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  1. tomw
    Member

    Hello, my name is Tom. I'm the developer of ztml, which is a system written in PHP that provides tools where you can use to build websites easily. I teamed up with an entrepreneur and use ztml to provide a service called http://buibase.org . One of the features of this service is to let you create a site by selecting themes from a list of designs from open web designs.

    Some of the regulars here might be aware of the OWD community problems. The original site ( http://oswd.org ) is pretty much dead. The last set of approved designs was dated 01/22/07. The first OWD spin-off ( http://openwebdesign.org ) has not added any new designs since May and the forum is pretty much taken over by spammers. Although this site is clean and the community is very active but there are signs that this might not last.

    For example, Sean who holds everything together is already planned on leaving; lobsterman who helped the site construction from the beginning is not very involved lately. And the site is hosted by donation. Who knows what would happen if that suddenly ended.

    What I would like to do is to set up a site for each designer with a list of his or her designs stored in that site. I'll convert those designs into themes where anyone can use for the page layout. Each site will have a link list, something like a link exchange, so that all the designs can be easily found. These designs can also be saved in one of more locations that act as central depository so that the designs will not be gone if any of the designers sites are no longer available. Let me know if anyone here is interested in participating in this project. Thanks.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  2. uberlemurguy
    Moderator

    I think you should prepare for the worst but for know we still thrive. Someone could step up. I know I could help out but I wouldn't be able to put in much on the weekdays, but I could on the weekend. Also, i find it hard to believe that Sean will suddenly just leave and never come back.
    Posted 3 years ago #
  3. sean has been saying that he will only leave when he knows OD is stable. And plus he is just not being the admin. he will still be a member. I dont see this site falling apart anytime soon. and if it does a new site made by the same people will come up.
    Posted 3 years ago #
  4. After a lot of research in other open design communities, I can see why OD will not make the same tragic mistakes as other sites have. The combination of a clean design and a solid purpose will keep this community going for a long long time. I'm not trying to say that your idea is bad or not needed. I think you have a great idea. Good Luck!
    Posted 3 years ago #
  5. Sean
    Founding Member

    Indeed, I am not leaving OD until things are in a stable place.

    Without going over it again, you can search and find this already in other threads, but I was part of OSWD, then an admin on OWD and of course I'm a founding member of OD.

    What you are proposing Tom is yet another site like OD with some variations... you would be hosting it, running it, etc...

    There is no perfect way to run a site like this. We keep trying with different variations, etc and with each, they improve but I honestly don't see an open source project running 100% smooth without any issues... it's the nature of the beast.

    Oh and in closing, all the site content for OD is backup up in multiple locations a few times a day, so if something was to happen with hosting, not all is lost.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  6. tomw
    Member

    Thanks guys for the feedback. What I'm proposing is not to take over or replace OWD. Instead I'm simply would like to help network all designers together to showcase their works as well as to exchange ideas. I do have in mind that OWD could go the same route as the other two sites. OSWD trouble was cause by unpaid bill and openwebdesigns policy was turning too many people off and thus this community was created. Although OWD does not have to worry about unpaid bill but the site is hosted by donation. What happen if they decided not to continue? The forum guidelines are fair but I do miss reading many of Pete's (perthmetro) colorful postings. And some unwanted comments made ramblingsoul deleted all his designs.

    To demonstrate how this network is set up I just create a site for Connor (buiBase.org/conartist/). This page displays his home page. He can select anyone of his themes for the page layout by logging into his account. He can also use other designers’ themes by downloading them from the main site (buiBase.org/od/).

    The Members and Directory links at the top row are use for networking. Members will show the internal members where the sites are created by signing up. For example I signed up and created this -
    buibase.org/conartist/?use=HomePage.conartist. Directory will provide the links to other designers sites (external members). The external members are added manually so that only the selected designers links will be shown.

