The New Team45 Badge!

[Aedan]

Another alternative would be to cache the images on the filesystem instead, as our database is already fairly heavily loaded. It'd also reduce latency when the database backend isn't on the same machine as the web server.

[Gizmo]

Generally speaking, it has been my experience that you only want to store information in the database that needs to be stored in the database; in other words stuff you need to index for one reason or another. Storing things like images, while appealing, places unnecessary load on the DB engine and caching mechanism for no gain in terms of what the DB engine is designed to do. Best to use Áedán's suggestion and let the file system perform the caching, since it is designed for doing that.

(Note that DB purveyors will encourage you to store everything under the sun in the DB, because the more dependent you are on the DB engine, the less likely you are to migrate to another engine.)

[Chilliwilli]

Cheers. I was unsure about permissions issues of writing to the filesystem but I'll set to work on that right away.

[SteveI]

Originally Posted by Chilliwilli

...
SteveI: can you elaborate more? I was thinking of making some more awards and images to go on above and beyond 50,000 (I just ran out of lizards at the time), I realise that having 50,000 next to your amazing 300,000+ must be a little annoying.
...

Yes, but any milestone as a number seems a bit redundant... Rather than the milestone number standing out, I was thinking it might be better to make the actual score stand out more, like maybe a bigger font and/or a different color. Then, I think there would be no need for a number at all under the lizard. If you like the milestone idea, maybe having the score change colors at each milestone would be sufficient? BTW... it's great already... I don't mean to nag about it, just clarify.

[Aedan]

Originally Posted by Chilliwilli

Cheers. I was unsure about permissions issues of writing to the filesystem but I'll set to work on that right away.

Generally, you'll be stuck with whatever permissions the web server has for writing to the file system. Most admins should be able to set directory permissions to give your script somewhere it can write to.

[Chilliwilli]

Ahh got ya. My reason for putting the score on the lizards (it's part of the lizard image) was to associate the new avatar/lizard with a reward threshold. I.e. let new users know what there is to work for. I've never been entriely happy with that text either.

[Daniel ~]

Hi Chilli, since you asked":O}

Would it be possible to use a background color other than white?

Sorry, the white just seems a bit washed out to me.

[Chilliwilli]

All should be aware that the graphics are not final and will be fully revised when other forum related graphics have been confirmed some time in the near future. Over.

[danrok]

The numerals in the lower right corner could do with being a bit more prominent. Perhaps put them on top of the bubble?

[Daniel ~]

Originally Posted by Chilliwilli

All should be aware that the graphics are not final and will be fully revised when other forum related graphics have been confirmed some time in the near future. Over.

I get cha now! Thanks Chilli!

[Daniel ~]

Does everyone's Lizards look half-faded?

[Chilliwilli]

Dan: yip there are differences between the quality of the quantisation (read palette reducing) functions on the box I wrote the script on and the AOA forums box(es). Could possibly be a configuration issue in php.ini or perhaps some aspect of the script has been tweaked by staff for some reason.

[Aedan]

The script has not been tweaked beyond setting up database users. More likely, AOA has a different version of GD to your development box.

[Chilliwilli]

Thanks Áedán. I'll see if I can set mine up to perform similarly and then try and create some optimised images.

[Daniel ~]

Many thanks!

[cadaveca]

my 2 cents...
nice work..
seriously.
i'd love real time updates, but i understand what that would entail.

[Soul99]

Like the new sig, nice work love the little lizard awards for points.

[piccoLEW]

excellent! great work.
Thankyou
edit: is it okay to link to team45 website with the img?

[dabaerman]

thanks for the new badge. I know it took some work to get to this point. I have
reason to believe that it's continuing developement is in good hands. WTG Chilliwilli
and Aedan.

[gb5766]

Nice, I like it..

Testing...