Why doesn't RuneCrypt publicize its need for programmers? Crypt is behind with features.

This sort of topic is being discussed currently... and we are trying to decide the best course of action.

I'll leave this open for the members to discuss though.

Do you guys think it would be advisable to bring in "outside help" in terms of programmers?

More features are never wrong.

Employing 'outside help' shouldn't even be an argument worth merit. This is a fan site.

It's clear to me that you weren't there at the time that Lt Wolfe and Pokedude got assigned as CD's. They were complete new members to Runecrypt and were friends of Ruk. He discussed it with the staff and they agreed it was okay to employ them right after they introduced themselves. A lot of RC members got pissed because some guys who they didn't even knew became staff without doing anything for it.

I think this is what cmafai means here, and I can't say I have a problem with it. Help is always good, as long as we can trust them. Doesn't matter where they come from and how long they've been on this site.

i can help. i usually help cmafai on small things. but yeah, programming takes time.

who has time?

Agree. Runecrypt should hire someone who knows what they're doing instead of someone who contributes a lot but knows next to nothing about putting it on the site. (They can keep contributing, though. )

You can always keep applications in mind, too.

Ruk wasn't wrong in employing outside help. That's how I appointed Ruk, Cloud, and many others to RuneCrypt who contributed much. It's current policy that has wrongfully gave members the idea that users need to be active on these forums to contribute. Sorry, but quit being tools. It's time to step up.

The hard part is finding suitable developers, not changing the policy.

I can't see many people from the normal batch we have here helping out in development.. so we may have to advertise/search for new developers.


row

As clarification, I basically meant opening the pool to programmers who are not necessarily active RC users, but are trustworthy and could give a lot to the site. Otherwise we are looking at about 2 or 3 potential programmers, all of whom can devote little to no time to the site.

Why do they have to devote their time on this site in order to contribute? That's beyond me.

I R PROGRAMMEAR HERE ME ROAR!

Hello. Um, I don't think RuneCrypt's immediate needs are new programmers. I do agree we are far behind in the feature department, but until RuneCrypt escapes this Mk Portal crap it is hard to create something that still looks like its part of RuneCrypt.

Yes, I can make new Calculators and such, but I'd rather see it INSIDE of RuneCrypt, I'm sick of making everything it's own thing. RuneCrypt is starting to look like a whole bunch of ideas smashed together. It doesn't flow.

This is being discussed among Staff members.
~Jeremy~

I think we are making the same argument I am saying, they don't have to be able to make a whole bunch of posts and stuff, but they do need to devote time to RC in terms of time spent programming/coding...

reemuve ze mk pourtalz nowz plox

Users aren't interested as much as the look of a feature, but functionality. Zybez is a prime example. Misplaced interests.

actually. a functional program that looks like crap is less likely to be used by anyone.

you have to always balance functions and eye-candy.

Zybez has done a great job with the eye candy but usability wise, their pathetic

@Soul
Bad functionality can be improved upon, and it may not be the most useful, but at least they have it.

Slayeroftime, you are wrong. You know why I registred at Runecrypt? --Careful-- Because of the looks of the site. It looked great and I loved the functionality of being on the forum, thus being in contact with all of my friends, but also being only 1 click away from loads of information. I had everything at my hand. And when I couldn't find something, I could just go to another fansite which did have it. But I stayed here because of the way it looked. Do not underestimate the need for good looks.
No matter how funny, smart and nice you may be, most likely a girl wont like you if you look like your mom still brushes your teeth.

MKP isn't all that big of a problem to be honest... throw the stuff in an iframe if you are lazy, or have it open in a pop-up. Pop-up calcs are fine, they have em on RS bits and bytes I think, and those are very functional. Looks should not hold developers back, as it is easier to fix the CSS and stuff, but its no good at all if the features don't exist.

I'm sorry, but that is one of the most retarded posts I have read aside from all the spam and porn posted by noobs. Sticking something in an iframe is stupid for many reasons. Not all browser support iframes, they aren't and can't be fluid (without the use of JS, which is just more retarded). It is a crappy way, RuneCrypt always finds the hacks and shortcut ways to do things. It requires me to go out of my way to make sure what I make works in MKP. Iframes and popups are unattractive especially when their content is themed unlike the rest of the website. Like I said in my previous post...

