A mammoth project!! Anyone want to help me?

[j2k]

Hiya!

I would like to develop a mammoth project. It could take months to complete, but I have the time...

Some of you may remember when Windows 95 first came out, an online service called MSN. You might be thinking.. "Yeah, MSN.. It's still around today". Well, no it's not.

MSN was remodelled twice, first from the MSN Online Service to the MSN WebExplorer, now to simply Microsoft Network.

I, and many others, liked the design of the first original MSN Online Service, and my project is to recreate it.

I have a webserver, to store all data for it, and all the required tools I think...

The service would include forums, member areas, instant messaging, online help, latest news etc, and much more, like the old MSN did and even new features like send logos/ringtones to your mobile or SMS text messaging..

If anyone here would like to help, or have advice, or even a name for the network, I'd appreciate it.

And of course, unlike MSN, the service would be free of charge to use

So, anyone interested

Cheers.

[ioi8]

i havnt tried much of internet programming.. when i did i failed, but i am good at designs and can figure out most things quick. I have aol.. and i like the new interface, but aol has been made so big, that it is just too slow and doesnt hve the features that some people want, and has features that are useless, oh yeah, how bout having ads on it so u make some sort of profit.

[j2k]

Great! We can get the ball rolling.. which features would be good in it which other services leave out?

Ads can be good for profit, but can scare customers so I'll see how it goes

[Vilim]

I'll help! It sounds like a great plan. I have always wanted to collaberate on a project with some other people but I always get stuck with really dumb people (ie "lets write a application that displays a message box "Hello World!"") or people who are dumb and try to take credit for my work (ie "We worked on the project equally I made the forms colourful")

if you want to talk about this more I will be on MSN tonight (ironic) and my e-mail is [email protected]

[Kenny_Dee]

I would be interested. I'm not an internet programer though. I do want to learn after my current project. If you need any html designs or anything like that let me now. I do have a current webpage at http://www.talknet.cc

Let me know if I would be of use.

Ken Devorak

[email protected]

[Cander]

I have been working on something very similar to that idea for a long time. If you goto PlanetSource code http://www.planet-source-code.com and search for iBBS you can see mine and get the source code for it. You are welcome to take any ideas or code from it as you like It already has a mail system, chat(with channels), file downlaoding, IM, forums(albeit buggy and incomplete at this time). Check it out if you need ideas.

[j2k]

Thanks for your help guys
Kenny - thanks - I'll get back to you on that one

Cander - gonna test it out.. thanks

[Cander]

ACk. You have VB5 . You wont be able to run it becuase it has some VB6 specific functions like split.
At any rate you can still look at the code.

[j2k]

Originally posted by Cander
ACk. You have VB5 . You wont be able to run it becuase it has some VB6 specific functions like split.

Oh but I can

I have the code for the VB6 split function for VB5

[denniswrenn]

What kind of project will this be? Assuming from the 'forums' bit, you need web programmers? I can do PHP and MySQL, and ASP if I have to.

[j2k]

The project will be to recreate the MSN online service. I'm trying to find a webpage which shows what it looks like (MSN online service has been dead for 3 years or more now and my memory's failing me on certain parts of the service!)

[j2k]

So far, I've managed to find one picture of the MSN online service. It's the menu screen:

[denniswrenn]

Is it for everybody, or only for certain people(members)?

And, it is a web related project, and doesn't really require much applications program, right?

[j2k]

People have to sign up, to get a username for IM and stuff, but anybody can sign up, its free - no requirements

It's a web-based program but it'll need quite a lot of application programming also for interfaces, and IM coding etc etc.

[Andreas@ALSoft]

Maybe I can help you, too.
I know alot about VB itself and recently started writing programs which access the net.
I also learned PERL some time ago and have (i think) average HTML knowledge.

