OpenWetWare:Software/Milestones/May 2008

Development Items

Ordered Priority List From May

1. Complete migration to new server
2. Upgrade to MediaWiki 1.2
3. Complete Google Search Option on main page
4. Email: migrate to GoolgeGroup lists
5. Email: improve spam-related issues in sending and receiving email
6. User Poll: Enable it
7. Lab Notebook: Continue to support Ricardo
8. Enable site analytics/metrics so we can track stats

Ordered Priority List From April

1. Reformat the RSS feed CSS and format
   1. wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT) Done
   2. wjf 12:46, 4 May 2008 (EDT) Demo: View the RSS Feed.

1. Migrate to new RHEL5 server. (No later than Tuesday May 6th)
   1. wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT) In Progress

1. Migrate to MediaWiki 1.12. (No later than Tuesday May 6th)
   1. wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT) In Progress
   2. wjf 12:57, 4 May 2008 (EDT) All current extensions have been tested
   3. wjf 12:46, 4 May 2008 (EDT) Demo: Staging Release: Please Don't save edits!

1. Visitor blurb: add it
   1. wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT) Done

1. Who's online: fix it
   1. wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT) Done
   2. wjf 12:46, 4 May 2008 (EDT) Demo: Staging Release: Please Don't save edits!

1. Google Search: use it rather than OWW/MediaWiki on all searches. See notes below.
   1. wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT) In Progress

1. New OWW Logo
   1. wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT)Done.

1. Email Issues: Investigate current problems (per Reshma's message)
   1. wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT) In Progress

1. User Poll
   1. wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT) Done
   2. wjf 12:46, 4 May 2008 (EDT) Demo: Try it!

1. Share This (just added to the list: worked with 1.12)
   1. wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT) Done
   2. wjf 12:46, 4 May 2008 (EDT) Demo: See the box below search

1. My Images
   1. wjf 12:46, 4 May 2008 (EDT) Demo: See it!

1. Quiz
   1. wjf 12:46, 4 May 2008 (EDT) Demo: Try it!

1. Show User Information
   1. wjf 12:46, 4 May 2008 (EDT) Demo: Try it!

Details

RSS Feed CSS

• Allow for the current RSS feed reader to be CSS-styled
  • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT)Done.
• Allow for the RSS format to be specified: current feed is a mess
  • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT)Done.
• Work with Ricardo to get the CSS more consistent with other content
  • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT)Done.

Visitor blurb

• Sounds like next step might be to contact Austin and see if the cookie issue can get sorted.
  • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT)Sorted it out.
    • The cookie is represented within MediaWiki differently than the way it is stored on the client
    • New cookie has been added with a long (20 year) duration to keep the message from popping up again.
    • Fixed a problem with dewikified pages. Now works correctly
    • Blurb will no longer appear on the Main Page (message is already there)
• I think this could have a big impact on new user sign-ups.
  • • • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT)Done.

Follow-Up

• Save count of first-time users
• Show this on the Special:Stats page

Who's online

• This is providing inaccurate info, should probably either fix it or deprecate it on some time scale.
  • wjf 13:05, 14 April 2008 (EDT) Will address immediately. Should be a short fix.
  • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT) Importing most recent version of the extension.
    • Should have it up this evening.

Follow-Up

• Download and install latest revision from Mediawiki.org
• Test
  • wjf 12:46, 4 May 2008 (EDT) Demo: Try it!
• Report back

Lab Notebook

• Create a model group lab notebook for IGEM users
  • Work with Ricardo to do the design
    • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT)Done

• Evaluate using a simplified entry form for daily log entries
  • Does not require adding the template calls to the beginning and end of daily lab notebook sections.
    • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT)Done. No current mods requested

• • Also provides a drop-down list of all current projects
    • wjfDone. Prototype is not being implemented at this point.

• Add auto-create of a Project page
  • No need to enter or edit mediawiki text on project creation
    • wjf 16:34, 9 April 2008 (EDT)Working with Ricardo on rolling the 'slimmed-down' version of MediaWiki to end-users
    • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT)Currently working with Ricardo on bugs if found.

User Poll

• Add a small user poll to the OWW front page just below the current search box
  • When a person responds, the current poll stats will be shown as a histogram.
  • Poll will not be limited to OWW members.
  • Will revise as needed if abuse is detected.
  • Will use existing Ajax-based PHP/JavaScript/MySQL script
  • Reports for all polls will be maintained in an OWW MediaWiki special page
    • All new poll questions will be added via the special page
    • Results will be stored in the OWW database
    • wjf 16:34, 9 April 2008 (EDT)Deferred: As-time-permits for April
• wjf 16:34, Deferred to May As-time-permits
  • wjf 12:46, 4 May 2008 (EDT) Demo: Try it!

