Is it possible to create an open source linklist script?

[Bill]

Just for the sake of argument, what would be needed to start an open source linklist software project?

phpadsnew is open source, I gather, and so is oasis. Would there be enough of a user base to make an open source linklist practical?

I'm thinking it should be possible to write something that could handle LLs, TGPs, and hubs, with built in security systems and all the features that LL owners are always looking for but have to wait for some individual developer to write.

Probably a pipe dream - hey, wait, thats what they said about open source like linux and mozilla, and mozillla bugs get fixed in hours instead of months...

[Cleo]

It sure would be nice.

I've never really understood how open software actually gets its funding.

[amber438]

phplinks is open source..

[Bill]

Thanks for the reference, Amber, that looks very interesting.

Do you know of anyone using that script to run a LL?

Anybody else know of anyone using phplinks to run a LL?

[Bill]

The last version of phplinks that I could find was from march 2003, and most of the domains that used to be devoted to phplinks are redirecting or show host pages. So it looks semi-abandoned.

And the active version of it that I looked at put ungodly big session ids on every link and every action, not necessarily ideal. But, like with links2, it might be simple to get it to print simple html urls to the page.

Since it's open source, and parts of it work, maybe it could be modifed to better fit the task?

This was the sample version of it running that I looked at...

http://directory.promopeddler.com/

[amber438]

I know of a few goth mainstream sites using it but the heavily edit it..

[Cleo]

I'm to the point with my link list script that it is just driving my nuts trying to use it each day not to mention its database keeps on getting screwed up which is costing me lots of time spent fixing it.

So I really need to find another script to use within the next month.

I need to find out a few more things about this one but right now it is looking like the one that I will go with.
http://www.xpowerlinks.com/
Not open source and not free but not expensive either.

Would love to hear from a few people using it.

[amber438]

I've been looking at that one since January when it was still in beta..it looks very good for the money

[Cleo]

From the looks of it I think it is what penisbot is using but I could be wrong.

It has a bot built into it and a search for my surfers to use which is two thing that is a must have for me. Lots and lots of other features too.

I need to find out if it can write out a file with no open/closing htm and body tags so that I can pull in everything into another page using php. Looks like it can but I need to be sure beforehand. I also need to see what would be involved in getting my existing database into it.

[Bill]

Is it bad of me to be feeling a little cautious about a russian script?

Otherwise, I am watching your study of xpowerlinks with great curiousity, Cleo.

have you set it up on a test domain to see how it works for you?

[Cleo]

Fuck, here I thought it was just me. LOL

First time I looked at this script all I saw was
(Warning Russian Version Available)

I feel so politically incorrect now…



Bill the demo is just an online demo that lets you see all the admin pages, you just can't change anything.

I'm very impressed with what I saw. It really does look like what I have been looking for.

The author of the script posted on GG&J the other day saying that he is still on vacation and would come to the board and answer questions in a few days when he gets back. So I'm waiting for him to post so as I can ask him a few questions, but am pretty sure that I will buy this script this month.

My link list is built in ssi and php with my links just being an include so as long as I can have this script write out my includes switching scripts will be very easy for me.

[dubb]

Yeah as cleo said he will be back from his business trip soon. I know a few people using it and they like it very much. Among those people is myself . I'm setting up my design layout now. Its pretty easy to edit once you read the manual. IMO alot easier than many other ll scripts are. Also the search feature is a major plus for me and it also has a favorites list so user can save there favorite sites. I would say I like the bot feature the best because it lets you set the amount of times a site can have say a no recip error, host down or redirect before it deletes it. So this way the submitter is happy cause his site isnt deleted just cause his host happen to go down at the time you were checking your list for dead links and you can tell right away when someone is changing there site to redirect your traffic because it sends you an email. Those are just some features in it you can use there are a few other good ones. If anyone wants to contact him for more questions just let me know.

[Cleo]

Business, vacation, is there a difference? LOL

dubb did you have an existing database that was imported when you started using this script?

[dubb]

No I didn't Cleo, but two of the people I know using it had there sites intergrated into the new script by them so it shouldn't be a problem. I think it might cost extra for that tho, but then again everything cost something. I don't want to spam these LL owners so if you want to know which sites use it just let me know in pm.

[Bill]

All this talk of xpowerlinks is interesting, especially because it underlines some very desirable features, like a good link validator.

But I'm still interested in the possibilities of a good open source linklist script, with all the bells and whistles also.

So, since I'm inspired by the example of space ship one and the X Prize, I'll guarantee $200 paypal plus a nice plaque or something equivalent to the person or persons who can post for open download a version of an open source linklist that's equivalent to xpowerlinks in power and features.

I know that's a pittance for development work, but think of the glory! Your name will be on the lips of adult webmasters for years to come!

And if development starts I might be able to convince some other people to throw money into the prize pot.

[Entreri]

Originally posted by Bill
All this talk of xpowerlinks is interesting, especially because it underlines some very desirable features, like a good link validator.

But I'm still interested in the possibilities of a good open source linklist script, with all the bells and whistles also.

