Dusty
July 16th, 2001, 02:33
I'm working on a new FWP script and I'd like your input as to what kind of features you'd like to see. I've incorporated virtually everything I've ever seen in a commercial FWP script into it, plus some things I've never seen before. The features it currently has are:
Self-installing - it creates it own files and directories, it configures itself, virtually the only thing you have to do is click "go"
Template based - all of the script's output is controlled by editable template files so every detail is customizable.
Multi-language support - by simply selecting their preferred language from a menu on the home page, each user may build and maintain their websites in their language. It comes with English, German, French, and Spanish by default but additional LangPaks can be downloaded and imported through the admin to support more.
Windows-like basic interface - that is, it uses multiple tables which represent windows with icons and menus, rather than the "file manager" look of most FWP scripts.
Members are treated like complete morons :) - no previous knowledge is taken for granted, everything is painfully obvious as to how it works, and all is carefully explained. Everything that could cause confusion is hidden from the user and the script puts up an easier to the eyes interface to it (for example, paths: "/users/username/directory/file.html" becomes "My Website: Folder: File (Webpage)")
A very easy WYSIWYG webpage builder is included that hides all HTML from the member, though it does offer the ability to insert raw HTML so things like remotely hosted counters and trackers can be used.
It also offers an online image creator where you can draw new images online and edit existing ones (its difficult to make anything complex, beyond simple line drawings its virtually useless, but still, it has an online image creator).
It features it own "programming language" (called SSIP, Simplified Secured Interface to Perl). It's been designed specifically to be incapable of creating any security breech. It's nearly plain English and users should be able to pick it up readily, even if they are complete morons. Here's an example of a counter script written in SSIP:
read from counter file.text
remember total is line 1
finished reading
add 1 to total
save to counter file.text
insert total
finished saving
show totalIt offers a point-and-click SSIP builder as well so users won't have to remember the few dozen commands it offers. Apart from scripts, SSIP includes can also be used in place of SSI.
It has a file uploader that can upload three files at a time in either ASCII or binary mode (it explains to the user which mode to use for which types of file). It also has a file retriever for getting files off another website (so if the user is moving from one FWP to yours, they don't have to download and upload all of their files again)
It simplifies all links eliminating the need for the user to actually know what his or her URL is. In the webpage builder, to make a link a window very similar in appearance to "Save As..." pops up where the user just navigates their site until they find the file they want to link to and then all they have to do is click it to create the link. It explains how to link when building files offline and uploading them.
It offers two backup method to the user: Full and incremental (it doesn't use the file's actual archive bit, it creates its own "backup bit"). It saves it as a TAR (it doesn't tell the user that, but that's what it is) and allows the user to download it to "a safe place".
It offers virtually every type of ads in use today. You can have forced headers, footers, user-placable banners, popups, popunders, frames, exit popups, "commercials", etc. It also calculates how many ad impressions a user gets and, if you allow it, will turn off the ads on individual user accounts for the remainder of the month once they reach a given number.
You can regulate how much disk space each member gets individually, what each member's file size limit is, and how much bandwidth each member can use in a day. You can also forbid hotlinking images or any other non-webpage files from other domains.
It offers members username.yourdomain.com and/or yourdomain.com/users/username (your choice).
I'm probably skipping something, but this covers its highlights. As you can see I'm trying to become the most featured FWP script there is and I'm trying to really compete with all others out there, I'll be selling it for under $40. Again, any ideas you have or features you like to see, no matter how insane, I want to hear them. I'm particularly interested in what kind of admin options you'd want to have were you the admin of an FWP running this script, or any FWP for that matter. A free copy may be given to those who have the best ideas for new and never- or seldom-before-seen features.
Thank you in advance for any help you might offer, sorry if there were any spelling or grammatical errors above, I didn't proof-read it.
Self-installing - it creates it own files and directories, it configures itself, virtually the only thing you have to do is click "go"
Template based - all of the script's output is controlled by editable template files so every detail is customizable.
Multi-language support - by simply selecting their preferred language from a menu on the home page, each user may build and maintain their websites in their language. It comes with English, German, French, and Spanish by default but additional LangPaks can be downloaded and imported through the admin to support more.
Windows-like basic interface - that is, it uses multiple tables which represent windows with icons and menus, rather than the "file manager" look of most FWP scripts.
Members are treated like complete morons :) - no previous knowledge is taken for granted, everything is painfully obvious as to how it works, and all is carefully explained. Everything that could cause confusion is hidden from the user and the script puts up an easier to the eyes interface to it (for example, paths: "/users/username/directory/file.html" becomes "My Website: Folder: File (Webpage)")
A very easy WYSIWYG webpage builder is included that hides all HTML from the member, though it does offer the ability to insert raw HTML so things like remotely hosted counters and trackers can be used.
It also offers an online image creator where you can draw new images online and edit existing ones (its difficult to make anything complex, beyond simple line drawings its virtually useless, but still, it has an online image creator).
It features it own "programming language" (called SSIP, Simplified Secured Interface to Perl). It's been designed specifically to be incapable of creating any security breech. It's nearly plain English and users should be able to pick it up readily, even if they are complete morons. Here's an example of a counter script written in SSIP:
read from counter file.text
remember total is line 1
finished reading
add 1 to total
save to counter file.text
insert total
finished saving
show totalIt offers a point-and-click SSIP builder as well so users won't have to remember the few dozen commands it offers. Apart from scripts, SSIP includes can also be used in place of SSI.
It has a file uploader that can upload three files at a time in either ASCII or binary mode (it explains to the user which mode to use for which types of file). It also has a file retriever for getting files off another website (so if the user is moving from one FWP to yours, they don't have to download and upload all of their files again)
It simplifies all links eliminating the need for the user to actually know what his or her URL is. In the webpage builder, to make a link a window very similar in appearance to "Save As..." pops up where the user just navigates their site until they find the file they want to link to and then all they have to do is click it to create the link. It explains how to link when building files offline and uploading them.
It offers two backup method to the user: Full and incremental (it doesn't use the file's actual archive bit, it creates its own "backup bit"). It saves it as a TAR (it doesn't tell the user that, but that's what it is) and allows the user to download it to "a safe place".
It offers virtually every type of ads in use today. You can have forced headers, footers, user-placable banners, popups, popunders, frames, exit popups, "commercials", etc. It also calculates how many ad impressions a user gets and, if you allow it, will turn off the ads on individual user accounts for the remainder of the month once they reach a given number.
You can regulate how much disk space each member gets individually, what each member's file size limit is, and how much bandwidth each member can use in a day. You can also forbid hotlinking images or any other non-webpage files from other domains.
It offers members username.yourdomain.com and/or yourdomain.com/users/username (your choice).
I'm probably skipping something, but this covers its highlights. As you can see I'm trying to become the most featured FWP script there is and I'm trying to really compete with all others out there, I'll be selling it for under $40. Again, any ideas you have or features you like to see, no matter how insane, I want to hear them. I'm particularly interested in what kind of admin options you'd want to have were you the admin of an FWP running this script, or any FWP for that matter. A free copy may be given to those who have the best ideas for new and never- or seldom-before-seen features.
Thank you in advance for any help you might offer, sorry if there were any spelling or grammatical errors above, I didn't proof-read it.