MKP is a great BASE for RuneCrypt, it gave the site a very strong foundation.
What I think, is maybe RuneCrypt should get some outside help. RuneCrypt should completely revamp the site, get rid of this cruddy Mk Portal and move to its own. Look at the larger fan sites: RuneHQ, RuneTips, Zybez... I don't see them running Mk Portal, they are all on their own custom software.

From what I gather, there are three things stopping RC growth.
1. Everyone (staff) is scared to move away from Mk Portal becuase RC might lose loyal users.
2. Little programmers, me and cmafia can't do everything. And I wouldn't consider either of us professionals.
3. Site Administrator is always MIA.


~Jeremy~

Exactly.



Well, then perhaps if you have such a problem with making it appealing for other users, leave it to beaver and have someone else make it look all nice.



Design freedom. You don't need to overhaul the MK Portal to have design freedom. There's no reason why you should use the MK Portal to endorse key features to begin with. The MK Portal should only be used by general staff to write guides and maintain them. Think outside the portal, and start designing features with RuneCrypt in mind. Trying to remove the MK Portal is working backwards in my opinion, and is only going to cause more unnecessary work, and problems.

For example,
You don't see any other tip site trying to cram their forums into their template like we are. Yet, instead of incorporating the RuneCrypt header/banner to the forum, we're doing the opposite by incorporating the forum into the template, and restricting our usage to expand. The Toplist Script is another prime example of stupidity.



Why try to fix something that isn't broken? There's nothing wrong with the MKP. And, I'm sure that's the way some of the staff members feel. Has nothing to do with being scared. Misplaced interests.


Jeremy, if you get yelled at for expressing your views such as this, you really should consider leaving the staff. There's no need for you to post a disclaimer on your posts to cover yourself. Pretty sad. Maybe that's what's slowing the growth of RuneCrypt.

You're right though Maarten. Eye Candy does go a long way, and I'm not arguing that. However, why try to develop a new look for RuneCrypt, when we can't even get our Skill Calculators to work? Why not develop Skill Planners before we place interests in moving away from MKP?

All I have to say is:
Nice. and Spam.

@ The rest of your post: No.

Edit:
Cmafia's address: 1 Elf Street, Elfenland, Massachusetts 111111
~Jeremy~

How about you expand on your reason Jeremy. Giving a 'No' answer to everything just goes to show you may be the contributing factor why RuneCrypt may not be showing it's potential growth.

Ok, here is my truthful reasoning for why I am a very lazy programmer.

I have better things to do.
RuneCrypt is going no where fast, I don't have the authority to change this. I can't discuss this with Andy. So. I don't do anything.

I work on my own things. And normally I have a lot of school work, but right now it's the holidays
And I posted that disclaimer becuase I know my posts probably offend many staff members

And as for giving a reason to each of yours? Goto hell maybe I don't have to explain my self for each and every situation you can come up with.
@ The rest of your post: No.
~Jeremy~

i agree with jeremy. slayer, ive seen you post TONs of rant topics.. yet whats the point? You know nothings ever going to happened. Dont waste your time. Besides if your this rude, that sort of says why you got kicked off the staff. Im sorry if im being harsh but thats what im thinking from your responses.

example: martins too ugly to get a girlfriend? at least he doesn't say he wants to have gay sex in every post.

and i agree with jeremy. Coding takes time, he has a life. RC doesn't pay him or anything

It's exactly why I was kicked off the staff. And, you're right. Nothing will happen. Maarten has requested that our quarrel be made public, since he feels that me taking our quarrel to within PMs is cowardly.

To the point, why is there a need to continue to put efforts into stepping outside of the MK Portal by replacing it, when there are other projects that need to be attended to first? RuneCrypt doesn't need it. Period.

<I edited it this post like 5 times within 2 minutes.> <3

Hergh. Honestly children; keep it clean or keep it off. There are plenty of sensible points being made so lets just try and stick with those rather than insulting each other. I appreciate that we have a conflict of character but diversity does present a lot of useful features.

Maarten, Kevin: If you can't play nice, don't play at all. I don't really want to be having to hand you each out warnings every time you flame each other for the three days it would take you both to be banned.

Anyway, to the point. As has been stated, we are currently discussing the status of our current programmers and the future of such roles at the moment in the staff room.

The MKportal problem is still being worked on, as are discussions of future content being discussed.

a solution to the problem is that you just make the template possible to put outside of mkportal. have a few includes, and just use this on everything that needs php so you only need to update one place every time you change the nav a bit. keep using mkportal, but have the switch between mkportal and php using pages seemless, and using the same navigation.

