Let's fix BCFiles together

[Mario]

Unlike most threads which cropped up over here bashing BCFiles and or Filefront, let's try and do something about it in this one. I decided to write a little Firefox plugin which will "fix" those problems for us.

These are the bugs that I've identified so far. Have in mind that I don't use filefront a lot anymore so do share your issues with me over here so that we can together come up with a solution.

Exhibit 1:



Time travel appears to be a reality at least on Filefront. I'm pretty sure this isn't the correct page.

Resolution: Reload the page automatically

Exhibit 2:



No file?!?

Resolution: Reload the page automatically until we get the page we want

Exhibit 3:



Browsing an image gallery you get a beautiful blank page.

Resolution: Reload the page automatically until we get the proper image

Let's continue with the list. Issues 2 and 3 can easily be fixed but number 1 is a bit problematic to say the least. There is nothing in the HTML document which I can use as a point of reference to know that the page went FUBAR. 2 and 3 I easily fixed in the extension which I'm working on at the moment.

[Phoenix Bondi]

So once i get all the information i need to set up my one, wouldn't it be better to build one as a group and have one we all helped to create? i mean not everyone likes firefox, i myself like IE ---- OK OK hold the guns i kid i kid...I like chrome!

[CyAn1d3]

OK OK hold the guns i kid i kid...I like chrome!

chrome.... GRRR 

my only issue is with GF themselves, 3 times now already they have dropped my link for the Ragnarok, and a few times a few others

[Mario]

So once i get all the information i need to set up my one, wouldn't it be better to build one as a group and have one we all helped to create?

Building a site takes time, we're talking about here and now. I've worked on and managed web projects which took months to complete, it all depends on the scope of the project though. But there is no small web app nowadays.

While on the browser front, I have 6 browsers installed myself (Firefox, IE, Chrome, Safari, Opera & Maxthon). I prefer Firefox above all else though mostly due to the richness of web development extensions available.

[CyAn1d3]

I prefer Firefox above all else though mostly due to the richness of web development extensions available.

this, also FF seems to just run faster to me

[Mario]

this, also FF seems to just run faster to me

It does? I could swear benchmarks state otherwise.

[ACES_HIGH]

the "time travel" is because only one of the three servers the site is on is updating when we add new files or anything like that.

[Mario]

the "time travel" is because only one of the three servers the site is on is updating when we add new files or anything like that.

I figured as such. However I need to find a reference in the HTML document to detect that the "time travel" occurred to refresh the page.

[King Class Scout]

I see, from the screen caps, it keeps reverting back to the March 31st '11 page.

and, yes.  filefront themselves has said this.  they also said something about the servers not talking to each other.

but there's only 3 of them?  curious.

[Mario]

I suppose I could use the dates as a reference however that's not the ideal solution in a such environment. I need to browse the BCFiles HTML markup in depth.

[Defiant]

So you really want to reload bcfiles 5-10x until a "good" version appears? That makes we want to bash filefront even more..

[Mario]

Do I have a choice?

[FarShot]

I'm by no means a scripter but perhaps I may contribute an idea?

Is it possible to have the extension check what info is coming in and if it sees a particular item being loaded up, say, the word "Sulaco", it then automatically refreshes until it isn't?

[Mario]

One can only search the HTML document for that term. But can you elaborate the idea a bit more?

[FarShot]

I'm by no means a scripter...

Can't elaborate much when I know about... this... much.

[Mario]

Is it possible to have the extension check what info is coming in and if it sees a particular item being loaded up, say, the word "Sulaco", it then automatically refreshes until it isn't?

I meant this. In your own words

[FarShot]

Well I guess what I'm trying to say is like this:

The old page that loads up has some visual and textual indicators that it is the old page.  Namely, the couple of mods that show up as mod of the week, like the Sulaco and the Wraith Hive.  Could you make a condition in the extension that checks if these things are present and if so, it automatically reloads until it no longer sees them, in other words, sees the third server's correct front page?

[tiqhud]

when I first go to BCfiles , before I refresh,  the file of the week is the " Babylon 5 Whitestar (1.0) "

[FarShot]

when I first go to BCfiles , before I refresh,  the file of the week is the " Babylon 5 Whitestar (1.0) "

Yeah, whatever, I wasn't sure which one was the actual file of the week.  Didn't bother to actually check BCF to verify the fact.  I'm back from camp now (had an awesome time btw, even though I had to deal with pesky kids) so I'll get my facts straight next time.

[Mario]

Thanks for clarification. I've been exploring which rules to use to determine that the wrong homepage was served. So it's safest to say that I might use all of the ones mentioned + few more.