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theotherlight
Novice dreamer
Age: 27
Posts: 41
Joined: 28 Feb 2006
Last Visit: 05 Feb 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada |
 Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 2:15 am Post subject: Working on Dream Diary software... any input would be great |
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I'll keep this as short as I can: I've starting writing a dream diary (and although I cringe, I must add: blog-like) application. I was just really looking for any input you guys have about features, or specific fields you have about your dreams that you think other people would benefit from.
I have an outline of my idea(s) on my blog, at http://blog.andrewfreiday.com/2006/04/29/jdream-video-preview/.
So far I'm calling it jDream. I posted a small video of what I've got so far. What you don't see in the video, but will be in it soon: commenting on entries, multiple user accounts, RSS feeds, tagging dreams with keywords.
If there's at least a little bit of interest in it, I'll finish it up, and let people download it to have on their own websites. If there's even more interest, then I'd like to make a large community website where everyone can post their dreams, share, comment, etc. -- I know at least one site like this already exists, but I'd really like to improve, both in functionality and useability, and... well... aesthetics.
I'm not trying to promote myself or my website... don't click if you don't want to... I was doing the project for myself but I thought there might be a demand for it? (Especially for a larger, community-based system?)
Thanks guys and gals, I'm very excited to hear back from any or all of you!
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Stormthunder
thunderyness
Age: 27
Posts: 1678
Joined: 16 Mar 2005
Last Visit: 11 Jan 2011
Location: the real world |
| Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 8:09 am Post subject: |
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I took a look at this but couldn't figure out what to do with the files in the zip file. Maybe you should include some instructions on your webpage as to what file to open first and what to do (how to use the software) - remember, not all online dream journal users are necessarily computer geeks! 
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theotherlight
Novice dreamer
Age: 27
Posts: 41
Joined: 28 Feb 2006
Last Visit: 05 Feb 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada |
| Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 12:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Stormthunder wrote: |
| I took a look at this but couldn't figure out what to do with the files in the zip file. Maybe you should include some instructions on your webpage as to what file to open first and what to do (how to use the software) - remember, not all online dream journal users are necessarily computer geeks! |
In the zip file is an AVI movie of me just going through the program. You should be able to open it in Windows Media Player, or iTunes, or Winamp, or whatever your media player of choice is. Edit: I uploaded it to YouTube, so you should be able to watch it without having to download anything. Please check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDtirf9MrCI
I'll see if I can get a working copy up for people to look at, the last thing I want to do is discourage people for thinking it's too hard to use. If I end up doing a public, community system of it, it will be as easy to use as any other blog-like system. I'm just interested to see if there's an interest, or better yet, demand for it.
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Stormthunder
thunderyness
Age: 27
Posts: 1678
Joined: 16 Mar 2005
Last Visit: 11 Jan 2011
Location: the real world |
| Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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Well, I did watch the video you supplied, and it does look nice and simple, user-friendly. I don't know whether there would be any demand for it, however, since I know dreamjournal.net already does a very similar thing with more features (and they will apparently be going through a major upgrade soon in addition).
Personally I wouldn't use it, but that's only because I've just put a lot of effort into making my own website for my dream journal. Keep advertising your idea around some more, because I think it looks good and quite professional. The main issue here is, as you've said, finding an interest.
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theotherlight
Novice dreamer
Age: 27
Posts: 41
Joined: 28 Feb 2006
Last Visit: 05 Feb 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada |
| Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 3:01 pm Post subject: |
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Well I do VERY much appreciate the input.
I suppose that I may just continue it as a personal project and see what happens. If dreamjournal.net is doing an upgrade then there's probably no point in making my own "competitor" site.
Shame... every good idea I think I have for a fun, community project is already taken, heh.
Anyways, thank you again!
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Bruno
a smiling haze
Posts: 5950
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Last Visit: 15 Feb 2013
Location: fleeting. |
| Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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I looks a lot like WordPress. I see you're using PHP as a base. This looks like a fine system, Andrew, I think you shouldn't drop it.  If you need someone to help with beta testing and debugging, I volunteer.
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theotherlight
Novice dreamer
Age: 27
Posts: 41
Joined: 28 Feb 2006
Last Visit: 05 Feb 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada |
| Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Bruno wrote: |
| I looks a lot like WordPress. I see you're using PHP as a base. This looks like a fine system, Andrew, I think you shouldn't drop it. If you need someone to help with beta testing and debugging, I volunteer. |
Excellent! Every little bit of motivation helps. 
It does look a lot like WordPress, because, well, WordPress is so fantastically great. That would be my ultimate goal, but I'm still quite a bit away from being compared to WordPress' functionality.
