uploaded right now but I have 750 on my laptop right now which are dying to be used.

- Post icon with your post. I don't like the icons that are up there now, but we will add new icons to be posted next to your ad to better represent what you have for sale.


Expect to see the new icons/smilies sometime this weekend!

TrademasterAdam

Thanks, TM Dadam

Eric

First off, major thanks for all the hard work.

Second...

TrademasterAdam wrote: - Post icon with your post. I don't like the icons that are up there now, but we will add new icons to be posted next to your ad to better represent what you have for sale.

It *might* be helpful if there was a way to use icons to flag the content of your post. But with the current set of icons -- words can't express how useless these are to the trading board.
Some jokers are already using them. It's just a matter of time before the practice spreads and everyone starts tagging all their ads. Scrolling down a page of ads flagged with random, meaningless icons does nothing to enhance the usability of the site. At best it's mildly annoying. At worst, it'll put a drain on the dwindling sanity of some of our users (myself included)

For the love of god, please turn them off until the other icons are ready.

Is this fix the reason I have to log in everytime I come here now? If it's necessary, then no problem, but it is nice not to have to type the password and whatnot each time I come back.

vesrian wrote: -- words can't express how useless these are to the trading board.
Some jokers are already using them. It's just a matter of time before the practice spreads and everyone starts tagging all their ads. Scrolling down a page of ads flagged with random, meaningless icons does nothing to enhance the usability of the site. At best it's mildly annoying.

I can't agree more!!! I usually flick over to Bartertown for a quick look to see what's new about 7-10 times a day. Now, when I look, I see little yellow icons - so I think to myself, hey something new - only to realize that they are those damn smiley and misc icons. Pretty looking, but total useless on the trading forums.

I would vote for turning them off in the trading forums, but I know this isn't a democracy.

Great work by the way Trademaster. Hope the baby isn't keeping you awake all hours.

Ekister

Brother Ranz wrote:Is this fix the reason I have to log in everytime I come here now? If it's necessary, then no problem, but it is nice not to have to type the password and whatnot each time I come back.

That's something broken, not sure how to fix yet but I am researching. I am looking into the other issues too.

TrademasterAdam