DDG Updates Log

Here is the up-to-date log change for DDG's upcoming core upgrade.

Proposed Changes:

- New Design
- Improved Query Database Layer
- Database Re-Design
- Site Caching
- SQL Results Caching
- Files Caching
- HTML Re-write to conform to XHTML standards
- Breadcrumb
- Standard Form API
- Other Modules specification
- RSS Feeds

New Design

The new design has been completed with a brand new stylesheet. The main difference will be the complete usage of tableless main template.

The key is ease of navigation. I will be using standard colors, links and styles throughout the entire website so it is more consistent.

The stylesheet is being updated as I go through all the HTML code and introduce new classes or amended the current classes as required.

Template completion: 100%.

Improved Query Database Layer

The new query layer will take care of running all the SQL queries on DDG website. Having a centralize place to run, makes it easier to debug and track problematic queries. Also, provides the central place to patch code for SQL injection attacks.

Completion: 85% pending testing and changing all the current code to use this API.

Database Re-Design

This will be a huge undertaking, especially for the designs and avatars section. Already, the series system has been revamped.

Completion: 45%

Site Caching

There are a few methods of doing site caching, however my research in this area is limited at the moment. This part may be taken care of in Phase II.

Completion: 0%

SQL Results Caching

Some of the problematic queries, especially those that are going through the members table have been cache. Cron will run these queries and write the results to physical files. This takes care of the database load problem.

Completion: 50%

Files Caching

Similarly to site caching, this will be taken care of in Phase II.

Completion: 0%

HTML Re-write to conform to XHTML standards

This is a huge undertaking as well, with so many files in DDG, it'll take me sometime to finish this. This task involves cleaning up the code, many of them are well hidden in function files. I strip off all the nested tags, removed excessive usage of p and div and replace them with html elements like h2, h3 etc.

Currently working on the entire siterelated section and have almost complete it, except for past layouts and guestbook section.

This task must be completed for Phase I.

Completion: 65%

Breadcrumb

Introducing breadcrumb to improve site navigation. Most of the site related sections now have breadcrumbs.

This task must be completed for Phase I.

Completion: 55%

Standard Form API
Similarly to the SQL abstraction layer, I want all the forms in DDG to have a standard visual. I have almost done converting all the forms in DDG to use the new API.

Completion: 82%

Other Modules specification:

Implement required changes to the modules in DDG, namely the designs, series, avatars, tutorials and static pages.

Completion: N.A

RSS Feeds

Currently only the news section has rss feeds. I intend to make RSS feeds for designs, avatars and tutorials section. This task is schedule for completion in Phase I but pending timeframe.

Completion: 20%