yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Cyclonezephyrxz7:
Hey

Here is another update!

So I was quite enjoying my work so far, and I realized, "Holy Cr*p ... this is so UNORGANIZED and INEFFICIENT" ... I was designing the page in PHP ... I have decided, with the helpful advice of my Comp Sci teacher, to switch over to an ASP .NET website, and to use jQuery for more advanced features.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] jake044:
I think on the logo, the "XDA Marketplace" should be more towards the top instead of the bottom..

just my 2 cents :D
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] jake044:
And can somebody please post the icon cause im gonna see if i can come up with some sweet banners ;)
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] leba837:
The Icon that I used is attached. :)
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Captainkrtek:
I have a few Linode VPS's clustered and mirrored every hour which would be perfect for high avaliability, the DNS is managed by Linode and they have very nice speeds :)
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Cyclonezephyrxz7:
I'm Back with another update.

I know it has been a long time, but that also means that a lot has been accomplished!

For those of you who understand how ASP works, it simplifies websites immensely! Right now, we have basically finished our Master Page [which shouldn't change at all for the whole website ... ]. We just have to finish up some specialized areas for each page [the 'main content']. This is in the works for the Front Page, and the same method will be applied to device-specific front-pages [by OS ... later we will try to get a little more in-depth]. I have fully laid out the Product page, as well as the Product submission and upgrade pages. I have visuallized and figured out how it will work, so I am set in that respect.

In reality, I am literally up to just coding. This can take a little while, but in about a week and a half, my college apps will be done and I will gain hours of free time [per day!]!!

I don't want to put a percent or expected date ... but I promise you I am getting closer and closer. I would like to think how awesome it would be if this could be ... oh .... say a Christmas Gift [or late Hanukkah, or any other holiday I am forgetting about :(] ... I can't promise anything though. It all depends on free time.

What else...hmmm....As for side-bar widgets, we are going to have a 'newest' applications list, 'most popular' (based on votes), 'most downloaded' (based on downloads), etc. In theory, we can have everything set up ... but we are holding off on these until we get the actual submission fully up and running. Once we know we can add applications, we will work on these widgets, and the rest should fall into place.

If you look back at my 'plan of attack' in the first post ... It may seem like "What the heck? this guy has been working for months, and is still on Part 2" ... well, that thought crosses my own mind too and upsets me, but I remember that this is the LONGEST stage of the whole process [besides the last stage which is endless], Advertising/Rallying shouldn't take much time, and I will try to breeze over that so I can move onto step 4. In making the mobile application, I will probably try to make the Android one myself, but may end up asking another dev to assist me. THat shouldn't take too long. The program wouldn't be overly-complex, and I already have some pseudo-code written out.

Stages 5 and 6 will basically be continuous ... and they will rely on user feedback.

I have very high hopes for this website, and I am so sorry I can't give you guys a preview quite yet. I would love to, but I don't want people roaming on the skeleton of a site, potentially screwing up my Databases that I am trying to perfect. I promise I'll have a little playground for you all soon :) Just hold tight :D
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] cajunflavoredbob:
Instead of giving a percentage of completion, how about posting screen shots or something for us to drool over? :D
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] alphadeeto:
Indeed.. it would be really really really nice to see something work in this stage.. :D
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Cyclonezephyrxz7:
See, the way my friend and I do most of the web-development is that we work on background code [accessing Databases, parsing files, effects, AJAX, etc.] first. That is what are completing. He and I then sit down and get the design all settled. So right now, the page looks terrible because it is all raw ASP output [I haven't styled it yet]. It is exactly what I want, but I just need to apply the right styling.

I'll make a deal with you all. By this weekend I will try to have the front page done. If I can do that, I will put up a couple of filler stories to add content, and I will give you the URL to access the page. That way, you can get a glimpse of the website.

I'll keep posting updates :)
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] cajunflavoredbob:
Sounds good to me! ;)
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] kliptik:
Awesome!!! Can't wait to check it out and see hows it's all going to flow!!!
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] alphadeeto:
I second that! :D
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] orb3000:
Looking forward to the release!

Not sure if this link works for something or already posted but worth to try:)

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=611653
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Cyclonezephyrxz7:
Thanks Orb ... That is where I got the idea from :D Nobody seemed to want to jump into the project, so I thought I would take it on!

In any case: Here is another update! I am REALLY CLOSE TO OPENING THE SITE TO EVERYONE. Of course, the site is not even close to fully functional, but the Default.aspx page is nearing completion. The Product.aspx page is some [and I hate numbers...but] 10% done. Then I have to work on the Submission page, and then Logging On. There is still a bit more to go, but I am making progress.

