WinCustomize 2K5: Status Report

Growing Pains

from JoeUser Forums

Hooking up a new site that gets millions of visitors each month is a challenge and boy are we being reminded of that.

So where are we?  Well, we're currently working through performance issues across the site. And so we're trying to narrow down ways of improving performance of the site overall.

We have lots of bandwidth. The problem boils down to servers (we need more), optimizing code, and optimizing the database. 

We apologize for performance issues, we're working very very hard to keep things rolling. Stay tuned..

14,786 views 28 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
WOM will be waiting for the next report.


I take it the new servers are on the way?
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Great job so far.
Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hmm...do I sense another subscription drive?

Anywho, best of luck!
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Nice work to everyone! I really like the new site, and I'm glad things are going as well as they are.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think this site looks good ... I'm just having some issues updating my personal information in the profile section.

Not sure if that is a known issue or not but... then I know you have more important things to deal with at the moment so its no big deal just thought i would throw that out there....

Keep up the awsome work
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Considering all that your doing here is to improve the users experience, what you have done so far is great. Further improvements are the icing on the cake!
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top


Oh yeah, and I forgot;
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Every time the new site makes me yell 'Get Moving!' I'm going to kill a small Arabian goat.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
so far so good here. maybe its because I'm on dsl? had a couple of script errors when searching for stuff in the libraries, but that was yesterday. today, so far its fine.

I'll find ways to break the system. I have a nack for that.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Looks pretty good and seems to load quite a bit faster. Navigation looks to be easier too, but I have only taken a cursory look so far. Keep up the great work!!
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Working mostly fine, had a couple times it didn't want to load but doin good, and I do like the new setup, been using it on and off for a couple weeks and I like the way the articles and such are featured more.....stuff that I tended to miss before..gonna be a much nicer site once everyone figures it out....us and you...Well Done
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It's slow (slower than the old site), I get a lot of server errors and sometimes the page don't show up at all, I have to click on more links on the new site to get me where I want to go, the rating system don't show what or if you have rated a skin before, doesn't work very well with the Opera browser and more... Seems like beta to me so far, and I really hope to see a lot of changes.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I try to update my personal information (the age is incorrect) and I keep getting logon failed, I've added the site name to my allow list, but still get the same problem, any suggestions?
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
On the old site I was able to limit the "Gallery" to the particular libraries I wanted to see available. In other words, I did not have to see references to libraries of skins to programs in which I have no interest. This new site does not allow me to trim the very lengthy list of "galleries" of libraries available for viewing and I have to wade through the long list to find the three or four that interest me.
I suggest you create a way to allow each user to personalize or limit the available Galleries to their own need.
Additionally, under the old site, I was able to bookmark a WinCustomize Library to return to. Now I cannot find a way to do this. Therefore, I am finding the difficulty mentioned above (the inability to limit viewing of available Galleries) a hindrance in getting to the areas of the new WinCustomize I use the most. This means I don't check the site as frequently as I used to because each return visit can't be as quick due to the need to set up each new visit with a winnowing down of which Galleries I want to see. Additionally, I am unable to personalize which "view" I want to see the Gallery in - "Light View" or "Enhanced View." Although my choice hasn't changed, I have to adjust the site each time I check a different Gallery. Very annoying, eh? Could this be part of the site personalization?
Other than these difficulties, I think you have done a great job of improvement. It is a work in progress.
Thanks.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
overall a great improvement. here's something though: if i let Zonealarm Pro block web bugs, the spacers between the "Watch List" "My Account" and "My Skins" tabs at the top don't render, and if i look at the source it appears that a cgi bug is being blocked. i can't insert the actual line here because of the way the messages render. what is this all about?
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm having the same problems as Farguard. I don't come here that often now either because of these problems & much slower loading of the site/subsequent pages. Problems aside, the site is more pleasing & informative. I can see how much hard work has been put into this new site & I appreciate it. Thanks!
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Regardless of anything, you guys are doing a hell of a job. I recommend you guys to anybody who wants to skin anything. Kick Ass!!!
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Really great work so far, looking good.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Wasn't ODNT subscribers also suppose to be able to create their own userpages?
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yes. I believe they already can.
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Looking good - very tasteful! ok - I'm using WinXP. My screen res is 1280 x 1040. I have large fonts enabled. I'm using FireFox.

I was able to log in without any trouble. I had some screen spacing weirdness before I logged in (tiling graphics &I had to scroll horizantally, blech!) but logging in resolved most of that. The only problem I'm still seeing is that the background graphic for the "Browse Site" side bar is still tiling. It's only that one sidebar. The background for the other sides - "This Just In" and "Resources", etc - look perfect.

I only mention this because you asked for feedback. Good luck on the rest of your redesign!
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hello Kyhlwch,

I'm testing the site in FireFox (0.9.2) I can't seem to duplicate your issue. If you could please, tell me what page you are viewing (or better still, send me an email with a screen shot at [email protected]) so I can determine how to fix the issue.

Thank you Kyhlwch!
George
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm sailing through the site now. The only performance issue is the picures for skin previews are still a little slow, but there's really no way to fix that.
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
A bunch of points: I'm on a fast connection using firefox and it doesn't seem to load any faster. I like the new streamlined interface, I think you guys did a great job. Looking at the source, it looks like all the graphics pointers have absolute urls. Why? How about having alternate styles you can switch between? For example, you could "preview" Universe Metal on the site by choosing the appearence to be that. That brings another idea. It wold be nifty if you could make the site in the style of some of the more popular or intereresting skins. Then you could have a "like this skin? Download it here!" link. Alright, I ran out of stuff to say. Out.

PS. Green smilies????