now there is an email service, currently set up to notify when you register, but is ready to be expanded for things like reply notifications. I think it's important to build on that to create email notifications of replies. Otherwise, there is no way to know without manually visiting and that's not ideal.

reply test of the topics table

testing the newly added topic table that is meant to improve loading speed

The above welcome message is a relic of old software. The original forum setup was using pre-made forum software named Snitz. I chose it because it used a windows database, the same type as I would be using for my own custom software. It was ready made software and fully featured, but it was not made by me so it had many complexities that would have taken way to much effort to unpick. It also would have had many features that would be redundant. I was 99% confident though, that I could keep the data from that forum in the database and build my own software to use that data. This original topic serves as testament to that.

I've now built a registration system. It's not linked from the site yet as I do not have any robust spam protection set up, it's only accessible by inputting the url. If you've already been in contact with me on any other site you can ask me for the link. The system uses Discord Oauth for authentication, just in case bots find the link . The oauth is only for authentication for now, I can set up oauth login in future. Now that users are able to register, you are also able to make new topics and reply to existing ones. No need to feel hesitant, that's what I'm building this for. Feel free to share your thoughts and help guide the direction of development.

Getting it setup to work as forum structure is a little tricky but I made good progress. Now the updates page acts like a forum or subforum, with topics listed. I made the topic view float over the page. I like the idea of these elements being able to be fetched from any part of the site. Each is a self contained object that is called using specific parameters. This should aid in modularity for sure. That means I could put these topics on images, on franchise pages, user pages, anywhere, and they would work exactly the same. I could also have dynamic loading using keywords or some other method. I know I said I'd focus on user registrations next, but I wasn't happy with topic display. To be frank, I'm still not completely happy. I think I want latest post preview on the topic card by default and I want it to scroll on mouse-over.

The topic and reply functionality is now implemented. (with a couple bug fixes required) Now the system is in a fit state for basic communication, so it is an appropriate time to look at adding a user registration system. I'm thinking the core of it should initially rely on oauth as basic validation. This should help to prevent bots alongside other security techniques, and should make user registration a comfortable process.

reply test

Testing testing 1, 2, 3

This is the second reply test. it appears the topic title is not carried over onto the front page updates summary. will need addressing but not urgent.

initial reply test

this is a test topic to check if user systems, topic creation, sorting and replies is working as intended. The content of the posts is not important.

Lots of changes since last update. I've redesigned the front page and the styles for the entire site including all sections. Spending a great deal of time setting up the CSS (style sheets) has allowed me to change the basic colours on the fly and therefore have themes. Eventually, I'd like to allow users to have custom themes. I the created a secure user authentication system with proper encryption and all that. I've streamlined site architecture and built stable foundations to ensure efficiency for good performance. I've finally added the ability to submit messages to the site, hence this update. Oh and I've finally written a privacy policy.

I've created a new messages system to replace the Snitz forum software. I intent to work on this bit by bit, adding user login systems and message posting ability. I need to figure out security and spam filters first though.

To aid in connectivity and ease of access, I am thinking it would be good to make this activitypub/fediverse compatible wherever possible. I believe it is good to have a federated internet where people are free to move amongst different services as they like. I also believe it is good to be able to stay connected to your friends when doing so. fediverse would allow a user on mastodon, for example, to reply to articles and posts with their own account on their own platform, and that would be reflected here. I can use hashtags to aid categorisation. I can create top level categories, for example for #fanart and then any new message with that hashtag would be placed inside that category, thereby presenting it like a traditional forum. This would then mean that users familiar with social media can remain connected to the site and their peers by using existing apps designed to view mastodon servers or similar.

Perhaps the ability to have pre-crafted message replies, so any creators can more easily share their work?

Sites like Deviantart used to be a fantastic way for creators to interact and share their work. I've sorely missed that site since it changed. There hasn't been anything to take it's place. Fanworx could support that type of community to some degree.

What sort of features would visitors require and appreciate? I'm thinking just now, people can enjoy having a collection, so perhaps a personal 'shelf' for users to store their favourites? For creators of fan works, the ability to have showcases may be useful. The ability to have reviews has already been covered and is part of the fundamentals. The ability to write articles in the same way as a blog should be good. The ability to upvote articles could determine what is on the front page. The ability to submit new content, new properties and franchises should be possible. There needs to be restrictions to deter bad actors. I would like to have the ability to dynamically alter the look and feel of the site, changing contrast and switching between light mode and dark mode? What other features do you think would be useful or desirable?

I think this is a good point. At the end of the day, we all want to get along.

Fanworx is intended to complement other sites. I want to approach this as a way to enhance what is already available on the net and hopefully enliven the creative community more than it already is. I feel this needs to be said as I can imagine some people may view this site as a form of competitiveness. I want to work together with others wherever possible.

For a forum to work, it must be organised. What sections should it have?

If I'm going to make a database for fan works, then I need some idea of what it will need to contain, how it will display it and how to organise it. Categories is needed. every fan work must be categorised according to it's type, what the original is, who the creator is. There may need to be other categories too. Each fan work needs it's own page where it will have particular sets of information, according to the type of media. These informations would need to be in a form that can be edited by users or where users can suggest edits and submit new items. These pages need to be capable of supporting media such as photos and videos. Each creator of a fan work needs an individual page with various details. Each intellectual property that fan works are based on needs it's own page with various information that can be user submitted. It must include where to buy it and support the creator. must have review functionality so people can give props or report bad experiences. needs some further thought to figure out how to prevent abuse and resolve disputes. potential to include user submitted journalistic articles. There needs to be a search function with various ways to filter and sort the search results. There needs to be a 'front-end' that can collate new reviews and new submissions and possibly news items or articles. I think that's it....

So there are fanedits, fanart, fanfiction, cosplay, models... what else is there? what can count as a 'category' of fan productions?

I think it needs to be addressed, is it 'advertising' to state that a thing exists and allow people to tell others what they thought about it? Where is the line drawn here?

This is the elephant in the room when it comes to fan works. Obviously when we use other people's intellectual property, we need to ensure we aren't violating their rights and hurting them. At the end of the day, as fans our intent is to celebrate their works with our works, so this site needs to work to support ip holders. here we can discuss ways and means we can do that. I think first and foremost we must ensure that none of the fan works that are effectively advertised(?) by this site, are inhibiting an ip holder's ability to profit from their work. Secondly, we should ensure that the fan works we effectively advertise(?) are not aiming to profit from somebody else's ip. I don't think anyone can argue with these tenets.