    Let me know if anyone wishes to set up a similar site. Thanks.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  7. Sean
    Founding Member

    @Tom: We have enough money in reserve from donations and Google Adsense to cover hosting for one year or more at this moment if we ever lost our donated hosting but our host is a stable company and our relationship with them is solid, so I don't see them discontinuing the donated hosting. As I mentioned in a previous comment, all the content on OD is backed up a few times a day and stored in multiple online and offline locations, so we won't lose any site content if something happened. Worse case we might lose a couple hours of content which isn't too major all things considered.
    Posted 3 years ago #
  8. wfiedler
    Member

    Tom, I really like the idea.

    ... but I do miss reading many of Pete's (perthmetro) colorful postings. And some unwanted comments made ramblingsoul deleted all his designs.

    I feel the same and I'm missing these two guys as well as many others. Pete and Roshan, where are you :hugging:?

    Posted 3 years ago #
  9. Sean
    Founding Member

    Pete left on his own accord. Apparently from the email he sent me, he had personal things going on in his life and didn't want to be associated with OD anymore.
    Posted 3 years ago #
  10. tomw
    Member

    Sean, it's nice to know that OWD can support itself if needed. I'm sure with your involvement in whatever capacity will keep the site going forward. I'm sure we all agree that you're doing a fantastic job development and maintaining the site. You did the same with openwebdesigns but MonkeyMan decided to take the money and walked away. I hope he gave some for all the work you have done.

    My proposal is not to duplicate OD in any ways but to create a type of social networking where designers can share their common interests. As you can see I posted this under Self Promotion so there are self interests here as well. I would like to see if my system can support the network that I'm putting together. It would be great if you or anyone here like to help out. Input and feedback are also welcome.

    I thought Pete got band because of his overly aggressive comments. I wish the best for him.

    Wolfram, I'm glad you like my idea. I've created a site under your name also. I've also converted 25 of your designs into themes.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  11. Jeremy
    Member

    pete was temp banned and decided not to return when it ended :/ tomw- so basically it's like myspace with an emphasis on our work?
    Posted 3 years ago #
  12. bluecafe
    Member

    He was provoked by off topic comments and got punished for getting outraged over it. I am missing his humorous posts ... I think it's a big loss for the forum.
    Posted 3 years ago #
  13. zanzibar
    Member

    I agree with Bluecafe. While not always agreeing with Pete's rants, I found his input added spice to the site and I loved his humour.
    Posted 3 years ago #
  14. Jeremy
    Member

    edited- decided to hold my tongue.
    Posted 3 years ago #
  15. tomw
    Member

    Jeremy, this network can do more. For example, you can create your pages exactly like those of your designs, which is unlike MySpace where some contents are inserted into the pages without your control. Your designs have not been converted yet. If you're interested I'll download them and add them into the list.

    We can add none designers like Pete into the network too. He can be part of the network without participating in the forum. We can visit his site and see what is he up to, that is if he is maintaining the site given to him.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  16. Jeremy
    Member

    I'm curious enough to say "sure! why not?". Sure, I'm interested.
    Posted 3 years ago #
  17. uberlemurguy
    Moderator

    I think you should have it ready but don't attempt to get a lot of people to use it because it might draw people from OD and then you caused the downfall you are trying to prepare for.
    Posted 3 years ago #
  18. Jeremy
    Member

    I for one would never leave OD for another site. I'd exist on both. truth be told, I'd still be on oswd or owd while on this site if they weren't dead and OWD didn't screw everyone over.
    Posted 3 years ago #
  19. tomw
    Member

    Jeremy, thanks for your interest. Here is the site I just set up for you. I've also converted six of your designs into themes. Converting a design into theme is a very simple process. If the design is not overly complicated such as yours it usually takes less than five minutes to do the conversion. The passwords for the members are the same. Change them if you want to protect the setup. Thanks.

    Alec, I don't expect getting a lot of people to join the network unless I'm getting some positive feedback. I'm not sure the type of downfall this might cause. I can set up a site for you too if you're interested in trying it out. Thanks.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  20. kirby145
    Member

    There are so many community features this site is lacking, and the admins cannot add them because the framework (modified Wordpress+cms) does not easily allow them to.

