Preserved Topic: Dynamics of UBB

(Mostly for Doc, but if you know the answers chime in!)

How does the forum software here work, exactly?

Do the posts get kept as part some text file in UBB script (If not, then how does the computer generate it when you edit a post)?

How does the main forum page know the stats of how many threads are there and in what order?

How do the threads get designated as locked or open?

What is the difference between archived and active posts, and why does archiving post free up space on the server?

How does the member list database work and how does it add the proper information to the posts?

Is it all controled by one master script or are there several?

I don't suppose I can get a copy of the perl script so I can pour over it and analyse this stuff?


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http://www.ubbdev.com/

yeah...... no, that didn't help...


Harmonizing new illusions...
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How does the forum software here work, exactly? - > www.perl.com

Oh, and this is an Infopop UBB http://infopop.com/products/ubbclassic/. The Doc didn't code it himself but I think he's made a tonne of modifications to it...

Sorry I couldn't be more help but you really should drop this in the Server Sider Scripting forum.

[This message has been edited by Dracusis (edited 06-04-2002).]

iself would be kinda interested in what form the data is stored in here.
i know the threads are plain html flatfiles but the userprofile? that too?
so the script writes/edits 2 files on the server whenever someone posts something?

All flat files. No databases. That's one of its shortfalls.

Oh yah, I remember Doc posting a snippet from one of the flat files once. It was just a text file with data separated by

I don't think it removes the datafile when something is archieved... you'd still have to be able to rebuild the html to change the layout.

The userdata is twofold - one file (memberlist)containing username

i am no expert but am i understanding this right THIS FORUM DOES NOT USE A DATABASE ? ??? I'm sure im wrong so tell me

Yes, you understood it correctly, UBB (the software used to power the Asylum) doesn't use any sort of databse, it uses plain text files to store data, and that's its biggest drawback (I'm talking about the software)...

yeah, I figgered it was not database driven.... that's what I liked about it... I could go in and modify the file whenever I felt like it...


Harmonizing new illusions...
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You could do that with mysql as well.

so that means, that also the password is probably stored in plain text somewhere in a flatfile?

well, probably encrypted or well hidden...


Harmonizing new illusions...
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Though it's extremely easy to encrypt things with Perl, it's also not guaranteed that our passwords are encrypted. Even if they were, this isn't a secure server...

As far as passwords are cnocerned, this is a quote from registration page:

--- start copy/paste ---
In addition, your passwords are not encrypted and can be seen by the BB administrators. Do not use a password that you would be afraid to reveal to anyone.
--- end copy/paste ---

btw., even a file system is, by definition, a database, although a very simple/specialized one...

it's just a message board, I don't really care about the password being revealed... if someone impersonates me.... Big Deal...

on the adminweb, I'll encrypt it, or cleverly hide it....

TyPrime, you know what I mean....


Harmonizing new illusions...
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