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We'll put something together in the moderation box in new articles.
cheers,
Chris Maunder
The Code Project Co-founder
Microsoft C++ MVP
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As we roll into yet another year, I would like to call your attention to my favorite unimplemented feature, showing downloads on member's article page.
I know what you're thinking: But Hans, that will take massive amounts of DB processing, and we simply can't spare the cycles on any of our 400 servers".
Well, I think the recent server problems have proved that you can inflict excruciating pain on CP members, and not have to worry about open rebellion.
So how about it? Hit the local LCBO, crank up the scripts and the Rammstein tunes, and spend the evening not caring much about anything.
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That was on a todo list but disappeared some time ago 
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I vote for not fixing what ain't broke, until we have fixed what is broke. Accepting a temporary server problems is not the same thing as volunteering for a permanent slowdown.
Jon
'When once a republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.' ~ Montesquieu
Soap Box 1.0: the first, the original, reborn troll-less
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There's a difference between problems caused by releasing a system that causes a few hours discomfort, and something that will chew up a month of CPU time (at our latest guess).
But regardless: your point is that having download counts would not only be nice for everyone in general, it would be valuable to authors specifically.
In a week or so I'll start the ball rolling on getting this sorted out. If I have to buy a dedicated machine to do this then so be it. Processing will take a long, long time, but I guess even if we start releasing figures bit by bit it's something.
(and I just discovered an old cache of Rammstein classics on my laptop. I'm good to go.)
cheers,
Chris Maunder
The Code Project Co-founder
Microsoft C++ MVP
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You've lost me there. Either I missed a joke sign somewhere, or I am puzzled how one or two download counters (one for the downloading person, one for the article) can cause you to consider a new machine, where we already have an article view counter and probably many other counters too.
Would some delay be helpful (a log file and some batch processing)?
Luc Pattyn
I only read code that is properly indented, and rendered in a non-proportional font; hint: use PRE tags in forum messages
Local announcement (Antwerp region): Lange Wapper? Neen!
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My suspicion is that it's chewing through a decade of log files to create the initial numbers is what is going to devour a month of CPU time, not serving the results up and incrementing the total afterwards.
The latest nation. Procrastination.
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Maybe we can live with a "xxx downloads since 01-JAN-2009" message, something similar (but less precise) happened when the vote histograms got introduced ("Voting distribution. Recent data only").
Luc Pattyn
I only read code that is properly indented, and rendered in a non-proportional font; hint: use PRE tags in forum messages
Local announcement (Antwerp region): Lange Wapper? Neen!
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We can certainly do this, but what value will it actually provide? In the end it's a random value for anything not posted since the system was turned on.
Up to you guys.
cheers,
Chris Maunder
The Code Project Co-founder
Microsoft C++ MVP
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If the implementation cost isn't prohibitive I'd prefer a tally going back to when CP was first turned on.
The latest nation. Procrastination.
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The cost isn't an issue, but it will take time. We have an insane amount of data to chew through.
I personally prefer not to do this half-hearted.
cheers,
Chris Maunder
The Code Project Co-founder
Microsoft C++ MVP
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Maybe you can do a "SETI-at-home" kind of thing, and rig up a CP screensaver to crank on the database in the idle time. Or email a 1Mb chunk of the DB to each of the 6,500,000 members.
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If cost only consisted of Dollars we'd all be using penguinware. 
The latest nation. Procrastination.
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How about this stepwise gathering of info:
1. create a download counter for every article (or every downloadable item?) and set it to zero on date X (say today) and start counting new download actions;
2. set date Y=X, and show "xxx downloads since Y" for every article.
3. then run whatever it takes to go backwards in time from Y by say 1 month; hence all numbers may change and become "yyy downloads since Y" where Y = Yprevious - 1 month
4. repeat step 3 (say once a week) until CP creation date is reached (or no one cares any more)
that way, with a little effort each week the data gets more and more aggregated without upsetting the infrastructure. And you can stop going backwards any time you like.
Luc Pattyn
I only read code that is properly indented, and rendered in a non-proportional font; hint: use PRE tags in forum messages
Local announcement (Antwerp region): Lange Wapper? Neen!
modified on Monday, October 12, 2009 12:31 PM
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Love the counter idea. There would have to be some means to mark a download as the primary download, in the case where there is more than one zip.
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I would love to see this feature also.
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This is the survey in question.
#2 How do you like to find out about development products?
(1 is "like the most" and 5 is "like the least.")
#4 Which of these best help you make a buying decision?
(1 is "least helpful in making a decision" and 5 is "most helpful in making a decision.")
In #2, 1 is the best, and in #4, 1 is the worst. Is this the biggest flaw? Not even close. But this kind of 'direction change' is annoying and can trip up respondents.
Also, #6 has options for 1-3m and then jumps to 6-12m (there is no 3-6m).
Cheers,
Vikram. (Cracked not one CCC, but two!)
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Thanks for the feedback. We'll try and be more consistent with wording (and better proof readers) in the future.
cheers,
Chris Maunder
The Code Project Co-founder
Microsoft C++ MVP
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You're welcome, and I would very much like to proof read for CP.
Cheers,
Vikram. (Cracked not one CCC, but two!)
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I was under the impression you already were...
Luc Pattyn
I only read code that is properly indented, and rendered in a non-proportional font; hint: use PRE tags in forum messages
Local announcement (Antwerp region): Lange Wapper? Neen!
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I might be breaking the rules of etiquette by asking a second time  but I would seriously like to proof-read for CP.
If for any reason you do not want me, just say so please (along with the reason, perhaps).
Cheers,
Vikram. (Cracked not one CCC, but two!)
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It's a great idea, but I guess my first question is "how"? I guess I could send you a link to every item I post, but some items are not available to the general pu[b]lic until they go live.
Maybe we need a 'proof reader' member type to which I can give advanced access.
cheers,
Chris Maunder
The Code Project Co-founder
Microsoft C++ MVP
modified on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 10:01 AM
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Chris, I don't think it would be feasible, or even desirable, for me to read/edit every item you post. (Besides, I don't want to have that level of control over somebody's life  )
Admittedly, I do not use most parts of CP except the Lounge, the surveys, and sometimes the C# forum, so I do not know what all I can proof-read for you. I guess you have a backlog of surveys, which means you could simply email them to me and I can write back with corrections/suggestions, and you can put up the revised version.
Alternatively, you could allow proof-reader members to edit surveys, announcements, etc. There is an element of risk associated with this, but you could overcome it by not publishing the edits immediately but having the original author approve them.
There you go - we have a couple of ideas, perhaps we can come up with something good.
BTW, you misspelt 'public'. I don't normally go around pointing out spelling errors (not any more) but think of this as a... sales pitch?
Cheers,
Vikram. (Cracked not one CCC, but two!)
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I just rediscovered the FAQ (clicking a link on the reply editor page) and have 1 comment and 1 question relating to PRE tag languages:
- for PRE blocks, the list shows languages such as lang="C#" however the example uses lang="cs"
- are those language codes case-sensitive? (I hope not)
you might want to correct and clarify.
TIA
Luc Pattyn
I only read code that is properly indented, and rendered in a non-proportional font; hint: use PRE tags in forum messages
Local announcement (Antwerp region): Lange Wapper? Neen!
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C# or CS are both fine, and they are not case sensitive.
cheers,
Chris Maunder
The Code Project Co-founder
Microsoft C++ MVP
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