We've Upgraded

08.06.07 21:03

The new user management system is now complete and all features enabled. <br /><br />You might have noticed the forum is missing - due to many, many bugs, it's been taken down. Hopefully, if Public Warehouse raises enough money, a new and better forum will be used. Comment forms have been put in place for people with questions on scripts in the mean time.

By Peter Bailey

User Friendliness

23.08.07 13:30

It may not appear very exciting to normal Public Warehouse users, but large pages are now split up into smaller pages. This will help load times for slower connections and hopefully look tidier.

Upgrades to the forum/ discussion board have also been done. Improvements include a more organized interface which is more like normal forums, and a small topic counting bug fix.

The schematic page bug has been found! The culprit was the Google toolbar's (and possibly others) popup blocker. The popular schematic count was counted by loading another page while the schematic was being loaded. This page wrote to the database. Google's low-tech popup blocker decided this was a popup and in turn blocked the schematic page. This feature has now been disabled. For those of you who use this popup blocker, i suggest you find a better one.

A mass of bugs have been fixed on FlatFort Messagebox and one on Lightblog. It seems people like leaving it to me to find the bugs. Thanks to the people who did point them out!

By Peter Bailey

Updates

Thursday 11 06

Just added the blog. It's not written by me but i made it look exactly the same as the old one anyway. It's one of those scripts that are either stolen or bought by someone wanting to make money and then attempt to edit it. Had a million bugs, luckily I'm a rookie n00b and could fix them.
I got the ip of the bot that was trying to use one of my forms to spam aol users and I've reported it. Tip/ tutorial/ glossary submission forms updated.
Apart from that, nothing major has been updated.

By Peter Bailey

Tutorial submission now open

Sunday 3 07

The tutorial/ recourse program is now open! All bugs are gone, hopefully, and it works pretty good.

The schematic database is also complete. Pages load much quicker, partly due to code cleanup. I also made a new searcher which echos links to the schematic instead of the page the links are on.

By Peter Bailey

Things to Look Forward to

Thursday 1 07

The list of things is just getting bigger and bigger, here's what I'm doing:

- Finish the tutorial submission form/ process (it's almost finished).
- Fix Silver skin in the forum.
- Add lots of new profile settings in the forum.
- Write a database script to organize schematics better. It'll allow for easy submission and possibly the ability for users to add a link to their website. I'll replace the search with a simpler and easier one. The schematic database layout also needs tidying. It's only messy because I'm doing tests.

I'm wiping my disc at the weekend so that'll take up a whole day. I'll get around to working one day.

By Peter Bailey

The Revamp

29.04.07 00:04

Excluding bugs and page downs, the new Public Warehouse layout is now complete! Now readers don't have to strain to read white text on a black background, css and HTML valid, letting more people enjoy Public Warehouse and a crisp new design just in time for Public Warehouse's birthday (3rd May).

You might have noticed a few page downs. When the new website was being transfered, some files refused to be deleted or replaced. You can delete the files with SSH, but Streamline (our hosters) have been having problems with it. So the forum, electronics and computer tutorial pages can only be opened when Streamline fixes it.

This has put a hold on script updates. Lightblog will be having a few more features, such as search and post edit, in the near future. But there is a lot more work to do on the website. Completion will be in less than a week.

For those of you who want to earn some cash, click on 'Jobs' in the orange bar above. Public Warehouse is looking for some professional writers with experience in electronics or computers.

Hope you like the new website!

By Peter Bailey

Springboard

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:42:35

Not much activity on Public Warehouse for a while. I've been working on PublicDemands.co.uk.

I recently found an old PHP app i used to mod all shriveled up and dying. It's got a GNU licence so i snatched it up and restored it.

It's a text file based forum but it's got loads of bugs and has been discontinued. I fixed the major bugs and various html errors, i also designed a new skin for it and rearranged some things. I named my version Springboard (spring as in spring clean and board as in bulletin board).

I unleashed it today, hope someone can make some use of it.

By Peter Bailey

SitePoll == QuickPoll

After noticing there was already a 'QuickPoll', our name had to be dropped and has now become SitePoll.

