| Discussion Forum: Thread 314141 |
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| | | Author: | calsbricks  | | Posted: | Dec 11, 2021 04:13 | | Subject: | What happens next | | Viewed: | 281 times | | Topic: | General | |
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| TLG - Bricklink have recently announced a change of leadership at Bricklink
and thanks the previous CEO for all of his efforts. (Sorry to Interrupt the Monthly
Contests), etc.
We have a new gentleman coming on board - who we do not know a great deal about
other than he is a Lego guy. Ok good. Everyone who uses this site since JK's
takeover (2013) knows it needs a major re-write (Not XP) but both a redesign
and rethink. There have been a few (Including one by us) messages on here which
pointed the cost of doing that to be around 2 years in development terms at whatever
cost you wish to put on that.
There are differing views on development here some say use an agile methodology
(write code quickly and then patch, patch and patch.) Others say waterfall (The
old fashioned way) is best here - it takes more time and is less patch, (patch
and patch) . Agile is great when you are in a competitive environment (Can keep
you in front of the competition) but is that really required here? It also needs
2 sprint teams at least. One to write and release and the other to patch. Is
this the right environment for release, patch, patch and patch again (Even if
you have the people?)
Bricklink has several things going for it - e,g market pull, membership and now
the financial clout available through TLG, albeit we say that with tongue in
cheek.
Hire a senior analyst who has strong SQL skills/background and let them spend
some time putting together a decent system spec from which a business overview
can be published which asks all the right questions about direction etc and once
that is put together talk to your panels of advisors e.g Marketplace, Catalogue
and Studio as well as any future ones created. Make sure the spec includes strong
inventory management, and gives sellers the tools they need to operate successful
businesses as well as ease of use for buyers, etc. etc.
Get the spec costed and presented to TLG for approval (Let them worry about the
cost and time tables.)
Then go for it , really - lots of complications to this I am sure but in the
end analysis that is what is needed. Think more than carefully about the design
work- what it looks like is a matter of personal choice but what it does is not.
Design is everything in development4 and always calls for the highest level of
knowledge and experience
There are quite a few of us who would be willing to put time and effort into
this as this is a major project and needs lots of input and discussion. Not everyone
is going to get everything they want but working on the basis of discussion leads
to compromise and ultimately a quality product - this is the real way forward,
isn’t it?
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| | | | | Author: | yorbrick | | Posted: | Dec 11, 2021 05:50 | | Subject: | Re: What happens next | | Viewed: | 93 times | | Topic: | General | |
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| What next? I reckon very little in terms of seller/buyer features or site development
but probably more Bricklink Designer Program sets. That (and studio) seems to
have driven more new users here and also sales through LEGO's own website.
Two easily measurable performance goals.
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| | | | | | | Author: | calsbricks | | Posted: | Dec 11, 2021 06:04 | | Subject: | Re: What happens next | | Viewed: | 80 times | | Topic: | General | |
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| In General, yorbrick writes:
| | What next? I reckon very little in terms of seller/buyer features or site development
but probably more Bricklink Designer Program sets. That (and studio) seems to
have driven more new users here and also sales through LEGO's own website.
Two easily measurable performance goals.
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I hope you are wrong but there is logic in what you are saying. We need another
Dan, really. Lego are mainly interested in sets - they make more money that way.
Parts etc are small fries . I have had a very lengthy e-mail exchange with TLG
customer services (Who are normally very good) over the fact they have stopped
allowing Retail stores ordering 2 x 4 bricks in various standard colours e.g
LBG, DBG, Reddish Brown and Lime to name a few. It has been over 4 years siince
the UK stores have been able to order any of those. One manager told me TLG are
not really interested in the wall - the push is for sets.
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| | | | | Author: | kzinti | | Posted: | Dec 11, 2021 10:03 | | Subject: | Re: What happens next | | Viewed: | 94 times | | Topic: | General | |
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| Architecture is everything, so rebuilding a house on a crappy foundation only
results in more issues down the road. The site needs a complete rebuild from
the bottom up, and if the core system is built out correctly, the subs can be
handled Agile style for quicker results.
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| | | | | | | Author: | calsbricks | | Posted: | Dec 11, 2021 10:12 | | Subject: | Re: What happens next | | Viewed: | 79 times | | Topic: | General | |
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| In General, kzinti writes:
| | Architecture is everything, so rebuilding a house on a crappy foundation only
results in more issues down the road. The site needs a complete rebuild from
the bottom up, and if the core system is built out correctly, the subs can be
handled Agile style for quicker results.
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Hiya and thanks for adding your thoughts. I think I covered architecture with
the analyst and a systems spec. Systems meaning architecture, UI, and functionality.
Still do not see a need for agile - requires so much admin and follow up etc,
but if we get that far who cares.
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| | | | | Author: | Rob_and_Shelagh | | Posted: | Dec 11, 2021 11:12 | | Subject: | Re: What happens next | | Viewed: | 77 times | | Topic: | General | |
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| In General, calsbricks writes:
| | TLG - Bricklink have recently announced a change of leadership at Bricklink
and thanks the previous CEO for all of his efforts. (Sorry to Interrupt the Monthly
Contests), etc.
We have a new gentleman coming on board - who we do not know a great deal about
other than he is a Lego guy. Ok good. Everyone who uses this site since JK's
takeover (2013) knows it needs a major re-write (Not XP) but both a redesign
and rethink. There have been a few (Including one by us) messages on here which
pointed the cost of doing that to be around 2 years in development terms at whatever
cost you wish to put on that.
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For me 2 things come to mind:-
1. Cost benefit analysis - what would Lego and everyone else expect to get out
of rewriting the site (versus doing nothing or doing something else instead)?
