Central Build Authority Solution

[Rick7475]

OK, ALFA is at the point where we are going to be a 1 -3 live server community.

We have slightly under a dozen builders and Tech Admins and Standards people all bouncing around between diferent projects.

Projects currently and typically = one individual coordinator/builder/HDM with possibly others coordinated to help.

We help each other out, and that is good. However, it does not go far enough.

We need to reorganize ALFA's resources into what I call a Central Build Authority and concentrate on one or two projects at a time with everyone on the build authority having access to build projects and doing rthair parts using their expertise. The projects need to be updated into a Configuration management central location and kept under a build manager.

All of this cannot be done by one individual per project (ie Thanghorn and myself for two of the projects) because despite the dedication and loyalty of the individuals the projects will take a Loooong time to completion and the chance of burnout is too high.

TSM is coming along, but much more slowly than I had anticipated. I am facing bugs and issues that are taking my time. The coordination of a team of 6 additional builders, along with my own building of individual components, planning qwuests, designing NPC's, items, checking standards compliance, etc, is way too much for oine head. The delays and time consumed means TSM will be months behind, and I have no idea of the status of Thanghorn's baby, but I suspect the same.

Now, the solution. We devote our energy as an entire unit to the projects. We can start with one at a time, and learn all our mistakes, reuse components, and get our trails and errors out of the way. This unoit will consist of many talents having access to the project under one central authority that will coordinate adding the components, testing on the fly, and fixing standards. Builders may sent in components for review and then be added to the main build.

The Central Build Authority will consist of a Lead Builder who will be the CM manager of the current project (s). He/she does mininal building, but adds expertise and does the difficult fixes and solutions. This person would be one of the most experienced builders in ALFA. They will be in charge of the Central Build Authority and decide who gets access and how componets are added, how they are tested, and how the standards are updated.

Next, there will be the build Team Leaders. One for TSM, or one for each project, or one for exterior TSM, interior TSM, etc. They will coordinate efforts for the projects, interior, exterior, items, this can be very flexible, or even combined, ie the Team Leader for TSM can ber the Exterior Team Lead and TSM Team Lead leaving the possibility of an interior Team Lead.

Standards Team Lead: will have access to the project and correct standards violation right on the fly under the supervision of the Lead Builder.

Technical Lead: scripts, platforms, hosts, database isues, this leader will coordinate these issues.


The Central Build Authority will revolutionize our building. The DMA, Infra Admin, etc, can be part of the team, lead the team, or whatever.


We need to revamp our organization so that everyone is on board for the Current live project. Once the current focus is in beta 3, it can be fined tuned by a smaller team while the build authority concentrates on the next project.

I am uploading TSM to the DMFTP as the first guinea pig for the Central Build Authority concept if it is accepted. I cannot meet the goals under the current system. I am doing too many things with building, planning, and coordinating. If we want a live server, this is the only solution I know can work, coming from an engineer who build real world software applications.Otherwise, under the current load I have, TSM is pushing passed the summer. I am 6 weeks behind and getting farther behind.

Basically, I need more coordination. We have builders doing a marvelous job, but the problem is that I am building, too, and a lot, and it means no time to mentor, inspect, fix bugs, and work out solutions. We need the Central Build Authority for that.

I hope this is the so,ution that we work on to adopt. I think it is the best way to get a live server up in 3 - 4 months.

Once TSM is on the DMFTP, AL, you can load her on a host. Take it from me, it is beautiful and I want to see it live But it is buggy, full of holes, and needs TLC. I am trying, but I can't wear 5 hats


Thanks for reading

[indio]

Hmm...Rick, I created this problem by giving you 18 months worth of work (and I mean 3 hours a day over that period) and expecting you to piece it together. I feel it's only fair that I take your uploaded mod get it into Beta 3, then hand it back. I can do this by the end of February. That way you get to take a break, coordinate me in the build effort, map out and plan for taking the server live, and next time receive a module that's ready for beta 3.

I just know my way around the toolset and that mod well enough for me to do it without too many headaches and with no learning curve, and it will better position you to manage such a large mod if I can hand it over on a much stronger state of completion.

And this isn't to say the idea above won't work...I suspect it will. But I want to make it up to you in truth, and I want to see ALFA get a server live soon, so this I see as the most expedient, easy to arrange and just manner.

ps I can have it hosted by the end of the day on my server, so no need to worry about it AL.