What I'd like to do is submit this thing to SourceForge (sourceforge.net) as an Open Source project and see what response I get. Make it's own site with a wiki and all that jazz. We'll see. I have a pretty open week, so I can get a lot more done. Maybe post another preview of some additional functionality.
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Neko
The Blushing Bride
Age: 22
Posts: 312
Joined: 01 May 2006
Last Visit: 02 Aug 2006
Location: Scotland |
| Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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Oh wow, I was making my own diary software and then I came across this thread!  I'm sure yours will be better than mine though. 
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theotherlight
Novice dreamer
Age: 27
Posts: 41
Joined: 28 Feb 2006
Last Visit: 05 Feb 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada |
| Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Neko wrote: |
| Oh wow, I was making my own diary software and then I came across this thread! I'm sure yours will be better than mine though. |
It doesn't matter whose is better... it always helps to have someone to share ideas and functionality with.
I'm a fairly good programmer, so if you need any help let me know.
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Draconic
Novice dreamer
Posts: 13
Joined: 20 Jan 2006
Last Visit: 12 Jul 2008
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| Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 11:47 pm Post subject: |
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I've been using a private LiveJournal with custom tags to keep track of dreams. I usually tag the entries "dream" and occasionally a sub-tag and it's been working PRETTY well, although I would like a few more database-type ways of searching through.
I'll definetly give this program a try. I like the idea of setting up a SourceForge project. I'd pitch in a bit of time here and there to help with graphics and css.
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theotherlight
Novice dreamer
Age: 27
Posts: 41
Joined: 28 Feb 2006
Last Visit: 05 Feb 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada |
| Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 2:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Draconic wrote: |
I've been using a private LiveJournal with custom tags to keep track of dreams. I usually tag the entries "dream" and occasionally a sub-tag and it's been working PRETTY well, although I would like a few more database-type ways of searching through.
I'll definetly give this program a try. I like the idea of setting up a SourceForge project. I'd pitch in a bit of time here and there to help with graphics and css. |
That'd be excellent. I'll definitely keep that in mind. As far as as the SourceForge part, I'm just waiting for my registration to go through. Then I'll start putting it together, and I'll release what I've got of the source code first chance I get.
I got quite a bit more done yesterday. I got a really neat tagging system done. You'll be able to tag individual dreams, and then browse other dreams by tag, which others have similar tags, and tag clouds (like: http://del.icio.us/tag/). I also got commenting ready, which is really self-explantory. No registration required, which is always nice.
Anyways, I'm going to try and get more done tonight, then I'll post another video.
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Draconic
Novice dreamer
Posts: 13
Joined: 20 Jan 2006
Last Visit: 12 Jul 2008
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| Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 5:43 pm Post subject: |
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| theotherlight wrote: |
| I got a really neat tagging system done. You'll be able to tag individual dreams, and then browse other dreams by tag, which others have similar tags, and tag clouds (like: http://del.icio.us/tag/). |
I LOVE del.icio.us! My other favorite web-app!
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theotherlight
Novice dreamer
Age: 27
Posts: 41
Joined: 28 Feb 2006
Last Visit: 05 Feb 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada |
| Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 6:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Draconic wrote: |
| I LOVE del.icio.us! My other favorite web-app! |
Aha, excellent!
Well, my ultimate goal would be to take all of the best features from these "Web 2.0" sites and use them for jDream.
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Belshazaroth
Pet of Rashagal
Age: 26
Posts: 182
Joined: 26 Feb 2006
Last Visit: 16 Dec 2011
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| Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 6:44 pm Post subject: |
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| I'd like to see a basic art program built in so you can draw illustrations on the spot and insert them into the post without notepad. I like to illustrate objects from dreams on occasion. Being able to just scribble diagrams on a canvas in a post would be a good thing.
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theotherlight
Novice dreamer
Age: 27
Posts: 41
Joined: 28 Feb 2006
Last Visit: 05 Feb 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada |
| Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Chrizimer wrote: |
| I'd like to see a basic art program built in so you can draw illustrations on the spot and insert them into the post without notepad. I like to illustrate objects from dreams on occasion. Being able to just scribble diagrams on a canvas in a post would be a good thing. |
Interesting, ok, I never thought of that. I should definitely be able to accept uploads from the computer and insert them into posts. So, if you want to draw something in Paint and upload it, that'd be easy. As for integrating some sort of drawing-program right into the browser... hm.. a bit more difficult probably, but I'll certainly look into it.
It might not make the first release, but I'll certainly add image uploading ability into it in the mean time.
Thanks again for the input, it's very much appreciated. That's something I NEVER would've thought of. If there's anything else, don't hesitate to suggest it!
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