In any case, I really need to point out that while I have been working on the background code to the site, AlphaDeeto has been a HUGE help on the GUI end. His Graphics are literally holding the site together visually. I am not much of a Graphics guy, and without AlphaDeeto, I know the site wouldn't even look remotely close to what it looks like now.

Come to think about it...I don't have any active scripts on the Default page ... so I shall let you all see for now [it looks bad because its half AlphaDeeto's graphics, and Half mine]

http://market.chicken-eggsolutions.com

The Links on the side-bar are simply tests ... clicking them will bring you to Product.aspx which will throw an error for the time being.

Please give feed back :) [Realize it is still in a rough stage of work!]
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] cajunflavoredbob:
It's coming along nicely. The headings on the sidebar are a bit blurry, though. Hopefully you will be able to work something out with the XDA admins to allow XDA usernames to transfer to the market.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Cyclonezephyrxz7:
Yeah, I know about the headings on the sidebar. Those are just temporary images. I was trying to find the right font to use, but couldn't find a nice Web-Safe one. So my friend, who has been unavailable for the past week or so, is going to do that part for me.

Besides that, for a prototype, This site may look terrible, but I know for sure that it functions great haha
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] cajunflavoredbob:
That's the most important thing! I'd rather have an ugly site that works well, than a pretty one that doesn't. :D
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] true2you:
right, plus how long could a visual lifting take in comparaison to all the time required coding xD (and lots of fellows here have proven that they have a lot of talent to help with graphical elements)

GREAT WORK MATE
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] alphadeeto:
how is it going? :D
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Cyclonezephyrxz7:
Pretty well...I have been working locally on some behind-the-scenes coding, so none of it has shown up on the public prototype yet. Not going to lie, it was a little unproductive for the past few days as I was stressed about my College Decisions. [Heard from MIT last night -> Deferred] . But all my college stuff is done, so I have A LOT MORE TIME. also, with the upcoming vacation, I am hoping to finish stage 2. But I can't promise anything...
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Cyclonezephyrxz7:
Phewf ... it has been a hectic week! It feels like it has been a month since my last update. I can only image what it feels like for all of you haha.

In any case, here is the update:

Weaving through all the college applications and such, I found a significant amount of time to do developing. Still, most of it has been local. I am doing most of this local [rather, hidden from the public on my server] for the main reason of not wanting viewers to accidentally mess up something I am working on. I think that anyone who has done development knows that nothing is ever perfect the first time around [Except "Hello World"].

In any case, features are coming along nicely. Widgets are getting worked on, etc. etc.

If you go look at the website again (http://market.chicken-eggsolutions.com) you'll see I did a re-design. I thought I might as well as improve the looks so you all know something is going on. Tell me what you think about it :)

Vacation has started, but seeing as Christmas is tomorrow, not much will be done tomorrow. But I have a whole 8 other days to power through this. My goal is still to have a public version functional and running by the end of the vacation [Maybe Jan. 2nd?] But you all know I hate putting down dates and promises... So this is just a goal. I can't assure you of anything.

I'll post updates :D
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Firedog7881:
This sounds great, look forward to testing it out.

I had an idea that may help organize some thing on xda that we could have in the marketplace, a spot for ROMs which could be searched through by model and people can rate them. That has been my biggest gripe on here with ROMs is that you need to sift through all the posts to find out if a ROM is good or not, this way we can rate them.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Cyclonezephyrxz7:
Oh wow....I could I forget ROMs Haha. That will MOST DEFINITELY be on the top of our list now. We just have to modify a few things to accomodate, but besides that, I think we can make ROMs be submit-able similar to Applications [a few different fields].

As for Android Builds ... I am not that familiar with Android...so if someone can either post here or PM me a general work-up of how those work [and how you would propose I organize them] that would be awesome :)

~~1 Hour To Go where I am....Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays~~
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] jeffanderson:
this explains everything

so this thread explains why the xda marketplace app i have doesn't work. Is there a new one out yet?
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Cyclonezephyrxz7:
Hey,

Yes and No. Yes because there is a live Proof of Concept. No because it doesn't do anything yet.

If you read a few posts earlier, you'll see that I am trying my hardest to get this up and running by the end of the week! So yeah. Hold tight and you'll have a marketplace :)
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Cyclonezephyrxz7:
Another Update!

Hey again,

So I worked diligently over this weekend to give you guys all some good news :)

I think I have significantly increased the percentage of the site being done :D [I am not sure what that percent is, but I know I did a lot]. I also think I am on track for my goal...still no promises.

I have exposed some of the behind-the-scenes code functionality on the site now. Now you can click on the Applications and the page will be unique-ish per application. I know that some links in the SiteMap area WILL NOT WORK. I haven't uploaded those pages yet.

