Bot Exchange (WIP)

[Trovaner]

As I mentioned in the Paint Job thread, I am working on a new bot exchange.

I do not want to step on anyones toes but if Serge or Goose decide to continue working on their versions, I would be glad to assist them by any means necessary. Ideally, I would like to merge all our work together but I'm not holding my breath for this (Serge has already said that he didn't want to mess with Goose's code due to the difference in programming languages). Also, while we are on this topic, please do not PM either of them about this. I have already done so and it is unnecessary to fill up their PM boxes.

Moving on...

Things that I have done:

• A PHP program that parses the bot file. This is able to extract quite a bit of information about the bot.
• A python program that parses the bot file. This is basically the same as the above but it would be similar to the one used by Serge and PyRA2. This probably won't be used but I'm listing it anyways.
• A PHP program that converts TGA files into JPG files. The preview image starts out as a TGA file and it needs to be converted before we can use it on the site.
• Create an interface for listing all the bots.
• Link all the files related to uploading so that they run sequentially.
• Integrate a MySQL database for performance and future enhancements.
• Create an interface for uploading new bots.
• Associate forum accounts to builders so that you don't need to give it as a separate input.

Things I still need to do before it gets released:

• Make things presentable (code and appearance).
• Fix serious security issues.
• Fix serious performance issues.
• Catch obvious errors (like an invalid BOT file)
• Detect category that it should go into (I wasn't planning on this but it is much more important now that DSL3 Beta has been released)

Things I want to include after it is released:

• Staff controls (like an easy way to delete someone's bot or change one of the fields)
• An easy way for me to delete a bot in the list.
• A search box with refinement/filtering options.
• A 5-star ranking system.
• An easy way for builders to remove their bots or modify them.
• A bot page for posting screenshots and AI bindings.
• A list of component packs necessary for using each bot. Goose left some of this stuff on the server so I might be able to borrow some of his work for this.
• Version controls. The ability to have different versions of the same bot on the same bot page or have the different bot pages link to each other.
• A detection system to prevent duplicate uploads.
• A detection system to identify chassis/bot stealing.
• Batch downloads. An easy way of download bots as a zip.
• Virtual teams. Associating bots as being part of a team.
• Post to Thread button (download link and all the images)
• Use as Profile Pic button (referring to the preview picture)
• List paging that is compatible with list sorting (I had troubles getting both to work at the same time...)

Questions/Comments/Criticisms welcome.

[Mr. AS]

ive always wanted a way to put bindings on the exchange. trov as admin is going to be great

[kill343gs]

Just a suggestion, I would make "Associate forum accounts to builders so that you don't need to give it as a separate input." a feature before you release it if you plan on releasing it at all. If you do it without now, the changeover later on to include all previously uploaded bots under a user's linked account would likely be a nightmare. Or I could be completely wrong, I have no idea what I'm talking about.

[MassimoV]

Looks like you already got alot of great work done.

[ianh05]

Great to see we can post screenshots, that means people can make their own splashes to go with the bots :D also nice idea with the bindings, should be very helpful.

[Trovaner]

Just a suggestion, I would make "Associate forum accounts to builders so that you don't need to give it as a separate input." a feature before you release it if you plan on releasing it at all. If you do it without now, the changeover later on to include all previously uploaded bots under a user's linked account would likely be a nightmare. Or I could be completely wrong, I have no idea what I'm talking about.

Based on the information that I had given you, you would have been correct about it being a hassle. However, I also planning on creating a MySQL database entry for each bot that is added to the exchange. The advantage of doing this is that it would create a reference from bot to builder (and visa versa) that I could also use for implementing a number of the extra features that I mentioned.

Also, I know it appears as though I haven't done much (only 2 things on the done list) but parsing the bot file is one of the hardest things that I have listed and I have spent this week working on the interfaces. I also upgraded the wiki on Monday and tried fixing that login error on Tuesday and Wednesday.

[Jack Daniels]

Oh wow. I like where this is going. <3

[Badger]

This sounds brilliant. An option to make the bot unlisted would be useful for those entering tourneys with previously unseen bots.

[090901]

This sounds brilliant. An option to make the bot unlisted would be useful for those entering tourneys with previously unseen bots.

That's kinda pointless since we have the file uploader and It would suck to have like half the bots be hidden.

[Jonzu95]

Awesome stuff, Trov. I'll be looking forward this.

[Trovaner]

Since its been over a week, I suppose it is time to give you guys an update on this...

I worked out a rough schematic of how I want the list interface to look. I wanted something that looked similar to the forum and to the wiki but I also wanted it to have distinct features that are not seen in either of them. The bot previews will show up whenever you hover your mouse over one of the entries (just like Goose's old bot exchange did). Here is a preview of what I have planned with all the extras (but without the bot preview because I forgot to add it):

I have already worked out much of the functional coding like displaying entries from the database and showing a preview but there is quite a bit of cosmetics that need to be done to make it look like the image provided. The default sorting will be according to the date submitted but the plan is to allow you to sort according to the other headers as well.

I'm not sure how I want to make the upload interface look but I do have some ideas. ATM, I'm thinking that it will be an overlay with a preview before uploading but I haven't thought much beyond that. I would happy to see some ideas from you guys in regards to this.

I've also mapped out what I want the database to keep track of so I just need to implement it. However, before I do that, I would like to hear from you guys about any extra features that I may be forgetting. By knowing them now, I can setup the database to accommodate for their addition later. For example, I was planning to add a ranking system eventually so that means I should keep track of things like total voters and total score (total score/total voters*5=rank).

Offtopic: I am still looking into the posting/logout issue so don't think that I have forgotten about it.

Any comments/questions/ideas/complaints?

[kill343gs]

Very clean and simple. I question the usefulness of the chatbox, however.

[Probably Rob]

Obvious suggestion which is already listed under "to do after release" but I've suggested it too so *strawberry*:

An arrow (or something else) besides Class, Bot Name, etc. as a "Sort by" for Most Downloaded, Old to New, New to Old, etc.

[RedSawn]

I like it, it's to the point and it has all the details it needs.

[MassimoV]

Excellent hard work done Trov.

[Trovaner]

Very clean and simple. I question the usefulness of the chatbox, however.

The chatbox on the main page is under utilized IMO because their is no value in staying there for long periods of time. I also have no intention of adding a comment section to the eventual bot pages so this would allow a low-level of communication for people to use as they see fit. Not to mention, it balances out the navigation bar 

Obvious suggestion which is already listed under "to do after release" but I've suggested it too so *strawberry*:

An arrow (or something else) besides Class, Bot Name, etc. as a "Sort by" for Most Downloaded, Old to New, New to Old, etc.

Yeah, I was planning to keep track of the number of downloads anyways so having it sort based off of them shouldn't be a problem. Having a drop down menu for something like this is also a good idea. I'll see what I can do.

[Trovaner]

Since its been over a week, I think its time for another update.

I made some headway on the bot list interface's appearance and I added a lightbox/overlay for the upload interface. I also created the MySQL database so now the data that is being shown for the list interface is actual bot data.

I manually added one bot to the bot exchange and everything seems to be working so the next functional step will be to get the uploader to do it for me.

[kill343gs]

You're an animal, getting this far this fast.

[Trovaner]

TTYTT, it isn't as much as it sounds. It has been more of a balancing act than anything. Taking care of IRL stuff, webmaster stuff, and admin stuff has kept me pretty busy so fitting this in hasn't been easy. That said, I'm glad to hear that my efforts are being noticed.

[MassimoV]

Yeah, this is great!