FSN Jobs - Let's get rolling!
 

Hey all...

Well.. I think we've really collected some great ideas for FSN. Now, it's time to really get the ball rolling.

Here is a long list of jobs which need to be begun. Now, there really isn't a huge time crunch to get anything done, but if you do say you'll do something, please follow though. Also, each job will have a different ammount of time which is needed. So, don't overstreach yourself. Finally, if you do want to sing up for something below, please send me a PM. Thanks.

The Jobs:

1) Database Designer(s): These people will begin to design the FSN DB. They will be using comments that have allready been posted, and will be watching the request tracker to see what people think. The DB structure will be made pubically available , updated every day. They need to know how to use MySQL. One needs to understand and research the best way to design a db such that, data repitition is minimal, limited & quick queries are used, and structure is fleixable.

2) Request Tracker: Rather than trying to post requests for design ideas in a forum, I'd like to use a tracker similar to sourceforge.net If we wanted to, I guess we even could use them. Otherwise, I need someone to find a php tracker system, install it, and keep it maintained.

3) FIRST Contact: I want someone to begin to try to contact US FIRST. Even if we don't need them now, I'm sure we'll want to see about thigns with them in the feature. I want them to be aware of what we're doing, and so forth. This person will be the FSN -> FIRST contact.

4) Server: I'd like to see if something like this would actually be possible to do. It would require getting a company(s) to donate servers. Then, we'd need to find ways to have different people mannage them at each regional & how to transport them from regional to regional. Also, I'd like to look into then getting internet access at the regionals. It would be used only to keep the regional servers insync. Even a 512Kb cable would most work. However, I have no idea how any isp would set up a connection at a public building even for only 4 days. I know this will require quite a bit of work in contacting people. (Not to mention that you have to find out who to contact first) I'd just like to know.

5) Photos: I'd like someone to look into getting a php/mysql/flat file based photo gallery. I'll specify some more specs that I would like the system to have to whoever wants to take this on. Then, I would also like them to search the net finding pics of teams from 2003 and putting them in the gallery. You'll also need to talk to Brandon about trying to intergrate this ablum with the CD one.

6) Website: All ready being worked on...

7) PR: I'd like some people to begin to think of the best ways to push FSN to the entire FIRST community. Some teams don't want to get involved because they think it will be too much work, or they feel they don't want to share data. (Remember: There will be fields in all the connection apps which teams can use for personal notes & won't be submitted to FSN) You guys will need to figure out the best ways to do this. You also will form the non-tech support team when competition season rolls around.

8) Inspector: Ok.. bad description. :) This person will be responsible for makeing sure that all sites hosted by FSN contain the correct, newest sponsor adds. This is very important. Our sponsors are the basis on which FSN survives. Also, a though for an easy way to keep the list updated would be to create one giant logo. That way, the html would contain a link to the common logo which could be updated at any time. If we want to do it this way, then this person will be incharge of creating/updateing the sponsor logo... therefore, they better know photoshop/other photo editor.

More Comming Soon!

Jack

I have been reading a lot about what you guys are trying to accomplish, and I have been pretty impressed with what I have heard. I have kept my mouth shut for now, since I don't have much knowledge on PHP and things, but now you say you need some help with PR. I wouldn't mind giving you a hand in that department, PM me if you wouldn't mind my help ;)

I could be PR as well. Also, I can be the inspector, if I get some more information. It seems a bit unclear to me.

Re: FSN Jobs - Let's get rolling!
 

I'm not volunteering, merely pointing you in what I feel is the correct direction. Take a look at Gallery . It's the best photo gallery I've found and it's what we use at http://www2.wildstang.org/gallery

Jack i'd love to volunteer my services for the PR areas... I think i have a pretty good grasp on this stuff, and i've been in on the discussion since the beginning. I'd love to help get this idea to the rest of FIRST.

I'd offer to help with contacting FIRST but i dont know anyone at FIRST. I guesse i could try and contact someone.



Do you need any help overseeing stuff to make sure everyone is working together?

Ditto. Of course, you know I've already offered, Jack, but I thought I'd get my name on the table, so to speak.

About the server and internet connection at a regional. I don"t think that if you had a server at a competition, you would even need an internet connection. The most important information people would be after at a specific regional would be taking place there, so you could just have someone there entering it onto the server at that competition. That server could then be connected to a couple of wi-fi base stations and thus set up a wireless network at the regional. As to this "server," I think if you pared down your competition database to the point where it provided the necesary information without being gaudy (something almost entirely text and low-quality pictures in the gallery) you could have an average computer as your server. If you had more than one base station (as will probably be necesary if you do set up a wireless network), you could have several people bring in computers to use as servers and have each one connected to it"s own base station and you could have the computers etherneted together so all the servers would have the most current information. Of course, if you did this it would require several wi-fi base stations and anyone who wanted to connect to it would have to have a wi-fi card.
You could also do the same just by setting up an ethernet LAN at the competition and borrow the computers and routers from members of the FSN. (Apologies for misunderstandings and length)

All you should need is a very cheap computer system. Nothing really fast or fancy.. you will need to hook it up to a wireless router so people can synch up laptops and PDAs. You don't need an internet connection, because there won't be anyone at the competition trying to get scouting data about a team that's not there. The individual competition dbs should by synched with the main db at night or after the competition. There could also be more located around the competition with viewing abilities for those who don't have computers or pdas to look at.