Where Am I right now: Waiting on my friend to be able to get together to work on a nice Log-in system and to integrate that over the pages we have finished so far, and the pages we have yet to finish. Its looking good :D

Now that I have said all the good news, 1 piece of bad news: I will be unable to work tomorrow, so no progress will be made until Wednesday :( Sorry.

Thats your update :D Check out the site and give me comments on stuff so I can fix it up before it goes fully live!!!!!!! PLEASEE!!!!

NOTE TO DEVS: Get ready, please. Without you, this site is 100% useless :(
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] alphadeeto:
Great! Really great! The idea of adding ROMs as a category is even greater!
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Firedog7881:
Before this goes live let's work on getting I set up with the xda-mp.com address and not just a redirect.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Cyclonezephyrxz7:
That is a very simple procedure. Nothing on the site is hard-coded to a specific domain, it is all relative. So that isn't much of an issue.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] cajunflavoredbob:
If you are planning to host ROMs, you are going to need a serious amount of server space. Just for most of the WM6 ROMs I use, they are 150MB+ depending on the device. I know NRGZ28 also makes an uncompressed ROM for the HD2 which runs close to 500MB. The gigabytes are going to add up very quickly that way. I wouldn't be surprised to see a terabyte or two devoted just to ROMs. Not to mention the bandwidth that would devour.

It may simply be better to link to the respective ROM's host site. Some chefs use the traffic from file hosting sites to generate a bit of residual income. Sites like Hotfile or RapidShare pay a small amount of money to users who get others to sign up.

Just something to think about.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Cyclonezephyrxz7:
Good Point. Noted.

It would probably be easier on us too. I guess I can make it an option for hosted on Our server, or using an external download.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] alphadeeto:
That's right.. the ROMs would use sooo much space.. but it'd be really nice to see ROMs database in a more organized way.. so we can search which ROMs are WM 6.5.x, which are using Sense, etc..
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Cyclonezephyrxz7:
Big Update

So...I am being hopeful that I will be able to release this to you all by ... Monday? ... I am not sure though. It may take longer. As my vacation winds down to its end, I am running shorter on time. I got a very very very good deal done this vacation though. Probably the equivalent of 3 weeks of work, if I were in school.

In any case, anyone who goes to the website now will be sent to the Login page, Don't try to be smart and click on "register" to get yourself a username, that page isn't live yet. I am doing this on purpose: A lot of stuff that goes up now is going to be 'live' components that, if used at the wrong moment (lets say I am fixing some crucial code), can mess up a lot. I don't want to take that chance. So the site is generally locked down until it is ready for a public release.

As I have been getting closer to finishing this up, it has crossed my mind that I should really do a PRIVATE session, the only difficulty with that would be functionality. I would need Devs to upload applications as tests, and some users to try to download them.

I'll be 100% honest, there are very few widgets installed at this moment. At the current moment I do NOT plan on including the following, but they may be included in the next 'revision' of the website:

Commenting on Apps / News

Subscribing to Apps

Subscribing to Devs

Private Messaging [Support Purposes mainly]

Favoriting

Recommending [to Social Networks and the likes]

There are more, but that encapsulates the ones I think of immediately. Voting will be available from the start, but only to users. This will help in the long-run with ranking apps and everything.

Once again, I will be 100% honest: I may finish up the coding to the website by Monday. That in no way means I will have it public on Monday. It will require an INTENSE amount of usage, scrutinizing everything in order to go live. Sorry to have to say that.

On the topic of soon opening:

Developers!!! I need you now :D Please ready yourselves to upload your apps to the site. If you would like to be among the first on the site, send me a PM with your EMAIL. The email will be used ONLY to contact you when the site is about to go up. This way, you can know before anyone else does... Also, other users, please go ahead and talk to the developers on this website to let them know about this. The site will be entirely useless if the Devs don't upload their apps!

Until the next update: Happy New Years :)
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Cyclonezephyrxz7:
Quick Update:

Good News: A very very very good portion of the site is done....

Bad News: It is not done enough to go online...I'm truly sorry. My friend and I are working our hardest to get this out as soon as possible. We are very disappointed we failed to meet our own goal :(

I'll keep you updated.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] cajunflavoredbob:
Better late and done correctly, than rushed and incomplete.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Dubby:
Sounds like this project may be taking on some legs. Fantastic!! Is it possible (unlike the other markets currently available ) to also include the executables for the user to retain? This is something all the others do not offer, and would be a plus IMHO.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Cyclonezephyrxz7:
:)

Keeping Executables is a tricky thing. I mean, it is super-easy to just allow people to download and install. That is what I want. Something SUPER-EASY. The only trouble comes with Paid applications. Now, realize that the XDA-MarketPlace is Pro-Freeware, it is not our intention to create a means solely for people to sell apps ... But there are people who don't want to give their apps away for free, so we want to accommodate for that. With the initial opening of the site, paid applications will not be allowed, so for the start, it will be as easy as downloading the CAB file. So yes, you will get the executable.