    It is possible that a more in depth user experience for the designers needs to be acquired at this new site, the designer's network. This isn't really a networking site besides the forum. Opendesigns is a great and steady site with good people and templates.

    But I want to see something creative.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  21. Sean
    Founding Member

    @TomW: As for when MonkeyMan sold OWD, I only found out the day he sold it. I offered to buy it from him once I knew he was interested in selling it. I wanted to keep it going how it was originally but he had already sold it... and for more money they I could have afforded... and no, I didn't see a dime from the sale of OWD. As you said, he took the money and ran. Last I spoke to him (over a year ago) he had already spent all the money on useless stuff. Such a shame.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  22. Jan
    Member

    @TomW: I'm game. I was interested in your ztml project way back in the OWD days, but never had time to pursue it. There's too many things happenening around me at the moment (and now I have to move houses!) and I've been mostly away from OD. But I'm trying really hard to get back to web design.
    Posted 3 years ago #
  23. tomw
    Member

    Kirby, I'm sure if we have someone who is very knowledgeable about WP will able to implement the features you have in mind. I understand that WP is a very flexible system. That's one of the reasons why it is very popular. I offered my help using ztml for the initial OD construction but was turned down and WP was chosen. I alone cannot build this network without help. Perhaps you can help out by offering some suggestion instead of just wanting to see it.

    Sean, too bad MonkeyMan did not compensate all the work you've done for the site. As Kirby has noted that you and others here have already built a great and steady site. I'm hope you will be rewarded with all your effect. Please stay on as admin.

    Payal, thanks for your interest. I setup a site for you to play with also. Your designs have already been converted into themes so I just copied them from the main site. I have been promoting my system since the old OSWD days and Frank even mentioned my project in his Designologue (Jan. 18, 2006). Since his site was very popular (somehow it still is per alexa) I got a surge of visitors when he posted that entry.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  24. Matt-Kern
    Member

    I would love to see this community migrate over to Ning. I am spending more and more time their lately and it is a pretty solid system.
    Posted 3 years ago #
  25. niemion
    Member

    Posted By: MattKernI would love to see this community migrate over to Ning
    What is Ning?
    Posted 3 years ago #
  26. Ning in Google Search
    Posted 3 years ago #
  27. fernbap
    Member

    A social networking system is hardly what OD needs. OD needs a portal, and there a lots of them to chose from. Many are at Open Source CMS. Even PHP-Fusion would be better for this website than WP.
    Posted 3 years ago #
  28. kirby145
    Member

    The point is this WP setup is not really working. It's apparently not compatible with plugins and there are no developers here who want to code the features, even if it was possible. I'm talking about things like -Ratings -Comments -Report Violation many more...
    Posted 3 years ago #
  29. tomw
    Member

    Fernando, my proposed networking system is not intended for OD but mainly for designers to showcase their designs and websites. I like your CMS LightNEasy. We both use the same concept of inserting dynamic contents into templates. My system was also showcased at opensourcecms but I took it back since I partnered with an entrepreneur and use the system for his project.

    Kirby, I don't have those functions you suggested but they can be developed.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  30. Matt-Kern
    Member

    <cite>Posted By: fernbap</cite>A social networking system is hardly what OD needs

    IMHO, OD is already a social network and we just need to expand on it. I keep coming back year after year because I like the people behind the posts and wish I could connect with them better than this platform allows.

    That being said, I want to make it clear I am in no way diminishing all the hard work that Sean and the rest have put in to make this site a success, just looking for ways to make it better.

    This is the ONLY site I come back to time and time again that has 2 minute plus load times - if it loads. I don't come back to look at the designs as much, but to see who is around and what conversation is going on.

    I would like to see an community focused solution if we decide to do anything. :bakie:

    Posted 3 years ago #

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