[AcadiusLost]

I'm confident between Indio and I, we can get the module hosted in fairly short order for initial Beta testing. Indio's in a better position to fix and polish than I am (time, talent, and familiarity-wise), though I suspect my hosting setup may have some advantages- we'll have to see as we go, entering uncharted territory now, with a much larger module.

With regards to team-based building, I have some reservations- it's possible we have an untapped pool of toolset-savvy folk available to take assignments on demand, but from what I've seen, that "second flight" of builders haven't really developed the familiarity and confidence yet. It's possible such a team-build approach may be of considerable help to later servers, but for now I think we're best off passing the module between a few skilled hands to get it catapulted into testing. I think we're all welcoming of growing interest and interested to help cultivate learning builders, but I suspect that "second wave" will start to build /after/ members start to enjoy the fruits of the 003 Beta via the player and DM clients, not before.

Looking forward to giving 003 a once-over when I get home tonight! And of course thanks to Rick, for carrying the torch through the middle-times of the Beta build.

[indio]

Thanks AL, that's great. Will be done soon Rick, and then you can focus more on the things you want instead of filling gaps.

[Rick7475]

Heh, just to be clear, I'm not quitting building TSM I just felt badly because things were slowing down and there were problems with the toolset that were bogging me down.

Just trying to make it more efficient. Unfortunately I don't have 3 hours a day But I'd like to keep building I just want to speed it up by working out some other issues that are slowing things down.

My vision with TSM is to do the western half by filling in all the travel areas of the map. Then later do the northern and eastern half.

If someone could host the beta then I could continue with my building areas. There are several others who are doing interiors.

Right now, Silverymoon to High Hold is connected. High Hold to Quarryvar is connected, and High Hold to Rivermoot is connected via highways and paths. Silverymoon Northbank and Southbank are not connected because I wasn't able to work out the invisible bridge solution.

There are 3 - 5 exteriors I want to finish: Silverwood Forest (2), 1 more Moonwood to connect Indio's Eastern Moonwood, and connecting Silverymoon pass to Silverymoon. Those are the areas I plan on working on. I just don't have the time to do all the interior coordination, host the mod, fix bugs as beta testors find them, etc.

So, if Indio can update the quests he originally put in, AL can host (or Indio can) and then I can add my new work and the list of interior builders can add their work, that would speed things up considerably.

I have put a lot of work revamping a lot of areas, adding new areas, etc. So I am committed. So I appreciate all the help

I still think we should pursue my idea of a Central Build Authority because I also would like to continue building on other projects. But whatever we can do to get Silvy up.

Thanks.

[Wynna]

Rick, you have worked so very hard. Thanks for the slavery you've undertaken in toolset. That said, I'm of the mind that an official build development team would be less efficient than simply asking folks if they feel like building for (insert server name here) now and promising to return the favor for them later. I agree that a group effort is the way to go, but I don't think it can be mandated. People will build what they want to build. Most of the builders out there are already engaged in building, so I don't think there's an untapped resource reservoir out there, either, (but a few more builders are likely to join throughout the build process and should be pounced upon). Indio's offer falls in the "you build my back-scratcher and I'll build yours category and I'd certainly be glad to sign up for more Silverymoon interiors after I finish the Uni, such as the Vault of Sages and Spellguard Headquarters.

[indio]

There are 3 - 5 exteriors I want to finish: Silverwood Forest (2), 1 more Moonwood to connect Indio's Eastern Moonwood, and connecting Silverymoon pass to Silverymoon. Those are the areas I plan on working on. I just don't have the time to do all the interior coordination, host the mod, fix bugs as beta testors find them, etc.

So, if Indio can update the quests he originally put in, AL can host (or Indio can) and then I can add my new work and the list of interior builders can add their work, that would speed things up considerably.

Sounds good.

[Rick7475]

Cool cool

Perhaps the Central Building plan won't necessarily fit, but it looks like we can work out a good solution.

Thanks Wynna, I do need some one for the Spell Guard HQ, I did make some SG NPC's that I think are great.

I am off on a course all weekend, the current mod is in the DMFTP, I'll check back on Monday. Thanks again