Help wanted to improve our site.

mosc · Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2026 12:30 pm Post subject: Help wanted to improve our site.

We are running our server on an obsolete Linux distribution, Centos 7. A couple of years ago we were in a similar situation running on Centos 5. Our hosting company decided to discontinue support for Centos 5 on their servers, and if we didn't immediately move to a supported version of Centos, we would be unplugged. So with a lot of effort we moved to another server on Centos 7. Shortly after that, Red Hat Linux decided to suddenly drop support for Centos entirely. So here we go again. This time we are moving to Ubuntu, one of the most common Linux distributions, but this time we don't have to rush. We have set up a migration server running Ubuntu and are testing it out now.

One bi-product of this migration is it gives us an opportunity to improve the site. This means we can fix bugs, improve the look and feel, and add features and capability.

We need people to try out the new site and give us feedback. This is a non-technical volunteer activity; no coding or system analysis; just feedback, like: this is broken, this doesn't work right, I wish I could do this on the site, I like this change you made, etc.

If you are interested and willing to help, please post a reply to this message. I'll give you the details on how to access the new site and answer any questions you may have.

Hopefully, we can imrove the website and strengthen our community.

Cynosure · Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2026 5:48 am Post subject:

I would love to help. Please send me the info.

Also, one request that I have is a better layout on mobile devices.

mosc · Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2026 7:41 am Post subject:

blue hell · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2026 4:28 pm Post subject:

But then again .. what is the site .. what IS this site .. what is the relevance ..

there are almost no posts except the obligatory ones .. therte are almost no now signups .. and when there is a new signup .. it will get lost in the big nothing.

The quetion should be .. how can that be changed .. and if not .. and if not .. and if not ..

Thank you for reading my pessimisms .. I'm sad to loose it .. but it is so going down.

Airlock · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2026 2:42 pm Post subject:

Yo Howard I can help out with this, should be interesting.

Airlock · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2026 8:25 am Post subject:

Start a new thread on Ziggie E-M for this or keep it here?

Airlock · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2026 5:55 pm Post subject: Can't log in to Ziggie

Can't log in to Ziggie

Thought it worked yesterday, I could be tripping...

mosc · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2026 12:02 pm Post subject:

Airlock. Posts on ziggie are just for ziggie and they will disappear when we migrate. That said, feel free to post on the ziggie forum and make sure your posts work.

From time to time the site will not work because of work being done. Email from ziggie doens't work yet. Some of the formatting is inconsistent.

If you see flakey things, or suggestions to improve functions, please let me know. Right now I'm working on major cleanups that involves merging Jan's stuff into the rest of the site. Once this is finished, we can start making improvements and adding features.

mosc · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2026 12:08 pm Post subject:

Airlock, still can't log into ziggie?

Airlock · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2026 12:37 pm Post subject:

No, I cannot log in to Ziggie, will try again later

mosc · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2026 12:59 pm Post subject:

As for Jan's pessimism, yes I get it. It might be reasonable to just let the site run down and pull the plug the next time our hosting company forces us to move to a different server. Or, wait till I die or have to move into a memory care unit.

I have trouble with that. E-M is a valuable historical resource that documents many musical and technical things. The music that's here is fabulous. Many of the musicians that have posted are no longer with us. I believe preserving this music is very important, even if all things must pass. The live concerts are another thing. The radio is amazing.

Another thing, My software engineering chops are not what they used to be, but the new AI tools make it possible to do things that I can't do myself at this point. So I feel renewed energy to go forward and improve things here, and to make sure e-m is preserved, as long as possible., So making sure things are up-to-date and we are running on current software and the site is organized in a professional manner is important to me.

One more thing. I often meet people at concerts and events. I mention that I'm involved with electro-music.com. It's amazing to me how many people light up. They know the site. "I'm a long time lurker but I haven't posted" is something I hear quite often.

To Jan. The work you have done here is fantastic, The radio, and wiki are fab. Your contributions to patching, and wren, are inspiring. Your music is wonderful. When I hear people talking about "generative music", I tell them: the master is Jan Punter. Go to electro-music.com and listen to Noodle Radio. (I look forward to it getting turned back on, BTW).

Finally, I've noticed what you have. I've thought of hyping the site to get more members. We have zero marketing. We never have. No advertisement. No corporate sponsors, except for one contribution from Clavia 24 years ago. I'm happy to pay the bills. An academic music professor told me recently that e-m is "pure". It's music for it's own sake; uncorrupted by any external motivations. I'm happy with that...

Airlock · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2026 2:25 pm Post subject:

Successful log in to Ziggie, tried to post with media file attached gor message:

"Tried to upload empty file."

mosc · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2026 4:09 pm Post subject:

Airlock · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2026 4:12 pm Post subject:

Fixed!