Subeta -

August 6, 2008 12:03 pm

Hi everyone, happy August!

I'm posting to let you guys know that at midnight subeta time tonight, we'll be taking the site offline for a few minutes to do some reorganization.

A few days ago one of our web servers suffered a crash. This particular web server is the one we use for programming Subeta, and also the one that ran the crons ("cron" is short for "chronological" and is programmer-speak for a script that runs according to a schedule. All timed events on subeta, like shops restocking, are controlled by crons.)

Anyway, we took the opportunity to reorganize our code a bit, making it a lot easier for programmers to code and test new features for the site. Some of our changes make it necessary to take the entire site offline for a brief period while we move things around.

I'd say the site will be down for 20 minutes or so, depending on how things go. Because we'll be moving around the code itself, there will be no "downtime" page; instead, your Firefox (you are using Firefox, right? and not IE? good!) will be unable to connect to Subeta until things come back up.

As always, thanks for your patience and support!

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Kudos to IE Users! Us IE'ers love IE (:

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Haha. FF > IE

IE is baaaaad.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Mm, I use IE6. Rather prefer it, but I play Subeta in Firefox, because it looks and behaves better there. But anything IE6 can handle, I use IE6 for. Can see how it's a pain in the butt though, I've recently been trying to code a forum to cater to FF, IE7, and IE6, and the lack of fixed positioning has been a monster. But alas, I have triumphed! =D

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Alx, you are just fabulous. Thank you for being so... attentive to our need for info. I'm so glad we have you around.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

anything but FF is just slow and gross.

and you can download it at mozilla.com xD

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

-Has IE.- ._.; How do I get this firefox you speak of, and is it free? >=D Thanks for update.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Icweweasel ftw.

Updates that I read after they are done, even better, mostly

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Ahhh update AND info! alx<script type="text/javascript">toolTip('userinfo_alx_1', '

alx
Administrator
Name: Alex Rickabaugh
Posts:: 9

', 'User Information');</script> you are the BEST thing to happen to Subeta! Having this info enables us to plan ahead, and your updates acknowledge that time is indeed important to manage! Thank you for that.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

thanks for the heads up.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

I honestly loathe IE. Firefox and Opera have never stopped in the middle of loading a page on Subeta and replaced it with an obnoxious "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage" message or the like so far. I suspect that one of the Microsoft programmers might have just made a typo in the code or something (that wouldn't happen with Firefox, either).

Thanks for the advance notice. I wasn't particularly thrilled at the various times before when I tried to log on with the site was down and only learned about the downtime after the site returned.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Thanks again for keeping us updated, Alx. Firefox ftw.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

What, no squirrels? Bah! Thanks for allowing the opportunity to post an inane comment.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

points below, I sent her a link for it..

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Oh yeah, I also have problems trying to create my avi - is that an IE problem. I had problems when I first joined but then it worked fine for a while (I think I may have done some updates or something - I don't remember exactly) and now I have problems again.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Thanks for the update and explanation - it helps people like me who can barely turn the computer on, nevermind understand it. I've heard before that Firefox is better than IE, but I am not sure how to go about switching them. IE was automatically there when I bought my computer - is Firefox something I need to buy or is it just a download? Thanks again!!

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Thanks for the heads up! We all appreciate it.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Alex, you're the bestest head programmer this site ever had

Thank you so much for the GREAT update breaking it down for people like ME who haven't slept in a day and are a bit "duuuuur" right now.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Quote:

; border: 1px solid ; font-family: georgia; font-size: 10;"> This better fix the items in shops.

LOL @ demanding stuff

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

This better fix the items in shops. I'm having trouble locating some items because they're out of order and shops keep randomizing my search results. I have bought things from the Crystal Shop that I can't find and I don't want to buy them AGAIN!

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Thankls for the heads up! ....I'm using IE T^T But its not like I'm gonna be on at midnight anyways xDD

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Cool.. thanks for letting us know!

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

It is great that you are letting us know about downtime in advance, for all the reasons people have said already.

I also play on a site called Kingdom of Loathing. Their site goes down for maintenance every night for 30-45 mins. On Saturday night, it is down for maintenance for an hour. Everyone knows, nobody complains, that's just the way it is.

KoL is very low-tech, stick figures only, but it is almost completely reliable. I have never seen it go totally down.

Just wanted to toss that out there.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

oh, yeah, Firefox rox for subeta!

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Having info and knowing ahead of time=GOOD Blindsighted and not knowing=BAD LOL thanks alx if I were younger, I know I love you wink

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

jl77us: no, it won't affect that

Modsoul: IE's many, albeit improving, security problems aside (and antiviruses/adware scanners that detect malicious code after IE lets it onto your computer don't make IE any better)...

From a programmer's standpoint, IE is terrible. It lacks solid support for standard things that other browsers have supported for years. Often it does support these things, but in different and unusual, IE-only ways. Even when it does claim to support standards, IE is often very buggy. The result is that to support IE, otherwise simple code becomes far more complex, and far more susceptible to bugs in all browsers.

At Subeta, we attempt to support IE, but like many, many other websites, you will always get the best results by using a standards-compliant browser, like Firefox, Opera, etc.

xth: Did you know that Maxthon uses IE's layout engine unless otherwise configured, and will be susceptible to the same CSS problems that IE has?

Of course, you should always use what browser you like and works best for you, I'm just saying that you'll probably have fewer problems on Subeta (and other sites) if you steer clear of IE. We'll try to support it, but it might not always work correctly

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

thanks for the new update

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

I agree with Lava also, these post are so friendly and KIND! Thank you..

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Yes, Firefox.. do I get a cookie?

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Actually, thank YOU for explaining things and letting us know about the downtime.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

I absolutely love this fresh, friendly operations department. It's wonderful to know when the site is going down, and why, and to be told in a simplified (but professional) way.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

I'm glad we're getting warned before downtime now, atleast. :s

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Firefox good! IE bad! pounds on chest and goes RAWR

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Alex - your updates are such a breath of fresh air! Thanks for keeping us informed. I for one appreciate knowing that the site is going down before hand. It's a bummer when the crons don't work properly or need resetting - usually that means that thousands of people can't do what they usually do when they are on line, I am so glad they are being tended to

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Thanks for letting us know ahead of time and not 10 minutes before the site is about the go down xD Like some notices were before and I never got a chance to read them before the site ka-poofed. And yes, I'm using firefox xD IE is made of fail on my computer :c IE7 = worse then IE6. Or my Vista just killed it and it takes 20 hours to load and then I gotta update the stupid thing everytime I try and open it.

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

You guys are doing a great job keeping us informed about downtime, giving us lots of notice, and explaining what's being done and why. Much appreciated!!

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by

Thank you for keeping us updated, I will be waiting here for subeta to get back online cuz its worth the wait...Firefox is the best, I never cared for IE

December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm by