This post will be purely on the website work taking place! I have no idea where to being, so let me jump in at the big picture and forget about things which I can discuss later...
- Complete Rebuild!
Hahaha what a way to start. The entire site is being ripped apart and re-coded with both scripting languages as well as with the power of the new .Net framework. This should keep the site ahead of the curve and utilizing cutting edge web technologies. (Should improve server performance too!)
- Complete Restructuring!
This means that the site will no longer be the "AR15.Com" you are used to seeing. Gone will be the old days and in will come the new. The site was always a focused passion for the AR rifle, as we've grown as a site, community, and individuals, we have also widened our appreciation and role in life. There's a great deal of knowledge here on everything from Handguns, to AKs, to ARs, to .50s, and so forth. So my goal is to restructure the site to accommodate this knowledge and passion. I will go into details within each following section.
- Design/Interface
The GUI you are used to now will be changing. I posted a screenshot of it weeks ago. The focus is to keep the forums and the power at your fingertips, while we keep the content libraries separate. You will need to navigate to the homepage for news, articles, reviews, etc and no longer need to deal with the main menu cluttering the forum pages.
- Login/Email Addresses
Site security will be tightened a little bit. This means that you will NEED to have a functional email address at all times. If your email address is bouncing emails, then your account will be locked until the matter is resolved. With the amount of email the site generates, this is becoming quite a problem.
- New Account Registration
There will be a less strict policy on new accounts. The system will automatically scan accounts to find issues and problems with them. They will filter out improper username, emails, and scan our database of banned ips and accounts for matches. This will no longer be a manual task for the staff and free them up to harass people more. [=D] Very few accounts will be put on hold for approval!!!
- Profiles and Sites
There will be only ONE set profile. (Currently there is one profile, but the system allows for multiple sig lines per site, etc.) The separate sites will no longer exist as they do now. (Read more below in the forums section!) The profile tool will be easier to use and more flexible than it is today.
- Forums!!!
The heart and soul of the site will grow beyond anyone's imagination. The code behind the forums is very complicated and complex, so the upgrade to .Net will not be immediate. What will change is the very essence of how the forum is setup, how they run, and our goals for the future.
First off, there will no longer be an ak.ar15.com or a handguns.ar15.com. 50World will also disappear. What will happen is that the sites will all fall under the NEW AR15.Com. You will come here, log in, and have a world of information available to you. There will be an upgraded navigation bar when you hit the forums allowing you to quickly travel to any of the boards you wish. The highlights will be the main forum page, the industry forums, and the equipment exchange.
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