Forum Blog

Chat system has been further optimised - now uses memcache to store online user lists and friend lists.

Before we needed 1 query per person per minute (to load the online statuses of their friends) - now it's 1 query (and it's a tiny one) total per minute ... :woot:

 

Tiny weeny update - the zIndex of the Lightbox has now been updated to make sure it is displayed above everything else.

This way, when you click an attachment, it will now cover the whole screen and the "Prev" "Next" buttons won't be hidden by the chat bar

(As it was a javascript...

 

For the first time in 6 years, the FIAT Forum gets a redesign

Thanks to ThisBitterPill for designing the most amazing header and for putting up with all my little amendments - you rock sir!

I wanted to move away from a totally blue design and make everything look a bit more fun -...

 

I haven't written a blog entry for a while, even though I've been working on things, so sorry about that.

Anyway, for this entry I'll introduce the new user tagging feature to you.

It's pretty simple actually, but basically allows you to "mention" people in posts by putting a @ mark, then...

 

Simple one this - added a "+1" button to all the threads, next to the "New Reply" button

Not really much more to add to that! Oh, unless it's aligning wrongly, then do let me know

 

After the great showing at Stanford, I had a search through the forum and found there is a small, but valid 126 following.

So we've decided to make a dedicated 126 forum - and see how things go.

http://www.fiatforum.com/126/

Venters is the gatekeeper - and is going to do his best to...

 

Updated to the latest version of the mobile skin - it's a bit more flashy, but still not too over the top I think.

A bit easier to read when browsing the thread listings as well.

Let me know what you think

 

Ok people, as you might have noticed last night - the "action bar" under the posts changed, from having big blue buttons, to something a bit more stylish.

There were 2 reasons for this - 1: to look nicer and 2: to allow for what I did after

Drum roll .....

The inbuilt thanks system has now...

 

Ok gang, after testing the subdomains for the last few weeks, I've now properly moved us over to running on a CDN.

What does this mean for you guy?

Well, all the images, javascript and css is now served from a server close to your physical location, rather than needing to come across from the...

 

Trying a few tricks to get the forum pages loading up faster.

First thing I've done is split up all the elements of the site to be loaded from different (cookie-less) sub-domains.

You'll notice things loading from *.fiatcdn.com - which * can be:

i - Images
a - Avatar Images
s - Signature...

 

The main backend of the forum has been upgraded with a minor update.

Last time I had to hash 2 files to stop errors occurring, which I haven't done this time and all seems to be ok.

However, if you get some PHP errors appearing when using the forum, please report them here for me, so I can add...

 

All the model forums now have a little photo icon next to their name - 1 to make it easier for new users to find the right one and, 2 to make the forum look a little nicer

I'll roll out icons for all the other forums over the next week or so

 

As there are going to be some key differences in the US spec'd model, I've now setup a dedicated 500 USA section.

So a warm welcome to all our new USA members

http://www.fiatforum.com/500-usa/

 

After getting years of grief from Helz (bless her) - I've finally got around to getting a fully functional mobile skin on the site.

It will kick in automatically if you are on a mobile device, and offers almost all of the main functionality of the full version - just heavily cut down.

There...

 

Well we tried people - but in the end it seems the groups just weren't integrated enough to keep people interested and thus just got quieter and quieter.

It's all rather complicated why we came around to needing them in the first place - however what's done is done.

Now, we've implemented...

 

Updated the garage to the latest version - will start styling it later on.

I also went though as much of the outstanding submissions I could, but basically.

If you submitted a business with no address, phone number, or website - it was deleted.

Most generic products were also erased, as well...

 

Latest version installed which should deal with some performance issues and run a bit quicker.

Tweets are now integrated directly into it, so no need for the Tweetbar now too

If you find an interesting page on the forum and you want to share it, you can now click the...

 

Updated the definition files for the embedded video links.

Recently a lot of Youtube videos were becoming external links, rather than loading in the video container - however this should be sorted now.

HD movies are sorted too

 

Added direct links to Twitter and Facebook in the site header (under the "100% unofficial star").

I intend to use these a lot more in the future, perhaps a couple of posts a week to advertise what we are doing, so it's good to be able to get there quickly

 

Now this is in testing, as the due to the way it works, I can't do a behind the scenes check .... but ....

If you donate more than £15 in one year, the ad banners will be turned off for that year ... coming back on again when the full "£15 year is up".

For example:

Donate £5 on the 1st of...