If you're using Movable Type, you may be aware of a bit of controversy over the new licensing terms. Six Apart has now requested that users tell them how MT is used.
I'm composing my personal reply from my site, but it bears noting that I am also an infrequently active blogcritic, a proud member of a 1 blog, 400+ User award-winning non-commercial review site with an open recruitment policy.
This is an excellent opportunity for users to provide feedback to Six Apart on how their tool is being used. I encourage all blogcritics to reply. Even if your blog is on another tool, you're an MT user here.
Article comments
1 - Nyx
I'm wondering why upgrade? The new version doesn't seem to have the features I want. Really all I need is a better way of deleting comments....some way of deleting 50 comments at a time. MT's answer to that has been to make commenters register, which I don't want.
The other feature I would like would be to make it so that anyone who wants to register can do so automatically and post their own articles to my site. That doesn't seem to be something MT will implement, either.
2 - Phillip Winn
Indeed, we simply cannot -- literally cannot -- afford the new licensing terms, and if they remain as they are, we will eventually be forced to give up a very nice tool. I love MT, and we will stick with 2.661 as long as we possibly can, but despire our many, many authors, we're still only one blog.
3 - Jim Carruthers
While one of things I've liked about MT was the flexibility on the back end re: database, the lack of bulk management on comments has been a major weakness.
Users can't edit their comments, admins have to manage postings one at a time, which on blogcritics is unfeasible.
Given their new, arcane, pricing scheme which (scratch guestimate would be about $4K a year for blogcritics) and that the software isn't all that and a bag of chips, I think it is time to start looking for another platform. But not right now, but consider it.
Perhaps on the mailing list, poll for features people would like to see? And what is the bare minimum in requirements and functionality.
For myself, it would be the ability to edit my own comments after the fact and the ability to filter comment spam.
Have you considered SlashCode (plastic.com has a nice implementation of it).
4 - Nyx
I know slash was way too complicated for me. I even bought the O'reilly book and couldn't manage to install it.
5 - Phillip Winn
Jim, looking again at the licensing options today, I am not sure that we would be allowed to use MovableType 3.0, even if we had the money to spend. The commercial license -- which we would require, since we carry ads and earn a nickel from Amazon on occasion, even though nobody but Eric makes any money at all, and he makes hardly enough to cover non-MT costs of the site -- tops out at 20 authors, and we would have to seek more information directly from Six Apart on what they would charge us for our 459 authors.
The 30 days clause helps, because I think we generally only have about 120-130 authors that post in any particular 30 day period, those which 120-130 they are changes a lot.
Still, way, way, way out of our price range, even at $600. :(
6 - TDavid
Through Safari I'm reading the blogging book referenced in the Amazon link with the chapters written by the Trott's. Curious to read what their words of wisdom about blogging and compare to their actions in their actions at Six Apart.
Their are plenty of MT alternatives out there that will undoubtedly take much more time than money to switch over to. That is usually the most involved thing -- the time required -- in any software switchover.
Could be a good time for a custom program.
7 - Phillip Winn
TDavid -- I sent you an email, but I'm not sure you got it. Please email me today, thanks.
8 - Eric Olsen
actually, ASAP
9 - Michael Croft
I just received email today from 6A saying they're still re-working the licensing terms.
Given that that they tanked on their first try and rushed out a second without doing a serious re-think, I'm hoping this is a good sign. What can I say? I'm an optimist...
10 - Phillip Winn
You are more optimistic than I am, but I'm still a big fan of MT, so I will definitely look forward to seeing what they will say.
Thanks for the udpate, Michael!
11 - TDavid
RE: 7 & 8, done and done :)
12 - Phillip Winn
THanks, TDavid!
13 - TDavid
Phillip - persistent connections in MySQL via Perl require mod_perl. When you get some time you might check with MT to see if there is any issue with running things that way because it would result in a dramatic improvement of course.
As for implementing the connection to MySQL when running under mod_perl, it's as easy as two steps to enforce the persistent implementation:
1) add the following directive to httpd.conf (or have the host do it for ya)
PerlModule Apache::DBI
2) at the top of the MySQL connection script use the module as follows:
use Apache::DBI();
Reference:
see also
Happy coding to you! :)
14 - TDavid
If you haven't already seen, Phillip, Permissions for the RSS file are off. LMK if you need any help with setting permissions for these files as I know you are working on a ton of things. I'm happy to help out :)
Rebuild failed: Writing to blogcritics.org/index.rdf'
(Not trying to be annoying, just trying to be helpful, BTW)
15 - Phillip Winn
Thanks, TDavid, yeah I noticed that.
The permissions settings in general seem to be different on this host. Apparently httpd is running differently, because all of the file permissions are identical.
I would compare them, but our last host cut us off, so I can't. Chumps!
16 - Phillip Winn
This is a test.
17 - Bob A. Booey
That's a great story. Porno Mad Libs rule. Not very sexy though.
Who's William Hill?
And why do these people try and advertise on here?
18 - Phillip Winn
For the googlejuice, mainly
19 - John
One more thing messageboard