Bored.... what do webmasters need that they are missing?

drewbee · 05-08-2008, 06:12 PM

Hello everyone,

I am bored and need an idea for a site. My skills can accomplish anything I could ever dream up, however my ideas are not very original. I want to build something that can assist and help the webmaster / web / websites etc etc world, but I just don't know what. It seems like there is so much 'ok' stuff out there, but nothing to impressive, and they are still making it. My passion is developing websites, however I do not want to do this as an actual full time job... I want to actually develop a website that I can call my own.

I come to you guys asking what do you need that will help with your site? What is missing? What could be done better (ie a tool or item that you are currently using). What can I make that will help assist you with your passions? What do you feel should be out there, but isn't?

What can I do to help?

Highway of Life · 05-08-2008, 06:18 PM

I’m not sure if it will help, but who knows, ideas can come from any bit of inspiration. :)
I have a site that contains data on all 50 states of the US, I want to expand the site in such a way that it would allow user interaction with the site, where they could submit updates to the site, photos, bits of information, trivia, history bits... which would then go into a Queue for the state moderator to approve or deny, edit or reformat as needed.
Turning the reader/viewer from just a reader, into a contributor.

drewbee · 05-08-2008, 06:31 PM

That sounds interesting! I do agree... one of the biggest directions the web is headed is user contribution. So many random things have popped up now that are completely 100% user driven. Especially when you give the user some type of motivation for doing the work... whether it be pay per x or let them put there own ads up on the site.

drewbee · 05-08-2008, 06:38 PM

One thing I have been working on is a remote search engine for websites. I am not sure if there is any room for it though seeing as how google has completely owned everything.

The key features that stick out of it vs google is the template customizing, api access, index only specific parts of the page with comment blocks, search multiple sites at once, category specific searching IE a person could get a page indexed (lets say a car website, and the search would be able to handle allowing the searchee to input make, model, year provided setup correctly) and any number of options.

Its something that I have been dwindling on because I already have the spider and indexer up and running, however I am just not sure if it is a wise thing to purse any further due to google pretty much owning anything that is search related (including letting users search there own sites and make it look kinda - integrated with theirs).

Highway of Life · 05-08-2008, 06:51 PM

Sphinx makes a Search plugin that phpBB.com and Joomla.org use on their sites. Google searches are good, but they are far from perfect, especially when it relates exactly to the website.
For example, forums, you might want to search a specific author, and specific words used by that author. Google doesn't do that, but a site-specific search plugin would.
So yes, I think it's a good idea, and there is plenty of room for it in the industry. I don’t believe Google should keep you from creating it. :)

drewbee · 05-08-2008, 06:59 PM

Yeah very true... its all about its personalization to the site. The spider initially came from someone telling me a PHP spider couldn't be made. Before MySQL crashed on me (lol), I indexed a forums based site for testing with well over a million rows (see my post about mysql buckeling after a million rows). This is something I need to fine tune without a doubt, as it will be able to handle far more then that. MySQL was never meant to be the indexer anyways; just a staging database to temporarily hold the data while it is being indexed. Before it crashed, the script had been only running for 6-7 hours. Not bad I guess, but I can fine tune it to be better. It was a vbulletin site too, so the pages were rather bloated.

The spider is a very rough script but the basis of it does work. Obviously if this ever grows anywhere, I will probably need a more steady OS based program, but who knows.

I have heard of sphinx as well... I was actually thinking of using it as the actual indexer in this system (why reinvent the wheel for something that works well?); the hardest part is the data gathering heh.

sarmenhb · 05-14-2008, 03:14 AM

if you want to create something of your own i would suggest not trying to make something that doesnt exist because you'll stare at the screen forever and accomplish nothing. if i were you i would make something that already exists.
for example

create a bug tracker something simple here are a few example to get your ideas from (go to google and type in bug tracker)

grab a few ideas on how people have done things and make your own. when your done creating what you think is enough ask us to take a look at it and see if we can suggest other stuff to it.)

before you know it your bug tracker will become popular and you can start making money on it.

Village Idiot · 05-14-2008, 12:43 PM

Welcome to my world, Drewbee. Inspiration really never comes by me unless a client wants to pay me. I've just accepted the fact that I am not creative and don't really try to come up with ideas. I find it a much less risky business to build someone else's dream for a set price.

drewbee · 05-14-2008, 01:57 PM

hehe VI, I know exactly what you mean. I can be creative, but when that instant paycheck on completion isn't coming in... it kind of leaves me less than motivated to do it. Especially when you have to start building a client base or whatever the scenario... I tend to leave them after completion and move onto something else. This time around though, I am going to push past my own lack-of-motivation and see what I can do.

Highway of Life · 05-14-2008, 11:49 PM

You might also consider getting involved with an existing open source project.
There are many out there, and it’s a great way to stay motivated even if you don’t get paid from it.
It’s very difficult to keep a project going for long if you don’t get paid for it.

Village Idiot · 05-15-2008, 02:53 AM

While I'm all for open source software, I believe it takes a special type of person to code for no money. Since you appear to be on the phpBB team, I solute you for being one of those types.

Unless its a script I actively use, I couldn't imagine taking time out of my day to code without of some sort of profit. But at this point, I don't code for the love of PHP or programming, I code solely for money. Not to say I despise doing it, its a job just like the stuff I did before I got into programming.

Quote:

Originally Posted by drewbee

hehe VI, I know exactly what you mean. I can be creative, but when that instant paycheck on completion isn't coming in... it kind of leaves me less than motivated to do it. Especially when you have to start building a client base or whatever the scenario... I tend to leave them after completion and move onto something else. This time around though, I am going to push past my own lack-of-motivation and see what I can do.

Leave them after completion? What do you mean by that? Of course you move on after completion.

I can't relate to you on the motivation issue. Programming is my main source of income; if I don't do projects, I don't eat. Lack of motivation is one of the main reasons that freelancers go under. If you aren't the type who can meet deadlines without a boss, I would recommend getting a traditional job. Although I wouldn't make any quick assumptions on this matter.

Highway of Life · 05-15-2008, 04:05 AM

Those are good suggestions, VI.

People *should* code to make money, I certainly do, but I also love it so much, it’s my hobby as well.
I get my satisfaction by giving back and helping the communities, I don’t charge my students to teach them either, I’m doing it in my off hours. -- I make enough money programming that I don’t need to make any with my contributions to open source. -- Certainly that is not for everyone, as you pointed out.

drewbee · 05-15-2008, 02:35 PM

Right VI, I know exactly where your coming from. My lack of motivation comes from the fact that I do work a fulltime job as well. I have no problem staying motivated for paying jobs, but it is the self projects that block me out. If I dropped the day time job, and went freelance full time I would love it...but right now I honestly can say I do not have a big enough client base to take over the full time wage. Right now it is an extra money maker.

Jelmer · 05-23-2008, 04:13 PM

Hmm well you're a programmer so why don't you make something related to that? There are already lots of websites about programming of course, but to be honest few of them are good (talkphp is an exception I think, or do you know any others?).

It will be easier to stay motivated and don't forget that you need more than coding to make a successful site, "Content is King", so you'll need some of that as well, but if you're good at programming that's not a problem right?

Something I've been thinking of myself is creating a sort of web design/development resource site with news and tutorials, that might be interesting??