Combat Garage Issues/Update

ammulder · 05-07-2016, 11:27 AM

Just want to give everyone an update on this...

The underlying problem is that my hosting provider has changed the Ruby configuration and procedures on the new server I was moved to. The back end of the Combat Garage (the part that talks to the database and generates PDFs) runs in Ruby. So navigating the car design screens should work OK, but anything that saves or loads data (designs, stock cars, etc.) and the PDF functionality is either broken or unreliable.

I've basically regretted going with Ruby ever since I did it, because it's been so sensitive to details of the server configuration that aren't under my control -- what particular Ruby versions and gems happen to have been installed by other people and etc. However at the time, it was the only thing I could host cheaply that also had a decent library for generating the PDFs.

Now rather than continue to fight these battles, I am planning to swap out the back end for something that's not so subject to the parts of the server configuration that are not under my control.

But, as you might expect, it will take a little time.

My hope is that you can be a little patient, and as soon as possible, I will switch it over to a different system that should be more reliable and easier to maintain. Probably I will make the switch when the basic parts (not including PDFs) are working, and then I'll keep updating the new version until it catches up with where we were a couple weeks ago.

I'm sorry I didn't really foresee all this happening. I guess I wasn't sufficiently pessimistic about the whole "upgrade" process. :)

Bourgeois Stalker · 05-07-2016, 11:34 AM

Need us to send any pizza and/or energy drinks? That's what programmers live on, right?

Herod · 05-07-2016, 11:43 AM

Yeah, I'd gladly chip in for a pizza. :)

Thanks so much for working on it.

H

ammulder · 05-07-2016, 12:57 PM

Heh. I'm at that point of my programmerdom where what I could really use is someone to take care of my, er, Munchkins while I work. :)

juris · 05-07-2016, 03:05 PM

Keep up the good 'work' AM ;)

Hemlock · 05-08-2016, 12:24 PM

Idea for an update/ improvement to the CW builder.

In the 'browse stock cars' section, you could allow people to search the car selection by the number of stars it ranks.

One button to set the cars in order from highest rank to low.
Another button to list lowest to highest.

Maybe a couple of buttons to search according star ranking "All cars 3 stars or better" For example.

josephrey · 05-08-2016, 06:12 PM

Munchkins! Makes me miss my Philadelphia roots, and all those Dunkin Donuts!

kabson · 05-09-2016, 12:20 AM

I can't image this being an easy job. Good luck!

Racer · 05-12-2016, 03:46 PM

You've probably noticed already , but you can't post any comments under 'ideas behind this design' at the moment .
I'm not sure if it's a small glitch or to do with other ongoing problems ?

Breaker2112 · 05-22-2016, 10:53 AM

Mulder,

Thanks so much for the Combat Garage. I am a regular user of it, particularly around convention season (which is now, unfortunately). Is there anything we can do from our end to help? I'd be happy to pitch in some extra cash if it helps. Any idea on your timeline?

Thanks,

Breaker

05-07-2016, 11:27 AM	#1
ammulder Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Philadelphia Area	Combat Garage Issues/Update Just want to give everyone an update on this... The underlying problem is that my hosting provider has changed the Ruby configuration and procedures on the new server I was moved to. The back end of the Combat Garage (the part that talks to the database and generates PDFs) runs in Ruby. So navigating the car design screens should work OK, but anything that saves or loads data (designs, stock cars, etc.) and the PDF functionality is either broken or unreliable. I've basically regretted going with Ruby ever since I did it, because it's been so sensitive to details of the server configuration that aren't under my control -- what particular Ruby versions and gems happen to have been installed by other people and etc. However at the time, it was the only thing I could host cheaply that also had a decent library for generating the PDFs. Now rather than continue to fight these battles, I am planning to swap out the back end for something that's not so subject to the parts of the server configuration that are not under my control. But, as you might expect, it will take a little time. My hope is that you can be a little patient, and as soon as possible, I will switch it over to a different system that should be more reliable and easier to maintain. Probably I will make the switch when the basic parts (not including PDFs) are working, and then I'll keep updating the new version until it catches up with where we were a couple weeks ago. I'm sorry I didn't really foresee all this happening. I guess I wasn't sufficiently pessimistic about the whole "upgrade" process. :)

05-07-2016, 11:34 AM	#2
Bourgeois Stalker Join Date: May 2014 Location: Sacramento, CA	Re: Combat Garage Issues/Update Need us to send any pizza and/or energy drinks? That's what programmers live on, right?

05-07-2016, 11:43 AM	#3
Herod Join Date: May 2005	Re: Combat Garage Issues/Update Yeah, I'd gladly chip in for a pizza. :) Thanks so much for working on it. H

05-07-2016, 12:57 PM	#4
ammulder Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Philadelphia Area	Re: Combat Garage Issues/Update Heh. I'm at that point of my programmerdom where what I could really use is someone to take care of my, er, Munchkins while I work. :)

05-07-2016, 03:05 PM	#5
juris Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: CA	Re: Combat Garage Issues/Update Keep up the good 'work' AM ;)

05-08-2016, 12:24 PM	#6
Hemlock Join Date: Nov 2007	Re: Combat Garage Issues/Update Idea for an update/ improvement to the CW builder. In the 'browse stock cars' section, you could allow people to search the car selection by the number of stars it ranks. One button to set the cars in order from highest rank to low. Another button to list lowest to highest. Maybe a couple of buttons to search according star ranking "All cars 3 stars or better" For example.

05-08-2016, 06:12 PM	#7
josephrey Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: on the road!! check out www.chingchingwong.com to see where we currently are. :)	Re: Combat Garage Issues/Update Munchkins! Makes me miss my Philadelphia roots, and all those Dunkin Donuts!

05-09-2016, 12:20 AM	#8
kabson Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Somewhere outside London, UK	Re: Combat Garage Issues/Update I can't image this being an easy job. Good luck! __________________ Hy twegen sceolon tæfle ymbsittan þenden him hyra torn toglide. [Two should sit at a game together, until their troubles slip away - old English maxim]

05-12-2016, 03:46 PM	#9
Racer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: London, UK	Re: Combat Garage Issues/Update You've probably noticed already , but you can't post any comments under 'ideas behind this design' at the moment . I'm not sure if it's a small glitch or to do with other ongoing problems ? __________________ Five Gauss Guns on a Camper !!! The Resident Brit .

05-22-2016, 10:53 AM	#10
Breaker2112 Join Date: May 2016	Re: Combat Garage Issues/Update Mulder, Thanks so much for the Combat Garage. I am a regular user of it, particularly around convention season (which is now, unfortunately). Is there anything we can do from our end to help? I'd be happy to pitch in some extra cash if it helps. Any idea on your timeline? Thanks, Breaker