Search

• Complete poll to determinne whether we should eliminate the Ajax Google-suggest-inspired search
  • The idea of prompted search is sound but the implementation has been criticized by several users
• Jason R. Kelly 17:18, 22 March 2008 (CDT):Should we consider moving to google search? We could have "Go" and "Search", but search would point to a site:openwetware.org google search. I did some informal testing and google seems much better, what's the tech dev position on this?
  • • wjf 16:34, 9 April 2008 (EDT) Google only searches linked pages. All unlinked pages are not covered by Google.
    • wjf 16:34, 9 April 2008 (EDT) Searches of a subset of the wiki will require custom Google searches
    • wjf 13:05, 14 April 2008 (EDT) Fixed the Google Search on the OWW search results page. You can now search OWW via Google
    • wjf 13:05, 14 April 2008 (EDT) Issue re: Google Search: ads are returned within OWW when this search is done.
      • Should I eliminate ads? This may not be too hard but it will require some time (TBD)
      • If not, should we register with google so that we get paid for clicks on those ads?
        • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT)No action has been taken on this item

Invite User

• Complete work on the "invite" extension
• Use the HTML form Ilya and Reed worked on
• The inviting member will be alerted when a user that member invites joins OWW
  • wjf 16:34, 9 April 2008 (EDT) Deferred to May: As-time-permits

Contact Us

• Fix the 'navigation' sidebar icon.
  • Part of the problem may be related to caching pages.
  • Also may be related to how labels are stored in the MySQL database and the MediaWiki: namespace.
    • wjf 16:34, 9 April 2008 (EDT) Fixed. Problem was related to the siet-wide sidbar and the user-specific sidebar.

File Upload

• Deploy a test version of the abbreviated file upload process
  • Provide a way to use it within the editor
  • Try out the Java-based drag-and-drop upload.
    • Radlinks has a closed source but still pretty useful component that fits the bill.
    • The initial 'trial' version is limited to small files.
    • Price for the full version is $69.00
    • wjf 16:34, 9 April 2008 (EDT) Deferred to April: Fix as-time-permits
    • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT) Deferred to May: Fix as-time-permits

Fix Google Search

• Was incapacitated when the "search from current page" feature was added.
  • The code is in the Special:Search page. This is a matter of moving part of the OWW modified version of the page into the OWW subclassed OWWSpecialSearch php page.
    • wjf 16:34, 9 April 2008 (EDT) Deferred to April: Fix as-time-permits

User Interface

• Install the FCKEditor
  • Requires MW1.11
    • Notify Steering Committee
  • Solicit input.
    • wjf 16:34, 9 April 2008 (EDT) Awaiting Rackspace and server upgrade before movving to the required MW 1.12 release
    • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT)Work on migration is ongoing

Community Features

• Add configurable header text to the Feedback tag.
  • The text will appear in the MediaWiki: namespace
    • wjf 16:34, 9 April 2008 (EDT) Done. MediaWiki:contact is the page where it can be modified from.

Filename conflict resolution

• • Investigate providing a way for users to see filenames minus any disambiguation tagging.
  • Other users will see the full name.
  • Evaluate in light of the MW1.11 Image programming model change.
    • wjf 16:34, 9 April 2008 (EDT) Deferred. Work on as-time-permits in April
    • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT)Deferred. Work on as-time-permits in April
    • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT)Deferred. Work on as-time-permits in May

Deprecate support for Flash Video

• Decided to just use youtube or google video, rather than host anything ourselves.
  • • wjf 16:34, 9 April 2008 (EDT) Removed

System Management

Upgrade OWW Linux Server at Rackspace

• Complete upgrade agreement/service order
  • Work with MIT legal to do this
    • Send a message to her immediately
    • Get back agreement
    • Return to Rackspace
• Move OWW Server to RHEL5
  • Currently on RHEL4
  • 2 weeks to complete the work
  • Move /data directory
  • Reconfigure MySQL
    • Standard on RHEL5
    • Currently on MySQL 4.1
  • Reconfigure PHP5
    • Will use the native RHEL5 PHP5 package
  • Install sudo and other packages needed
  • Load all Databases
  • Test Mediawiki
    • Test all extensions
    • wjf 16:34, 9 April 2008 (EDT) Deferred. Still awaiting Rackspace/MIT contract amendment signoff
      • Current status: RackSpace has sent a revised agreement with acceptable hardwaere specs and language that is consistent with MIT procurement. I have printed out the agreement with a set of instructions (Short!) for procurement and will hand-deliver with Isadora tomorrow morning (April 10, 2008)
    • wjf 13:05, 14 April 2008 (EDT) Rackspace will have new server online April 17th
    • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT) In progress

Complete upgrade to Mediawiki 1.11.2 (or most recent release)

• Load all Databases
• Test Mediawiki
  • Test all extensions
    • wjf 16:34, 9 April 2008 (EDT) Deferred. Still awaiting Rackspace/MIT contract amendment signoff
    • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT) In progress
    • wjf 12:46, 4 May 2008 (EDT) Demo: Try it!