I liked QuickPoll

By Peter Bailey

Site news

Thursday 11 06

I've just updated the computer and electronics mini tip forms, didn't realise they didn't work. So if you had a mini tip you might want to try again. The electronics glossary was also faulty..someone was trying to inject a spam email script into it to spam loads of aol users �.0. Luckily it didn't work. Due to tones of rubbish being sent to me with the forms i've decided to log senders IPs. The IP will be disguarded if the submission is of quality. Some faults with the forum but it still works (hopefully).

If i can raise enough money i may upgrade Public Warehouse's hosting package to unlimited storage and SQL databases. This will let me add some real databases and maybe have another go at a file hosting script, i took The Stores down, too buggy. The next script will be bought <_<.

By Peter Bailey

Server Change

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:18:38

Public Warehouse has successfully changed servers! Apart from being more stable and faster, the new host comes with SQL. This means a better forum and other cool features to come (by the way, if you have a thread on the old forums, it hasn't been deleted - go here, but continue the discussion in the new forums).

To celebrate, Public Warehouse is offering Lightblog and Flatfort for free for a limited time.

By Peter Bailey

Security holes fixed

18.06.07 22:16

A host of security issues seen to. The most obvious is the the new validation codes guarding forms, but also, one of the most important is the poll which was attacked by spammers Saturday night.

<i>This</i> poll is intended to find out that what you people do and in the near future mold the site into something bigger and better to suit you. At the moment there are two routes; scrap the computer section and focus on electronics, and keep the computer section, but add more sections such as different sciences and maths. Directions will be changed next year when the site has hopefully gained more momentum.

As of now, or at least in the next few weeks, a new forum will be installed along with more space and features!

So lots of things happening now, tomorrow and next year. Look out for them!

By Peter Bailey

Quality Included

19.04.07 23:45

Been a while since a blog post has been made, and a lot has been done. Firstly, a step has been made to complete page unity, that is, each page now shares a style sheet. You may have noticed some text area and link colour changes. Eventually it should be easier to change the website design which will allow me to tweak, and maybe even change the design completely. The style sheet means the page code has been reduced, making pages load quicker (in theory).

FlatFort and LightBlog have both been completely re-written from ground up. FlatFort now comes with an admin area which allows for some editing features. Lightblog's security holes have been plugged and it's quality has been greatly increased. LightBlog is now even used as the official Public Warehouse blogging system.

As of today link exchanges must be related to Public Warehouse's content and reciprocal link pages are checked. Links are added manually for now, in the future a confirmation script will be used. You can see this new link exchange program by clicking 'Navigation' in the menu and then 'Related Links'. Quality websites have been plucked from the original link exchange database and put there. The old databases will be deleted when the new one has gained significant search engine ranking. Old website links that have not been added to the new database can be added again if they have been missed. You may also notice that you do not need to have a reciprocal link to add a link, although this may change.

By Peter Bailey

Plans

12.02.06

I have plans to tie the tutorials in with the forum, so register to submit and your stats go up. Bit different from number stats or stars though. It's gonna take me a while to make. Also adding basic things to the profile; Skype address, newsletter option, maybe more if i get some suggestions. You'll also be able to view tutorials people have written. Ooh and notice my email on reply option ^_^.

By Peter Bailey

New featurismes!

01.07.07

I adapted FlatFort to look like that the message box in the forum, and it's much cooler. That script sucks, i should fix it. Aaaaand i now have a reputation system architect made. Countless html fixes and redesigns. Yeh

By Peter Bailey

New additions present and future

Saturday 11 06

Despite being almost dead I've managed to write two new PHP mini tips, both quite useful. My migraine has come back, but it was worth it.

Someone/ something is using my email forms to send email from my email still. My feeble attempt to block it didn't work, so now nothing is sent if it contains aol.com.

2 electronics lab reports should be ready soon. Probably not that useful unless you don't know how to calculate resistance or volt drop..or you're the type that googles for essays. Oh and a report on wind turbines. *cough*

By Peter Bailey

New User Management System

07.06.07 09:49

A new user management system is being set up so some features may not work properly. features that ask you to register, apart from the circuit maker, will need you to use the forum registration form.

By Peter Bailey

New PHP Apps

Two new PHP apps! They aren't made for style but they do do what they're supposed to do.

