An Automated T-Time Tracker Thread?

[VEXD]

Would people like to post their T-Times in an automated thread designed specifically to show current T-Time status automatically, in addition to the WRS discussion thread that already exists for each week?

Amp88 has decided he can create a thread that will automatically show updated T-Times when you post your times into it yourself!
This will free up Luxy and Small_Fryz's time, but will mean T-Times are posted separately from the track/race discussion, and will have to be posted in a particular format. What does everyone think?

👍 👎

See This Thread

 

[fasj6418]

yes!!!

that is a great idea, and i think its not that hard to make...
personally, i´m crazy for stats, so i would love to see this...

one topic for discussions about the race of the week, and another, just with the times...

(so far, everybody aproved the idea 👍 )

 

[MisterWeary]

Top idea! When updating splits would you simply edit your old post or create a new one?

 

[VEXD]

Top idea! When updating splits would you simply edit your old post or create a new one?

You edit the original post.

That way, the posts in the thread are kept to a minimum, which means the program amp88 is making would work quicker...

also, this would mean if you were watching a particular drivers progress.... you would be able to move directly to their post to check, by copying and pasting the link somewhere, like your inbox.

You would also be able to make a small comment on each edit, so as to allow people to understand your progress, but leave the main discussion to the usual race thread.

We'll see what people think overall..... we fear change you know....

Vote away! 👍

 

[EXelero]

sounds cool to me. 👍
i always end up reading through loads of posts just to see how koly, casio, timbrad and some others are doing!
it would save me no end of time!

great idea david.

 

[smaug terrible]

Isn't luxy's leaderbord sort of a T-time thread anyways ?

If we have a separate sector time only thread updated by racers themselves (a great idea), then what's the use of luxy provisional leaderboard ?

oh i see, nevermind

 

[Androoos]

I think this is a fantastic idea. If I knew anything about programming I would volunteer my services. But alas, I know NOTHING about programming.

I've read the other thread about creating the automated program. My one question is this: Is this new "dedicated" thread going to take the ambiguity out of having to post your times in a specific format? Like this:

T1space)0:XX.XXX
T2space)1:XX.XXX

I know it sounds simple, but you'll be amazed at the people who wouldn't input it correctly and not have their times show up.

I mean, people are getting upset now because they have the wrong controller or wrong division in Luxy's leaderboard. Imagine if their times aren't showing up!!

 

[KLR142]

👍 I'm all for it. Definitely would save time for people, not to mention for those guys updating them... We could possibly have it set so we could enter our division as well I'm assuming? Kickass ideas guys.

 

[VEXD]

I think this is a fantastic idea. If I knew anything about programming I would volunteer my services. But alas, I know NOTHING about programming.

I've read the other thread about creating the automated program. My one question is this: Is this new "dedicated" thread going to take the ambiguity out of having to post your times in a specific format? Like this:

T1space)0:XX.XXX
T2space)1:XX.XXX

I know it sounds simple, but you'll be amazed at the people who wouldn't input it correctly and not have their times show up.

I mean, people are getting upset now because they have the wrong controller or wrong division in Luxy's leaderboard. Imagine if their times aren't showing up!!

I would imagine it will be written in the first post (where the leaderboard would appear) how you should input your times, and for most of us it would only take a few attempts to get it right.
Those who got it wrong, would have to edit the post to get it right.

I'm all for it. Definitely would save time for people, not to mention for those guys updating them... We could possibly have it set so we could enter our division as well I'm assuming? Kickass ideas guys.

The division entry shouldnt be a problem, i would have thought, just waiting for amp88 to have a read and comment.

The idea is, we make a post, which of course has our sig in it, and we edit it ourselves with any time updates we have. Only one post per thread per driver.

This equals a simpler life for Luxy, Fryz, when he gets back, and anyone trying to find out times of the other drivers.

👍

 

[KLR142]

Yup, sounds good, quick, easy, and great, and good. Eh? Lol.

 

[amp88]

The division entry shouldnt be a problem, i would have thought, just waiting for amp88 to have a read and comment.

Yeah, having the division included in the post wouldn't be a problem. Someone just tell me what I'm supposed to be writing and I'll give it a go

 

[eggmann]

This equals a simpler life for Luxy, Fryz, when he gets back, and anyone trying to find out times of the other drivers.

👍

But Luxy voted against the idea... so I did too.