As for when paid applications are allowed, I need to figure a way to do this WELL. I mean, in theory the developer should embed a registration system within the program, so I need to make it an option for them to redirect to some registration page or something. This will come with a lot of thinking of what is practical. I am sure it will all be resolved though :)

_______

Bad News Part 2: School starts tomorrow -> Less time to work. I will devote as much time as I possibly can, however, so I can get this out there for all of you.

But I mean it: Without devs, the site is 100% useless ... so please go out and contact the Developers of programs you use and tell them to PM me with their e-mail addresses....It is urgent for the smooth-start of the site :) Thank You All :D
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] cajunflavoredbob:
I have to disagree with you on the concept of paid apps. I really think allowing users to have a full *.cab file of any app they pay for should be the way it works. The thing I hated the most about Windows Marketplace was that I had to manually construct a *.cab for the files I paid for and installed so that I could have them to install after flashing a new ROM. If possible, it would be better to have the application tied to your IMEI number or something. Having to re-download the file on every new flash will just force me and many others to gather the files and construct it myself anyway. I'm not sure what kind of protection M$ had on their apps, but I'm pretty sure I could distribute my programs that I paid for and constructed to anyone if I was that sort of person.

In essence, having the programs as download only like M$ did, is going to piss people off and make it even more of a hassle than this idea really should be. If I pay for the app, I have no intentions of ever sharing it. I know that not everyone shares my sentiments, but there should be something tangible for my money. I'm most concerned about the automated process of flashing a new ROM. At this point, all I have to do manually after flashing is change my start menu. I'd like to keep it simple like this if possible.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Cyclonezephyrxz7:
Makes sense. As I said, the actual details as to how CABs will be handled with paid apps has yet to be ironed out. This view will definitely be taken into consideration though, as I too share those sentiments especially with the issue with M$'s Market. My friend and I, and the devs i will try to work with will be sure to think as creatively as possible to come to a solution that both protects the average Dev from those who may be more inclined to abuse the privilege of obtaining a CAB file and protects the desire of the average user who just wants to , as you said, get their device set up quickly without hassle.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] cajunflavoredbob:
Well, I'm not sure if it's possible or not, but it would seem that having the device's IMEI written into the *.exe would be the simplest way. That's one thing that remains constant through each flash. I've seen several applications for sale for PC's that are written in this manner. They go through an automated process right before the download and are hard coded with the PC's info so that it can't easily be shared. I doubt it would be impossible to implement a similar solution.

I'm glad to see the progress on the site, by the way. It's looking remarkable right now. :)
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Cyclonezephyrxz7:
1) Thanks, besides functionality, I have been really concentrated on trying to make the site look good too. Functionality has come first, but I think a site is pointless if it looks bad haha.

2) As for hard-coded IMEI .... I had considered that for my FPP_LS Pro ... I just ran into the problem that it complicates things. As secure as that is, that means that I would have to compile the EXE and the CAB on the site each time. That costs a lot of server computing power, and I don't have the means to do that. Further, to do this, developers would need to upload their Source Code ... that is something that is pretty iffy. Devs don't want their hard work to take the risk of being just given away. What I ended up doing was finding an ID that is unique to each device (the IMEI is a good example), then running an Encryption (or multiple levels of it) on the code. The user actually never gets the original unique-ID, rather the website will give them a code that when decrypted (or multi-decrypted) with certain key(s) will match the encrypted code provided by the device and my encryption method(s). I found that to be really secure and versatile. If devs want to sell their programs, and remain safe, they can adapt their apps like that ... I am willing to assist with such a cross-over ... I am just weary about giving out the same method to a lot of people because it makes it easier to crack. I do think rather creatively though, so I can probably fabricate more methods of safe registration :) But yeah, that covers the issue of hard-coded IMEIs.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] cajunflavoredbob:
I'm all for protection of the devs work. I just like having the file to install myself. Thanks for looking at this potential issue, also.
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] Cyclonezephyrxz7:
So I am running into a small issue. I need to know the general Categories for Application Submission. More specifically, requirements.

Tell me, what fields would you like to be able to fill out on the product-submission page so that you can fully explain the Requirements of your programs? [Note: This is aside from the Product Description and Images .... those are covered]
[Windows Mobile Apps and Games] joe_coolish:
If you're talking about categorization, I think you can pretty much use the categories on other marketplaces (iTunes market place, Android Market Place, etc)

Personally, I would want a Social Networking category :D

As for fields for submission, I think all the info that is necessary would be:

App Name

App Developer (Hyperlink to website if they have one)

Description (HTML or some kind of markup lang would be excellent in this field)

Pictures

Simple :)