To see something I wrote in Perl just visit my homepage ALSoft

[Vilim]

It seems that there has been some interesting feedback on this project. If you are really going to help and get your hands dirty then e-mail me at [email protected] and add your location so it is known what time zone you are in. I will foreward this to j2k since he doesn't seem to have an e-mail and is probably currently fast asleep (I live in North America)

[j2k]

Ooh I'm not asleep yet

[j2k]

I'm gonna write a list of ideas for the service tonight, and if any of you guys have some suggestions, for either features, interface, web design etc, please don't hesitate to PM me

Thanks.

[stickman373]

I'm also interested, I know some vb, html, and coul do some graphics and images for it. If you might want my help please post here or e-mail me at [email protected] Assuming you have the server this would seem a vialble option and accomplishable. Let Me Know!

[j2k]

Hi,

I'd love your help

Cheers

[stickman373]

So what is the plan and who/how many do we have working together on this project right now? When willl this project begin etc.... Just the basic stuff!

E-Mail: [email protected]
MSN Handle: Stickman373
Aol Handle: Stickman373

Hope we can get something going

[adamcox]

My suggestion if you wanted to get a view of the MSN interface (not 100% sure if it'll work but...) is to just get an old pc and install Windows 95 cos i'm sure that used to come with the MSN program.

Just my $0.02 (although I'm from GB so i spose that should be £0.03

[etoo]

I think this is a interesting idea.

I wouldn't make it a everything site like AOL or MSN. I'd just make it a small range. Like VBN, the Visual Basic Network. You'd never be able to compete with the big one otherwise.

I'd also make it accessible on EVERYTHING. Windows, Mac, BeOS, Linux and Palm and Pocket PC. Then people might use it.

[j2k]

That's an interesting idea. It would have the standard service features such as IM, forums, weather reports, SMS, etc but it could also be focussed on VB users! Nice.

[filburt1]

I can do some pretty Photoshop graphics. Can I help?

[etoo]

I had a another idea. Why don't you make it completely peer-to- peer? I don't know if that's possible, but it probably is.

[j2k]

filburt1 - that would be great

etoo - No, I don't want it to be P2P otherwise it will not be as much of a global service... People should be able to talk to anyone on the service

[filburt1]

Originally posted by j2k
filburt1 - that would be great

Okay, when you have something for me to do, just PM me.

[filburt1]

Oh, and one more thing: I kick ass at making GUIs. So maybe people could doodle something in Paint, and I can design them for real.

[j2k]

Okay - I'll PM you when I have some work to wing your way

In the meantime: Competition - Think of a name for the program! Answers on a PM please



Oh and all you helpers will be in the program credits

[j2k]

Ohh the art of sametime-posting!! That would be awesome! Thanks filby

[filburt1]

I'm starting a thread in Project Communication about it...let's start going there. I want to outdo the Times of War Development Team thread.

[j2k]

Hahaha!! Nice one

[filburt1]

Done: http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.p...threadid=99076

[j2k]

Thanks Replied to!

[filburt1]

BTW, since you started the thread, could you lock it so people use the other one? See the little Admin Options dropdown box at the bottom of the page.

[j2k]

Sure can

Please continue your interests in the thread outlined by filburt1.

Thread Closed.

[j2k]

The thread has been re-opened for 'new recruits' who'd like to join the project. Please post your requests to join in this thread, instead of the discussion thread in the Communication forum. Thanks.

[5speed]

I know internet programming, and would love to help. Although I am in school, and working on other projects I can devote at least a few hours a week. The projects will be done in a month or two, then I will me able to help out more.

I also have corel, and can do some animations with flash
I know(internet lng) html, javascript, some perl and cgi.


Live in MN, email [email protected]

[Jigabug]

Wow, this project sounds like a great idea, I'd love to help!

I'm generally an HTML artist and I enjoy creating various layouts and clean-looking sites.

I'm also an avid VB programer who enjoys teaming up with others on major projects.

I have access to a few older machines, some with the original MSN Online Service, they may be useful.

I'm also working on putting skins into my more recent VB programs. Implementing them into this program would create a whole new developper base for skins.

Let me know if i can be of any help!

Email: [email protected]
MSN: [email protected]

--Jigabug