 

[KLR142]

Alrighty then, so can we hear why people voted no? Specifically Luxy, who didn't respond in this thread, so he's probably not going to look here again... Anyway, if he says no, then it'd be pointless to do it. If we did, he'd get mad. It'd take his job away.

Really wondering why he voted no though, I can't think of a reason not to do it, except maybe Luxy wants to keep having a job for the WRS...? Maybe I'll shoot him a PM.

 

[eggmann]

His comments are posted in the thread linked in Post#1, and I agree with them. Basically two threads per race are one too many.

 

[KLR142]

Gotcha, I'll take a look see

 

[KLR142]

Change of heart! Change of heart!!! Lol. So anyway, I was just talking to Luxy, and it seems that I agree that we don't really need another thread to look at...

One of the reasons FOR having another thread was the fact that you'd have a thread to look through of just times, but what would the point of that be if you could just look at the leaderboard and get the same information? Other than that, I don't think there's any other reason to have another thread about it, which in itself is actually pointless.

I originally thought that if we had the seperate thread it'd make things easier for Amp's program, but in reality, if we just post the times correctly in the normal thread, there won't be any problems. Also, Luxy suggested setting off your times in a [leaderboard][/leaderboard] type of thing and that would make it even easier for the program to read.

And if someone doesn't post their times correctly, it's not that big of a deal for us to tell him/her that they're not meeting the requirements for the leaderboard, etc. whatever.

Eh?

Pros/cons for having a seperate thread anyone?

 

[jumpputt]

I agree that one thread containing all of the information is better than having a seperate thread for T's only. As long as the automated program can work with one thread.

I voted wrong

I don't see a need for a seperate thread for T's if they are automatically copied to the leaderboard anyway.

Are there any good reasons to have a seperate thread?

 

[VEXD]

The idea of the separate thread was to have the leaderboard on the first post, which would constantly update itself, like Flat-outs does.

The second idea was that it would work quicker and easier, as the program would read just times and division info, and react sooner.

The third idea was to help Luxy stop doing his board. He doesnt agree, so im just gonna leave it and see what the outcome of the poll is.

Remember, we fear change, and this is all new to us..... we're bound to get cold racing shoes.

👍

 

[eggmann]

We're bound to get cold racing shoes.

Cold shoes are faster. Who wants to drive with sweaty feet?

 

[KLR142]

The idea of the separate thread was to have the leaderboard on the first post, which would constantly update itself, like Flat-outs does.

The second idea was that it would work quicker and easier, as the program would read just times and division info, and react sooner.

The third idea was to help Luxy stop doing his board. He doesnt agree, so im just gonna leave it and see what the outcome of the poll is.

Remember, we fear change, and this is all new to us..... we're bound to get cold racing shoes.

👍

Well, the second and third idea is still met by not having a second thread for each week's race. It'd still go to a leaderboard that you have to click on, and he wouldn't have to do anything really. It will still be updated automatically and quickly and easily, but it just won't need/have it's own thread to get the job done.

As far as voting, I would change my vote to against it if I could, and I know at least one other person feels the same way(I'm sure more than one as well). When I first voted I was voting mainly on the idea of having the automated system, not just on the fact that we should have a seperate page for it and times only.

 

[jumpputt]

Good post! I'm with you KLR.

Not that anyone cares what I think

 

[Luxy]

I'd just like to clarify my "no" vote, as I've had a few people wondering why I voted that way.

I am all for an automated system for doing the leaderboard. That would be fantastic.

If having an automated leaderboard means that someone other than me would take care of it, I'm all for that too (it doesn't matter to me if I'm the one doing it or not).

I voted no to the idea of having a separate thread. It makes more work for everyone to have a dicussion in two places at once (people will inevitably and rightly want to discuss their times beyond a one-line comment). The way I see it, the leaderboard is supposed to make it less work for people to participate in the week's race, and doubling the number of threads doesn't do that.

The second reason that a separate thread isn't necessary is that if everyone posted times in a standardized format in the regular thread, it's not significantly more work for amp88's program. The hardest part is identifying what is and is not a time, not reading through the regular thread. (To be honest, I'm pretty skeptical that it's even possible to get everyone on the same page about a standardized format. I'm a web developer by trade, and the number one rule is that you can't ever trust your users to do anything.)