FileBrowser is a nice little script which you can drop into a directory to be able to list it's contents. I thought it'd be good for quickly showing someone photos or documents. All the obvious file information is included like filesize, type, permissions etc.

QuickPoll is a basic polling system - you vote, it's recorded and displayed (with a nice bar graph).

By Peter Bailey

New Discussion Board

29.07.07 22:30

The new discussion board has been put together mainly for PHP script questioners but was quite easy to add more forums, so i did. It's only go basic features but it's good enough to answer questions. Enjoy

By Peter Bailey

Lightblog 9.3

9.3 is now available for download! 2 new features: private messaging for members and a user list. It might not look like a lot but at the rate new versions are released it is!

It's hard to tell what you want, most of the new features are requests and that helps. If you want a feature unique to you, please ask! Most are made within 3 days and are completely free.

I've also just updated the dark skin. I noticed the sidebar wasn't working properly on newer versions of Lightblog, but now it does!

By Peter Bailey

Interact with us

27.05.07 18:05

Don't throw away your used, old school essays, Public Warehouse wants them! We'll buy your essays and feature them on our website and you pick the price. Go to Sell us an Essay if you're interested.Don't lose out on being part of the database site.

Following requests for a clear up of the broken links in the schematic database, we've installed a broken link reporting system, which lets users report links as quickly as possible. So far it's been a great success, with masses of links reported already thanks to our users.

Why not take part in our voting poll shown on the sidebar of each page? We'll collect and display each poll result for you to see what the 'crowd' thinks.

By Peter Bailey

IRC Chat Page

Now you can chat in real-time with our new IRC application! If you need quick support, go here, enter your desired nick name and press Done. You'll then be connected and sent to the #publicwarehouse channel on undernet.

As this is IRC, you can use any client like mirc.

At the moment, the webchat application is open to bot abuse, so it's likely that users will either have to enter a validation code like every other form, or be a member.

Hope you enjoy it!

By Peter Bailey

FileBrowser Update

Just finished updating FileBrowser. I found that trying to browse 'backwards' from the directory the file is in causes file opening to misbehave. So I stopped that. I've also fixed the undefined variable bug, but that wouldn't have been a problem unless your php_ini's error reporting is set to display those errors.

By Peter Bailey

Direction Change

01.07.07 10:55

Public Warehouse is expanding! We're focusing on engineering (but not completely). We'll index all known types of science and mathematics but also expand on electronics, providing resources on electrical (such as home electrical DIY).

As a lot of content comes from students, the website mainly appeals to students and teachers. Because of this we'll supply all the information in datasheets that can either be printed off or projected.

The initial categories look like this but expect them to expand and grow.

Science
engineering science
copmuter science
physics

Mathematics
general mathematics (sub categorized)

computer
computer electronics/ peripherals
Programming
Software

electronics and electrical
electronics (sub categorized)
electrical (sub categorized)

By Peter Bailey

Critial Update

Thank you BlackHawk for demonstrating Lightblog's vulnerabilities . It was a small user type check that was missed out but is now fixed in the member promotion page. I've also upgraded the text validation code to a captcha (similar but uses an image so robots can't read it).

If you want to upgrade to a more secure version of LightBlog, all information can be found on the LightBlog page.

By Peter Bailey

Blog Upgrade to LightBlog 8

12.09.07 19:02

The blog has now been upgraded to the snazzy LightBlog 8, which is also up for download. This release has the most new features that a release has ever had! The most obvious is the sidebar with various tools and displays. Then the account system which supplies different levels of security. And the tiny features that make blogging easy. For example, the new skin system, all you need to do to skin LightBlog is to drop a directory in and select it from the admin control panel!

LightBlog's not the only one that's been updated. A significant number of articles and tutorials have been added to both the computer and electronics section. From the increase of hits on the tutorials it looks like they are appreciated.

In fact the hits have gone up all over the site, presumably due to the holidays finishing.

By Peter Bailey

Autumn Cleaning

Realizing the FlatFort app was a bit tatty, it was cleaned up. The main box was converted from a table into a div, which is kinder to the page load time, and the dull block style design in the admin panel is now a 'breezy' grey. Yes, still boring, but nice new skins will be available in the next release as well as some user friendliness in installation. New feature for this release is alternating colours for comments view FlatFort page).

By Peter Bailey