Thread
ThemeTracker!
As some of you might already have read in this thread, I'm planning on creating sort of a be-all, end-all index of all the themes out there for Mac OS X, even more comprehensive than the one at ResExcellence. Because this is such a huge undertaking, though, I don't intend to go out myself and search through all the themes in existence. Instead, I'd like the authors of the themes (or, in the case of themes whose authors don't frequent these boards, volunteers from the theming community) to go collect them and add them to the site, which is tentatively named ThemeTracker (for its resemblance to VersionTracker, which I promise will not extend to advertising or lameness).
Rather than go to the trouble of making a Web form or submission system, I've decided to do something a bit easier, at least to start. Basically, to add a theme, you upload a preview and the theme file itself, then write a short file called a tdesc that gives the vital information about that theme. It's very human-readable, and takes about thirty seconds to write from start to finish. Once you've written the tdesc, you upload that as well, and the theme will automatically be added to the site the next time my program does a sweep of the tdesc files.
To add a theme, download Apple's iDisk Utility or find some other way of connecting to a Public folder on someone else's iDisk, and connect to Phoenix1701. I don't *think* you have to be a .Mac member to do this, but if you do, let me know and I'll look for another way (though I can't promise anything, since I don't have any shell accounts lying around I can afford to give complete strangers read/write access to). You'll see a readme file there, as well as a sample tdesc file you can copy for your own theme. Please only upload themes that you've written, or themes written by people you know won't see this post (like some of the theme designers over at ResExcellence). Also, please don't announce this anywhere else yet, because if a lot of people start uploading things I'm not sure my iDisk will be able to handle it!
Also, anyone willing to offer bandwidth for the site, please email me! I'm quite liable to take you up on it, regardless of the domain name.
Rather than go to the trouble of making a Web form or submission system, I've decided to do something a bit easier, at least to start. Basically, to add a theme, you upload a preview and the theme file itself, then write a short file called a tdesc that gives the vital information about that theme. It's very human-readable, and takes about thirty seconds to write from start to finish. Once you've written the tdesc, you upload that as well, and the theme will automatically be added to the site the next time my program does a sweep of the tdesc files.
To add a theme, download Apple's iDisk Utility or find some other way of connecting to a Public folder on someone else's iDisk, and connect to Phoenix1701. I don't *think* you have to be a .Mac member to do this, but if you do, let me know and I'll look for another way (though I can't promise anything, since I don't have any shell accounts lying around I can afford to give complete strangers read/write access to). You'll see a readme file there, as well as a sample tdesc file you can copy for your own theme. Please only upload themes that you've written, or themes written by people you know won't see this post (like some of the theme designers over at ResExcellence). Also, please don't announce this anywhere else yet, because if a lot of people start uploading things I'm not sure my iDisk will be able to handle it!
Also, anyone willing to offer bandwidth for the site, please email me! I'm quite liable to take you up on it, regardless of the domain name.
I think it should be calles something else personally. Why rip off a part of a name that is already out there? Unless you are the creator of VersionTracker, I know for sure even though "Tracker" is not copyrighted or anything VersionTracker will be like alright they are stealing our name now. How about something differen like ThemeIT or something like that.
Anyways moving on. I can help with the web design of the site if need be. Or anything else you may want, or whoever may want. I can do it all. Don't doubt that!
Anyways moving on. I can help with the web design of the site if need be. Or anything else you may want, or whoever may want. I can do it all. Don't doubt that!
ThemeTracker isn't a ripoff of version tracker. They don't do the same thing, and VT doesn't handle themes. I don't really see it copying. Unless of course people start getting charged for services. 
If you need to change it, you could with ThemeMachine or ThemeCentral, or something like that.
Also, if you need disk space, let me know. I have 250MB for my domain and would be willing to share some of it. Email me or PM me. I work til 5 today so I won't be able to answer to after that at least if you do take me up on it.
nuckinfutz99(@)mac(dot)com.