Until now, I wasn't aware of your idea, VEXD about having a leaderboard in the first post of a thread. If amp is able to get his program up and going, and keeps the leaderboard in a thread which he updates (and no-one else posts in, hopefully), so that people go to that dedicated thread rather than http://www.luxy.ca/wrs/leaderboard/, then I think that'd be great.

I'm just against having two separate threads that people are posting in concurrently every week

ok, rant over

 

[Androoos]

I'd just like to clarify my "no" vote, as I've had a few people wondering why I voted that way.

I am all for an automated system for doing the leaderboard. That would be fantastic.

If having an automated leaderboard means that someone other than me would take care of it, I'm all for that too (it doesn't matter to me if I'm the one doing it or not).

I voted no to the idea of having a separate thread. It makes more work for everyone to have a dicussion in two places at once (people will inevitably and rightly want to discuss their times beyond a one-line comment). The way I see it, the leaderboard is supposed to make it less work for people to participate in the week's race, and doubling the number of threads doesn't do that.

The second reason that a separate thread isn't necessary is that if everyone posted times in a standardized format in the regular thread, it's not significantly more work for amp88's program. The hardest part is identifying what is and is not a time, not reading through the regular thread. (To be honest, I'm pretty skeptical that it's even possible to get everyone on the same page about a standardized format. I'm a web developer by trade, and the number one rule is that you can't ever trust your users to do anything.)

Until now, I wasn't aware of your idea, VEXD about having a leaderboard in the first post of a thread. If amp is able to get his program up and going, and keeps the leaderboard in a thread which he updates (and no-one else posts in, hopefully), so that people go to that dedicated thread rather than http://www.luxy.ca/wrs/leaderboard/, then I think that'd be great.

I'm just against having two separate threads that people are posting in concurrently every week

ok, rant over

OK I think I understand what's going on now. I voted "YES!" because I like the idea of having a leaderboard that's automated. It's got to be difficult to keep up with the rate of people posting times, and I know the current leaderboard goes days without being updated.

And at the same time, now I see what was meant by having two threads. I agree, that would be crazy - twice as much banter as there is now would be way too much.

Is there a way to limit a second thread so people could only post T-times and not post any other text/discussion? Could some "form" be inserted into the post that would only allows numbers to be entered? Kinda like the GTP Fastest Lap database...that's kinda what I mean...boxes for numbers and nothing else.

Could this "form" be applied to a current week's race thread? Like at the bottom of the "submit post" page, have a form where you fill in your latest T-times? And that way the first post of the thread could update itself by reading those numbers, which would be forced to be inputted in a specific format? I have no idea if this is possible.

These questions might be old, stupid or arbitrary, but I don't have a single programming bone in my body. If I did, I would certainly volunteer to help with this. But in my current capacity I am afraid I can only offer ideas and suggestions. If this has already been thought of and/or previously shot down, or if you don't want my input, tell me to shut up and be patient and I will do exactly that.

 

[MinorShunt]

I voted no. IMO if we don't talk about T-times in race thread, what the hell do we talk about? Luxy's board is the ideal quick check for t-times. I've got it on my favorites menu, and when I go to do a stint, just pull it up and print it out for reference.

If it can be automated, GREAT! That would give luxy and small fryz more time to race, which can't be a bad thing. 👍

Sometimes I do suspect the times posted on it though. Do people enter dirty, cherry picked, or unfinished lap times? Probably. Although in D1, it makes no difference cause we are all gettin stomped by the double H bots.

Resistance is futile.

 

[VEXD]

What a shame we cant trust the members here to only input times into one post per thread, and only update that post over the course of the week, and do all their ranting in the other thread.

The leaderboard on post 1, and everyone's times on their consecutive posts following post 1, would work for me.

We wouldnt need a form, just someone to remove any crap that got posted from time to time.

nevermind, it wasnt my idea, i just tried to help amp88 out.

 

[Small_Fryz]

You could always have a proggie that a user enters their name, division and t times into and it adds them to a database, but that means anybody could use it and others could change others T times.

Personally i dont mind what happens, Helping luxy do his leaderboard doesnt take much time for me at all and specially now that the posting has decreased its now a 10min job instead of 30 - 40 mins.

Im not gonna vote as i dont mind what ever happens, If luxy wants to change his leaderboard then thats fine by me, if somebody happens to make a automated one then i dont mind. If things stay the same then i dont mind then either. Luxy's and my job is only hard when people dont post the times properly or post 4 different times in a space of 1 hour.