Exactly what you have said has been attempted with the Top Site system. I don't know about you, but I find it very ugly. Also, if we do this, we have to recreate all the features that MKP has, which is pointless. If we are going to recreate the whole thing, why have MKP in the first place.



Can you not read? This is what half of this topic is about... The limitations of MKP prevent these areas from being update. Along with pretty much everything else I have said, which I don't feel like re-summarizing.

~Jeremy~

Kevin, I have no idea why you always have to insult people to try and make a point, it's almost sad. I don't care if you want to insult me, but that's another thing.

Anyway, Jeremy you are probably right. But the problem is, Runecrypt looks so much prettier with Mkportal, and besides, it probably wont be removed anwyay... Not anytime soon at least. If it had to be removed, first a proper basis of features which wont work inside MKportal should be made/listed to see if there really is enough reasoning to get rid of it. Since most of us have no idea what this list would be, it might be nice to put some examples of stuff that wont work because of MKportal here.

SoT should have never been unbanned in the first place... just because he can talk nice.

How is his point invalid? Who cares how he gets his message out, so long as he has a valid point; if he's listened to, it could seriously improve RuneCrypt.

I can read. Can you? If the MK Portal has sooo many limitations, then don't use it for your features. Again, since you obviously weren't reading, the MK Portal should only be used by staff to post content. Features in themselves, that need room to grow (such as the toplist you mentioned), shouldn't be expected to be placed in the MK Portal to begin with, and like I stated before, would only allow for further designer freedom. I'm not quite sure how many more times I have to state this before it makes sense...

Also, larger features such as the dynamic signatures should only be accessed by a few selected staff members who know what they doing. All the more reason why these features should be outside the MK Portal to begin with. Removing the MK Portal however, would only deter staff members in their ability to update guides more efficiently, and effectively.

We've seen the result of moving away from the MK Portal. As stated already, it looks ugly, and the functionality doesn't go beyond any measure that isn't provided with the Portal.






As I've stated many times before, it's not what is being said, it's who says it. It's very unfortunate to see that RuneCrypt is moving backwards in those areas that need most help. But, when you listen to users who have no idea what they're talking about - what else is there to expect?

@ Bliz, I am so sorry that I don't seem very nice in my threads. I do assure you, I'm quite likable. Maybe if I added a little more '!!!!' and a few more smilies in my posts such as this , it would really come out. Thank you for the suggestion, and I do hope that your opinion will change

okay, i guess some of us are against MKportal. Like me. Simply because it looks stupid and i don't know.. it just doesn't look Web 2.0'ish

(Watch your language)

No.

This whole thread has been going in circles since anything after the first page.
I have understood what you have been trying to say since your first post. I just completely disagree with what you are saying becuase you always think you are right. You are so freaking full of your self its is just so funny. You think everything you say and do and create or come up with is the perfect, most flaw-free way of doing it.

Also, the signatures are made out side of Mk Portal, that was the only way of doing them. But if I have to rely fully on JavaScript for creation of the code. It's rather annoying, especially for anyone who doesn't have JavaScript enabled.


I can read And if I don't use MKP's features....Then its gonna look ugly, its not going to match. That statement, if anything other than being retarded, defends my point of view. Like you and I have already stated, when we rely on things outside of MKP to create, ugly things like the Top Site list come out.


I got bored so I decided I'm going to just repost everything we talk about to create even more spam. You can go ahead a restate you point again, as I don't care about it.

More to the point. This topic should be close, as I think nearly all of us can agree that SoT is, infact, a retard and ex-staff member. I think we have all taken your point into consideration, no matter how stupid it may be, and there is no need for the constant quoting and restating the same points over and over...especially when none of us really have the authority to make these changes.

SoT, go away.
~Jeremy~

This goes to prove my point that you have no valid points to make, and as I stated in my previous posts, it doesn't matter what is being said, but rather who states it. I'm rather amused by this.


Oh yes, I am very full of myself. And, I won't apologize for my confidence either. However, you yourself are quite similar on that infraction that you are accusing me of.


That argument has no merit. According to w3schools (http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp), 94% of all internet users, who use a browser to connect to the internet, have Javascript enabled, which has been increasing by 1-2% each year. For those users who don't use Javascript, they'll will be missing out on more than just dynamic signatures on the internet, and a simple notice of, "Must have JavaScript enabled." would suffice.