So, since I'm inspired by the example of space ship one and the X Prize, I'll guarantee $200 paypal plus a nice plaque or something equivalent to the person or persons who can post for open download a version of an open source linklist that's equivalent to xpowerlinks in power and features.

I know that's a pittance for development work, but think of the glory! Your name will be on the lips of adult webmasters for years to come!

And if development starts I might be able to convince some other people to throw money into the prize pot.

Tempting... not sure I have the time currently though. And if I'd code it, it'd be a difficult decision to release it open-source...

From what I can see (in the screenshots at least), XPowerlinks's strength is its admin configuration panel that looks pretty swell (and would be long to code).

Entreri.

Note: I've tried a while back PHPLinks and I really didn't like it - I even had to modify the code from Sourceforge to get it running.

[venturi]

Gotta chime in, please don't beat me up too bad.

Why would I, or any other professional programmer, want to invest weeks or months building a rock solid script that facilitates the people using it to make $1000's per month - just to give said script away for free?

There Are powerful scripts, like osCommerce, that fare quite well in the open source community, and it is because the same people that are participating in the future development of the application and the many hundred add-ons for it also are USERS of the it. They all share in the benefit of the script being open source and free.

I don't think it is viable to attempt the same level of benefit by offering a LinkList script under open source because 99% of the link list owners can't program their way out of "Hello World" - and I don't mean that offensively. There just is no beneficial trade off or incentive to offer such a script this way.

Applications like osCommerce have a VERY ACTIVE following of developers and users that work together daily to address issues, find bugs, develop enhancements, etc. The same will never happen with a quality link list script. There simply just isn't enough of an audience of people capable of contributing to make it feasible.

[swedguy]

Originally posted by venturi
Why would I, or any other professional programmer, want to invest weeks or months building a rock solid script that facilitates the people using it to make $1000's per month - just to give said script away for free?

For the fame and glory!

[airdick]

Originally posted by venturi
Gotta chime in, please don't beat me up too bad.

Why would I, or any other professional programmer, want to invest weeks or months building a rock solid script that facilitates the people using it to make $1000's per month - just to give said script away for free?

One model is to give away the software but sell support and consulting.

[Cleo]

I would pluck down money today for Xpowerlinks if it was open source.

The only reason that I have not already bought it is I would hate to lay out money and even worse spend a bunch of time installing it and setting it up only to find out it doesn't fit my needs and there is no way to modify it for my needs.

That being said I need a solution now and not sometime in the future so as much as I would like an open source script I can't wait for something to be wrote.

[Entreri]

Originally posted by Cleo
I would pluck down money today for Xpowerlinks if it was open source.

The only reason that I have not already bought it is I would hate to lay out money and even worse spend a bunch of time installing it and setting it up only to find out it doesn't fit my needs and there is no way to modify it for my needs.

That being said I need a solution now and not sometime in the future so as much as I would like an open source script I can't wait for something to be wrote.

You can arrange a demo to see how it works out. Ask him if he sells you un-obfuscated code so that you can custom fit it to your needs.

Entreri.

[Bill]

Hi Entreri, I thought you would have something useful to say about this idea.

I had gathered from reading the phplinks forums that the version available for public download had a bunch of flaws.

As I understand it, and I'm certainly no expert, when you are doing open source development you break the job up into parts, and work on it bit by bit over time, ideally getting different coders to write different parts, so no one person get's weighed down with the whole thing.

Now, I know there's not that many coders here, so maybe traditional open source writing won't work here. For the moment, I'm playing a "what if?" game, just exploring the idea.

(Altho I am still guaranteeing the prize I offered before, I'm serious about that.)

venturi, I know what you are saying. But if an open source linklist script were available, the business oppurtunity would be to write add-ons and do customization of the open source script.

For instance, it's probably impractical to quickly write an open source link validater of xpowerlinks quality. But if you knew dozens or tens of dozens of people were using an open LL, you could write a validator and sell it, in a fraction of the time and hassle of writing a whole linklist PLUS validator.

There are great LL scripts out there, but some aren't easy at all to modify, and most are missing handy features. The benefit of an OS LL script would be that it would be easy and legal to write for, and anybody could contract to any coder to get their list customized.

So Entreri, what if I modified the prize so that the open script has to match a souped up links2 functionality, not so fancy an admin as xpowerlinks. How doable is that?

[AcidMaX]

I would participate in something like this in my spare time.

I think the thing about open source is you can create many additional add-ons to charge for, services to charge for, support, installs etc. It could also be good practice for those beginner programmers to learn how to use classes and such. If someone is interested I would be more than happy to sit down and discuss it and see what we can put together to get started on it. I on't have a lot of spare time but after programming for 13 or so years I do have some experience and I have worked on opensource projects in the past. (phpGroupware - one module and a looong time ago ).

Andy

[shags]

Originally posted by Cleo
From the looks of it I think it is what penisbot is using but I could be wrong.

I’m pretty sure HQScripts is the one kid use on PenisBot ( http://www.hqscripts.com/linklist/demo/ )

I bought X-Power links like 3 months ago but haven got time to set it up yet.

[kit]

PenisBot & WetPlace using our own script, not based on any available scripts on the market. We never sold it to anybody.