Also, if you need disk space, let me know. I have 250MB for my domain and would be willing to share some of it. Email me or PM me. I work til 5 today so I won't be able to answer to after that at least if you do take me up on it.
nuckinfutz99(@)mac(dot)com.
One tiny little problem that no one may have noticed. Bandwidth and webspace.
Believe me, I used to run a theme site, themes are big. Add to that that they're getting far bigger still. A few dozen themes will quickly overload that 250 mb server.
Due to the nature of such a site it automatically becomes high-traffic as you have the same mass of people returning very often. They're also gonna download many themes... many large themes.
I was lucky enough to have a friend who had a friend in a high place and so bandwidth and web space were free and unlimited. You should also know why versiontracker started with tons of ad space and VT pro. You simply can't keep something popular up for a long period of time without it funding itself.
btw, one way to help with the bandwidth and space problem would be to link to the files on the theme maker's server. Then again some people would et burned due to the massive amounts of downloads from their site.
Believe me, I used to run a theme site, themes are big. Add to that that they're getting far bigger still. A few dozen themes will quickly overload that 250 mb server.
Due to the nature of such a site it automatically becomes high-traffic as you have the same mass of people returning very often. They're also gonna download many themes... many large themes.
I was lucky enough to have a friend who had a friend in a high place and so bandwidth and web space were free and unlimited. You should also know why versiontracker started with tons of ad space and VT pro. You simply can't keep something popular up for a long period of time without it funding itself.
btw, one way to help with the bandwidth and space problem would be to link to the files on the theme maker's server. Then again some people would et burned due to the massive amounts of downloads from their site.
Our ThemeTracker (as in Clich� Software's) is designed in a decentralised way such that theme makers host their own themes, spreading the load. It's an open standard with a freely available back-end.
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Originally posted by Hi I'm Mike: I think it should be calles something else personally. Why rip off a part of a name that is already out there? Unless you are the creator of VersionTracker, I know for sure even though "Tracker" is not copyrighted or anything VersionTracker will be like alright they are stealing our name now. How about something differen like ThemeIT or something like that. |
I could always upgrade to 1000MB of space for a total of $13.95 a month, $9 more than what I pay now. Its no big deal, if you want to go ahead and use my space I can do that.
1000 MB is fine and dandy for 13 bucks, but what is your bandwidth charge? If you're only getting 5 GB of transfer or something, a theme site will double that in a month...leaving you screwed with overcharges.
You are better off with having the artists host their themes and just posting screenshots and info into a database.
Also try to get a macintosh based hosting company and maybe you can strike a deal with advertising/hosting since it wouldn't be a high bandwidth site but would be high traffic, I'm sure they'd love the exposure.
You are better off with having the artists host their themes and just posting screenshots and info into a database.
Also try to get a macintosh based hosting company and maybe you can strike a deal with advertising/hosting since it wouldn't be a high bandwidth site but would be high traffic, I'm sure they'd love the exposure.
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Originally posted by jcontonio: 1000 MB is fine and dandy for 13 bucks, but what is your bandwidth charge? If you're only getting 5 GB of transfer or something, a theme site will double that in a month...leaving you screwed with overcharges. You are better off with having the artists host their themes and just posting screenshots and info into a database. Also try to get a macintosh based hosting company and maybe you can strike a deal with advertising/hosting since it wouldn't be a high bandwidth site but would be high traffic, I'm sure they'd love the exposure. |
Note that you can't live without ads.
The screenshots of themes need to all be the same preview otherwise it will look very unprofessional. Like ResEX but maybe more previewed than just a little window.
Phoenix1701: Glad you guys like the name. Just something that popped into my head. Man, this is exciting. First a new forum and now a ThemeTracker! 
I'd get about 15GB bandwidth/month with the 1000MB storage space.
Sounds like a great idea. I'd be happy to help however i can.