I dont know alot about FSN but i can offer my self to help set up LANs and wireless networks at regionals, it wouldnt be very hard to set up and admin.

hey...i've been reading through all the posts about FSN and i would definitely like to help in some way. Though i know virtually nothing about computers, so i obviously wouldn't be able to assist in any of those areas, i'd be delighted to take part in PR or contacting FIRST. let me know if you want my help- PM or IM whenever you make your decisions in these areas. bye!

I may be able to provide a wired and wireless LAN possibly with internet access at the LA regional next year if there is one. When the time gets closer, let me know the specific requirements and I may be able to set something up.

Wow...

I'm really glad everyone wants to help.

oneangrydwarf, I'll contact you sometime today/tommorrow about trying to conatct FIRST.

For everyone else, honestly, I really don't have too much of an idea of what pr can do right now.

What I really need are for some people to begin to set some tech. stuff up.

The photo gallery that Mike Soukup pointed out looks good, and I'll try to install it so that some non-tech person could insert pics.

Also, jon has contacted me saying that he would be intrested in working on MySQL... Is there anyone else?

Also, can someone find a request tracker?

Thanks,

Jack

I am hesitant to volenteer as I don't know what my future will be with FIRST. I do have extensive expirience with database design, php, mySQL, perl, and XML. I think it would be best if I was added on as a #9... Consultant.

I am able to help at philly with admin/network setup, pictures, php, and mysql. In the past (last 2 years) I have found myself running the team scouting's effort and would really like a more centralized database that all teams can access. I'm not sure if this has been mentioned, but along with a server for the each comp, it would be helpful to have a few workstations for teams to access at the comps for those who can't bring laptops with wireless cards.

Well ... if you insist! Here's a request tracker convienantly called Request Tracker! It's written in perl, fairly stable, and used by a lot of people (government, large companies, sysadmins, etc.). There's an article about it on perl.com to get you started, and its main site is here. The best part is that it is free. (Well, unless you want support which is somewhat pricey). It looks easy enough to customize and just about the right solution for this problem, though.

We used to use something similar to this at work: Keystone

I'd say go for something like Keystone or Request Tracker. It should have the ability to add tasks, assign them to people, and track their progress. It would also serve as a bug tracking and new feature tracking system once the project is well along its way.

When i said 'used to use', we stopped using it when we wrote our own. We needed it to be very custom to our projects, so we figured it would be better to use one that we had 100% full control over from the beginning.

I can probably learn those languages, havn't really made an attempt to because noone hosts that kind of stuff for free. Anyways, are there any good sources to learn these (being Mysql, php, xml, etc)

Sorry for the offtopicness

Sure ... there are TONS of good sources. Check out google.com to find out even more. With a quick search, I found these sites. (Also note that if you are willing to spend some money, or just go to the library, O'Reilly always has good Tech Books available. Or go to amazon.com for more selection.)

MySql:
http://www.mysql.com
http://www.devshed.com/Server_Side/MySQL
PHP:
http://www.php.net/
http://www.devshed.com/Server_Side/PHP
XML:
http://www.xml.com/
http://www.ucc.ie:8080/cocoon/xmlfaq
(and, of course, the W3C specification!)

Go with KeyStone, it is PHP. The other is perl, and that gets more complex if you want to customize it.

I wouldn't say that, necessarily. The basic product allows for a lot of customization in and of itself. And if you need that extra level of customization, what makes perl so more complex? If you would even need to extend the source, it is written in modular form, and object-oriented, making it easy to add custom bits of code.

Of course, this only goes if you know perl I suppose, but lots of people do and lots of help is available. If more people seem to be familar with PHP that are helping with the project (and it appears that way), then maybe you should go with KeyStone. I would recommend looking at the features of both though, and seeing which meets your needs best and if you need to customize them any. I, for one, however, am very familiar with Perl and can help out if necessary.

I too know Perl. I am saying go with PHP as more people know it, and well the whole site should be made with PHP anyways... so why not extend that into the Request Tracker.. (not to mention the original request was a php one anyways).

offer to help
 

Wow, I hope the wave of excitement that you have generated here keeps on going through 2004. I have been quietly (and I admit skeptically) reading for a while now and I'm no longer a skeptic - count me in. FIRST will really benefit from this effort.

I would like to contribute in one particular area: Data Collection Quality. The backbone of a great database is quality, dependable data. I'd like to help define the fields and the rules we use to enter new data into the fields. IMHO our consistency here is the key.

Ken

Re: offer to help
 

Wooo....

That made my day! ;)

Re: offer to help
 

I hope you all know what a huge deal it is to get Ken & the Huskies on board. He'll be able to tremendously help this project. It looks like the momentum is building, keep up the good work Jack & everyone else.

I will be happy to help with any kind on administrative (technical) or help apk with any thing that he is doing.

The feature request script is all done.. I wrote it myself in PHP! See the thread here: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...threadid=21085