Please, do entertain me, and provide a better reason to remove the MK Portal than that. With that argument alone, you are stating you want to cater to the minority. Then again, you haven't made much sense thus far.



Aw, why so butt hurt? Not getting your way?

actually. Most people DO have javascript enabled, but do you know that most people use the internet explorer series? And internet explorer tends to say every piece of javascript is dangerous with a popup. What will people think then? Omfggg runecrypt is a virus!

and yeah. thats why PHP is used, i use PHP on my sites generation page. Why? because its server side and you don't have to rely on the clients browser.

One more thing, why do you even bother SOT? RC has been this way for a while now, your not even part of the staff. In my opinion give it up..

IE7 is [a little] better, but IE6 gives me the impression that the internet is a virus. If IE6 were to claim a site is dangerous, I'd probably think it was safer then a site that doesn't give me a warning... If someone gets a warning here, you know full well they'll get warnings on every other page on the Internet.



Why should people have to be part of the staff to give reasonable advice?


Javascript should only be used when there's no other alternative. If something is doable in PHP, do it in PHP, and if you can, enhance it with Javascript, unobtrusively.

Yes, I do realize that most people use Internet Explorer. However, that's quite an extreme view to look upon it. As mentioned by Falln Archon, they'd have more issues at hand visiting other sites, before they came upon RuneCrypt.

I don't have the energy to fully reply to this thread atm, but:

Internet Explorer does support JavaScript. Please try again? There's no reason to favor Firefox with those statistics leading that Internet Explorer is much more favored.

No one is arguing IE is better than FF, or that no one uses JS...
Try and stay a bit on topic please.
~Jeremy~

I'll have to side with keeping MKPortal. It's a bitch to program, I get it. It'll be even worse transitioning to a site that isn't based on it though. It's simply not worth the time nor the effort.

Personally I'd be fine giving Jeremy basically a site on the server, letting him design everything the way he wants. As long as it gets the job done, who cares. We could have all our features link directly to his site. Same deal goes for Falln. I'd have no problem hosting Fallen X, letting him tweak and design it as he pleases. Main point is I want all the features on our server. Probably wouldn't go very well with everyone else, but hey, if we're stating opinions, that's mine.

Maintaining the RuneCrypt theme just isn't much of a concern to me. We have it on the site, goes well with everything on the site, let's leave it at that. If every part of the site can look good, I have no problem with it. Honestly, I think our best course of action is splitting up the site. We could have client.runecrypt.com, features.runecrypt.com, clans.runecrypt.com and so on. Sure we'll have a white mainsite, a black clientsite, a brown feature site. No need to discriminate, we can all live together happily

I agree with MPX... as I said before, coloring shouldn't hold us back. Heck, throw me a special member title "CSS Manager" and I'll go around tweaking all the features to look decent.

Just get the features coded and online, not necessarily within MKP either if it is a big feature... I mean, obviously a web client would not be within the template. Basically:

MKP for content
OTHER for big features

Woohoo, so, when are we moving?

Btw having read all of that, i can honesty say Jeremy and SoT, grow up.

Also the fact that a site admin is only just posting and showing there opinion in here, especially since it seems to be a really serious matter, is rediculous!!!

I dont see MPX or Andy online much, like Jeremy said there always MIA. They both need to get a grip and take there fingers out there arseholes.

Err... Marcus?

Mpx is on a lot man.. get your facts straight.


row

Hmm, well, sorry MPX.

And it seems ppl have got me wrong, i wasn't flaming Andy or MPX, im just saying, if your an admin on a site, u need to be active :S

Fair play rl is more important, but a post here, a post there, show ur face once in a while, ya kno

Sorry MPX

Right. We're off topic, we're not going anywhere and I really don't feel like being a fascist and warning everyone right now.

If anyone can think of a valid reason why this topic should be opened, send me a message. Good luck getting it reopened though.

Just thought I'd get this straight:

• We are staying on MKPortal.
• We can put lots of stuff on MKPortal thanks to Fallen. He has found a neat way to include full PHP features into the template.
• We already attempted moving offsite with the TopSite, but we can now include that in the real template so there is no point
• Any really really big features can open in a pop up, but anything that would be included in the template if we weren't using MKP, will be put in MKP.
• There is no excuse for blaming MKP for 'holding us back' - That is bull.

If you don't agree with this post, that sucks for you.