2. Risk analysis. Completely rewriting the site sounds like potentially changing
(or losing) some functionality and as we have seen many times before a resulting
dissatisfaction from members. Could be disaster.
I don't know if they are even thinking of doing this or not and I'm personally
not convinced it is the right thing to do now. Overall not my decision to make
thankfully!
Robert
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| | | | | | | Author: | calsbricks | | Posted: | Dec 11, 2021 11:21 | | Subject: | Re: What happens next | | Viewed: | 76 times | | Topic: | General | |
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| In General, Rob_and_Shelagh writes:
| | In General, calsbricks writes:
| | TLG - Bricklink have recently announced a change of leadership at Bricklink
and thanks the previous CEO for all of his efforts. (Sorry to Interrupt the Monthly
Contests), etc.
We have a new gentleman coming on board - who we do not know a great deal about
other than he is a Lego guy. Ok good. Everyone who uses this site since JK's
takeover (2013) knows it needs a major re-write (Not XP) but both a redesign
and rethink. There have been a few (Including one by us) messages on here which
pointed the cost of doing that to be around 2 years in development terms at whatever
cost you wish to put on that.
|
For me 2 things come to mind:-
1. Cost benefit analysis - what would Lego and everyone else expect to get out
of rewriting the site (versus doing nothing or doing something else instead)?
|
Hiya Robert
A little bird told us a rewrite is the only real way to get thee functionality
we want. Far too much 'spaghetti code' to leave as it is. But the whole
point is it has to be done on a collaboration basis not one individual deciding
what everyone wants and needs. Time will, of course tell
| | 2. Risk analysis. Completely rewriting the site sounds like potentially changing
(or losing) some functionality and as we have seen many times before a resulting
dissatisfaction from members. Could be disaster.
I don't know if they are even thinking of doing this or not and I'm personally
not convinced it is the right thing to do now. Overall not my decision to make
thankfully!
Robert
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | infinibrix | | Posted: | Dec 11, 2021 16:16 | | Subject: | Re: What happens next | | Viewed: | 64 times | | Topic: | General | |
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| In General, calsbricks writes:
| | In General, Rob_and_Shelagh writes:
| | In General, calsbricks writes:
| | TLG - Bricklink have recently announced a change of leadership at Bricklink
and thanks the previous CEO for all of his efforts. (Sorry to Interrupt the Monthly
Contests), etc.
We have a new gentleman coming on board - who we do not know a great deal about
other than he is a Lego guy. Ok good. Everyone who uses this site since JK's
takeover (2013) knows it needs a major re-write (Not XP) but both a redesign
and rethink. There have been a few (Including one by us) messages on here which
pointed the cost of doing that to be around 2 years in development terms at whatever
cost you wish to put on that.
|
For me 2 things come to mind:-
1. Cost benefit analysis - what would Lego and everyone else expect to get out
of rewriting the site (versus doing nothing or doing something else instead)?
|
Hiya Robert
A little bird told us a rewrite is the only real way to get thee functionality
we want. Far too much 'spaghetti code' to leave as it is. But the whole
point is it has to be done on a collaboration basis not one individual deciding
what everyone wants and needs. Time will, of course tell
| | 2. Risk analysis. Completely rewriting the site sounds like potentially changing
(or losing) some functionality and as we have seen many times before a resulting
dissatisfaction from members. Could be disaster.
I don't know if they are even thinking of doing this or not and I'm personally
not convinced it is the right thing to do now. Overall not my decision to make
thankfully!
Robert
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Correct me if I'm wrong but XP is already the work in progress where all
the substantial programming and work will be focused. The standard BL will sit
alongside XP and remain largely untouched apart from being patched up here and
there and so I don't think there should be any concern about losing what
we already have.
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| | | | | | | | | | | Author: | calsbricks | | Posted: | Dec 12, 2021 00:07 | | Subject: | Re: What happens next | | Viewed: | 60 times | | Topic: | General | |
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| In General, infinibrix writes:
| | In General, calsbricks writes:
| | In General, Rob_and_Shelagh writes:
| | In General, calsbricks writes:
| | TLG - Bricklink have recently announced a change of leadership at Bricklink
and thanks the previous CEO for all of his efforts. (Sorry to Interrupt the Monthly
Contests), etc.
We have a new gentleman coming on board - who we do not know a great deal about
other than he is a Lego guy. Ok good. Everyone who uses this site since JK's
takeover (2013) knows it needs a major re-write (Not XP) but both a redesign
and rethink. There have been a few (Including one by us) messages on here which
pointed the cost of doing that to be around 2 years in development terms at whatever
cost you wish to put on that.
|
For me 2 things come to mind:-
1. Cost benefit analysis - what would Lego and everyone else expect to get out
of rewriting the site (versus doing nothing or doing something else instead)?
|
Hiya Robert
A little bird told us a rewrite is the only real way to get thee functionality
we want. Far too much 'spaghetti code' to leave as it is. But the whole
point is it has to be done on a collaboration basis not one individual deciding
what everyone wants and needs. Time will, of course tell
| | 2. Risk analysis. Completely rewriting the site sounds like potentially changing
(or losing) some functionality and as we have seen many times before a resulting
dissatisfaction from members. Could be disaster.
I don't know if they are even thinking of doing this or not and I'm personally
not convinced it is the right thing to do now. Overall not my decision to make
thankfully!
Robert
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|
Correct me if I'm wrong but XP is already the work in progress where all
the substantial programming and work will be focused. The standard BL will sit
alongside XP and remain largely untouched apart from being patched up here and
there and so I don't think there should be any concern about losing what
we already have.
|
HI there and thanks for adding your thoughts. We believe this entire situation
has changed/evolved and a different approach is in the air. Time, will of course
tell and of course whatever does happen the main site will be kept in place until
any new development is ready.
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United Kingdom, England
USA, Missouri
