Forum User Gallery

[3DGuy]

That is a good idea, except how would people be able to have a username so that they could identify each picture to be their own?

I'm still working on the security problems posed by having a user system powered by a file-based database. There are a number of potential solutions, but I'm not yet sure which is best.

Using just files for a database system is... well not the smartest thing IMHO. It'll work for small things, but when it grows and you have a need for relational data please use a proper database system.

Having said that, just move the files to a directory the user can't reach (i.e. out of the www directory. Then have the PHP system read those files.

[Dark Fire]

What about just using .htaccess rules?

As I said before, there are a number of potential solutions. I am currently investigating which one is best. However, using .htaccess rules is looking like the best solution for me at the moment.

That is a good idea, except how would people be able to have a username so that they could identify each picture to be their own?

I'm still working on the security problems posed by having a user system powered by a file-based database. There are a number of potential solutions, but I'm not yet sure which is best.

Using just files for a database system is... well not the smartest thing IMHO. It'll work for small things, but when it grows and you have a need for relational data please use a proper database system.

Having said that, just move the files to a directory the user can't reach (i.e. out of the www directory. Then have the PHP system read those files.

It's definitely not the smartest thing, but I am far too lazy to use a proper database (more PHP code is required). Besides, I have found out that cleaning out spam is very easy with a file-based database. For example, it takes me about 10 seconds to delete all of the comments on posts on my blog that I know are abused by bots. However, backing up a proper database system is easier...

[old_blaggard]

I would be interested to see what you end up doing.  I thought that file-based was definitely the way to go, but it seems like database-based also has its merits.  Gah... I  hate complications .

[Dark Fire]

There is never a perfect way to do something with a computer. Unfortunately, that's a fact that nobody's going to change.

[3DGuy]

It's definitely not the smartest thing, but I am far too lazy to use a proper database (more PHP code is required). Besides, I have found out that cleaning out spam is very easy with a file-based database. For example, it takes me about 10 seconds to delete all of the comments on posts on my blog that I know are abused by bots. However, backing up a proper database system is easier...

Actually, with a proper database you need less code It takes 1 line of code to retrieve data from multiple tables into a single dataset, and maybe 5 to generate a complete HTML page from that. whereas with flat files you'll need a page of code. With a good front-end for your database deleting spam is just as simple.

[Dark Fire]

It takes 1 line of code to retrieve data from multiple tables into a single dataset, and maybe 5 to generate a complete HTML page from that.

I've never really understood how to do that. I prefer my method because I understand it very well, and it doesn't need a page of code - my comment submission system only needs 850 bytes of code, and my comments pages (like this one) are only powered by 3.16KB of code.

[ProjectX]

uhhh... what happened to all the images?

Most of them are broken links

[Dark Fire]

uhhh... what happened to all the images?

Most of them are broken links

Forget the 'most' bit. I think all of the thumbnails of the user-submitted images in the gallery are broken, but the links to the originals still work. I think the problem is with this file: http://www.meltingice.net/usergallery/generators/thumbnail.php

[buzzzzz]

Well that Gallery didn't last long?

[twistednoodle]

Damn that was such a good idea!  I liked that you could look at the image and the owner could give you a bit of an idea how they created the image - shame, lets hope it comes back!

[Will]

He will fix it don't worry guys.

Regards,

Will

[buzzzzz]

Hey it's fixed! Thanks Ryan!

[MeltingIce]

Whoa what happened, I didn't do anything lol.  Must have been related to me messing around with my php.ini file.  I had no clue the gallery was down, sorry about that guys 

[Dark Fire]

Hehe...Silly MeltingIce. It is always hard, when you have such a large website, to be sure that everything is working...

[MeltingIce]

Hehe...Silly MeltingIce. It is always hard, when you have such a large website, to be sure that everything is working...

Yea tell me about it.  To be honest, sometimes I forget about certain parts of my website.  And out of nowhere I'll think, oh wow... I should probably check up on that part to make sure its still working fine.  I have my blog, designpaths, designpaths forums, terragen users gallery, tgd repository, meltingice hd wallpapers, and now the meltingice file system thingy.  I probably forgot about something too lol
EDIT: I was right, I forgot about a wiki I have running on my server.  Not too many people go there anymore though, I just keep it up in case anyone is feeling nostalgic.