Modify backup procedures

• Add all MySQL backups to the /data rsync process back to MIT
• Move local MIT copy of /data to MIT Bionet server (nightly backup)
• Move rsync job from model.mit.edu (RHEL4) to shmoo.mit.edu (RHEL5)
• Investigate MySQL replication between MIT and Rackspace
  • • wjf 16:34, 9 April 2008 (EDT) Deferred. Still awaiting Rackspace/MIT contract amendment signoff
    • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT) In progress

Speak to Sasha at Harvard Church Lab re: MySQL database replication

• Explore how this may be accomplished
• Church Lab has excellent web server Internet access and backup facilities
  • Will contact this week (April 9th, 2008 week)
    • wjf 13:05, 14 April 2008 (EDT) still pending
    • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT)Meeting scheduled

SSL Certificate for OWW

• Price out certificate
  • Verisign: 1 Year: $399 for 1 year
  • Rackspace/Thawte: $249 for 2 years

• • • wjf 13:10, 16 March 2008 (CDT) Based upon the Rackspace ***Price, I ordered a 2 year SSL certificate.
      • wjf 16:34, 9 April 2008 (EDT) Original Rackspace certificate was cancelled re: concerns from Austin.
  • Alternate vendor (GoDaddy.com) offers certs for less than $20.
    • Will address after server upgrade (IP address will change but this won't affect a certificate. But will hold off: 1 less thing to go wrong during upgrade to RHEL 5)
    • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT) Still in progress

• • Details of the certificate will be present in the certificate itself:
    • url will be https://www.openwetware.org
    • org is OpenWetWare.org
    • Org unit is 'Operations'
  • Rackspace will invoice/install this week.
  • No issue moving the certificate to another server that I'm aware or
    • Certificate does not contain the IP address, just the DNS name
  • This will allow user logins to OWW to be protected.
  • We don't anticipate deploying SSL for all OWW transactions.
  • The basis for this is non-repudiation and authentication but not general encryption.
  • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT) Still in progress

Email Issues

• Current Mailman mailing lists
  • List all of them
  • Document where they are described in OWW help
    • Make sure help is accurate
  • Evaluate other mailing list solutions
    • Not planning any immediate changes
• UMS
  • Document the current email settings
  • Verify all are accurate
• Admin Mailing List
  • Look to other means of allowing admins to be connected to apps.
    • example: new RSS feed to track pending users
  • Report findings
    • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT) Still in progress

Research items

Image Upload naming

• Determine how to reduce problems resulting from MW's "global" image naming features.
  • Recently was responsible for taking out parts of the Endy lab pages.
  • We should address at the same time better image upload is added.
    • May be a higher priority than adding image upload improvements.
    • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT) Still in progress

Search

• Evaluate Wikipedia's Lucene Search for OWW
  • Provides for Relevance-ranked searching
• Evaluate Google Custom Search
  • We can create multiple custom searches, each for a major site area such as
    • Materials
    • Protocols
    • Courses
      • wjf 16:34, 9 April 2008 (EDT) Still in progress
      • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT) Still in progress

Subscribe to Page Range

• Evaluate a way to subscribe to changes for a range of pages rather than from a specific page.
  • Uses the "Recent Changes" page and a filter
    • • wjf 16:34, 9 April 2008 (EDT) Still in progress
      • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT) Still in progress
      • wjf 12:46, 4 May 2008 (EDT) Demo: Try it!

OWW Chat

• Work with Austin to integrate the new Jabber chat features with OWW
  • Figure out what to do about the current Wiki:Chat PHP/HTML/Javascript search
• Is there an way to implement/reserve a way to schedule voice chats?
  • Skype works but is proprietary
    • Most OWW members have access to it.
    • Other VOIP methods?
      • wjf 16:34, 9 April 2008 (EDT) Still in progress
      • wjf 23:14, 3 May 2008 (EDT) Still in progress

My Images

• • wjf 12:46, 4 May 2008 (EDT) Demo: See it!

Quiz

• • wjf 12:46, 4 May 2008 (EDT) Demo: Try it!