Novacha
Content Contributer
Recently, when looking for a semi-specific server, I realised there was no terribly great option for getting accurate results. The sites that exist are often slow to update, often incorrect for long periods of times and tend not to show coupons, discounts and specials. I personally believe that a site dedicated to a 'database' of VPS servers managed by the providers themselves would allow people to quickly survey the market and therefore choose a server without wasting resources or money because they did not know a offer existed in the location that they wanted etc.
Provider sign up
The way a system like this would work, is that it would have it's contents verified by the provider. The provider would follow certain steps to register (to ensure they are who they say they are) and then be able to post their packages, update them for specials and so on. The verification would be fairly simple and would have to be manual:
Provider Control
Providers would be able to do the following in their control panels:
Customer Control
Customers / Users would also be able to sign up to a system like this as they would provider the reviews and keep track of servers they have ordered. In summary, customers would be able to:
Technical Details
The technical details for a project like this are quite important, as it will be open sourced, possible under the GPL 3.0 licence (don't hold me to it though, as it may change to the MIT or another licence).
It will be a Django (Python framework) based application with a MySQL backing (There will be raw sql, so the all-round ORM will not always work). The project will be hosted on Github and pull request will be really appreciated. Any dedicated (not full-time) help from an experienced developer would be much appreciated as a project of this size would take considerable man-hours to create. If anyone out there knows the Django framework in and out, let me know so I can possibly add you as a collaborator.
The project would be covered by unit tests (where possible) and accordance with PEP 8 code formatting standards would be the best for readability. I have a Jenkins CI server where all pushes will get tested and coverage + pep reports generated. Those should be a good indication on how well structured the project is. That being said, pep standards don't have to be followed to the letter and if you think the way you have structured it is better, just leave it as it is.
I would intend to host this on a DDOS protected server, most likely BuyVM's servers. The moderators and admins from the site would be at first the developers of this project (me and some main collaborators). Don't worry though, as there is not much room to be biased in a provider controlled system.
Advertising
To cover the costs of the site, it would most likely need advertising. This being said, I will not accept money for promoted listings, featured posts and biased reviews (feel free to quote me on that). Ad's will be placed in accordance (if possible) to Adblock's advertising guidelines along the side or bottom of the page. If I did receive sponsorship from a provider, advertising would not be necessary.
TL;DR
In essence, I am looking at creating a provider controlled VPS database. It would show up-to-date specials, packages and allow users to search for VPS' with their specific requirements (HDD, bandwidth, etc.) and get the best possible prices with the providers they want. It would be written in Python using the Django framework and be open sourced (but still hosted by me in the final version).
Thanks' for reading and I hope I didn't bore you too much. Let me know what you think of the idea, any pitfalls and what you would like to see added / removed. It is open sourced so that all your ideas come into play and when it is finally deployed, you can still create feature requests and pull requests to be added during maintenance windows.
Provider sign up
The way a system like this would work, is that it would have it's contents verified by the provider. The provider would follow certain steps to register (to ensure they are who they say they are) and then be able to post their packages, update them for specials and so on. The verification would be fairly simple and would have to be manual:
- The provider signs up like a normal user to the site.
- The provider (within the control panel) will enter in their business address, with the domain of the address being the domain of the site.
- A moderator will check the domain against the providers real site and get the system to send out a verification code.
- The provider upon receiving this code will enter it back into the control panel and gain access to the provider specific management sections.
Provider Control
Providers would be able to do the following in their control panels:
- Add locations (e.g. Chicago, Las Vegas, New York, Berlin)
Set test IP addresses and download speed test links - Set the datacenter
- Set the usual package details (Virtualization Types, RAM, HDD etc.)
- Set a coupon / promo code (if applicable)
- Set the billing period and additional conditions
- Add company images, links and small promo adverts
- Add AUP and TOS links, which would be included in every package listing automatically
- Add contact information such as support emails and IRC
Customer Control
Customers / Users would also be able to sign up to a system like this as they would provider the reviews and keep track of servers they have ordered. In summary, customers would be able to:
- Review packages
Add reviews to packages - Rate packages out of 10
- Post benchmarks related to that exact package
- When a user orders a package, they can 'save' it so that they can keep track of all their servers
- This would include the assigned IP addresses
- Get a notification in price changes, billing period changes, discontinuations and promotions of packages
- Watch a provider for new packages, discounts etc. (same as above)
- A user would be able to watch a certain location with the same information as above
- The reason this is marked as future is that at some stage, I intend to build up a list of locations for providers to pick from but in the mean time, providers would have to enter them themselves.
Technical Details
The technical details for a project like this are quite important, as it will be open sourced, possible under the GPL 3.0 licence (don't hold me to it though, as it may change to the MIT or another licence).
It will be a Django (Python framework) based application with a MySQL backing (There will be raw sql, so the all-round ORM will not always work). The project will be hosted on Github and pull request will be really appreciated. Any dedicated (not full-time) help from an experienced developer would be much appreciated as a project of this size would take considerable man-hours to create. If anyone out there knows the Django framework in and out, let me know so I can possibly add you as a collaborator.
The project would be covered by unit tests (where possible) and accordance with PEP 8 code formatting standards would be the best for readability. I have a Jenkins CI server where all pushes will get tested and coverage + pep reports generated. Those should be a good indication on how well structured the project is. That being said, pep standards don't have to be followed to the letter and if you think the way you have structured it is better, just leave it as it is.
I would intend to host this on a DDOS protected server, most likely BuyVM's servers. The moderators and admins from the site would be at first the developers of this project (me and some main collaborators). Don't worry though, as there is not much room to be biased in a provider controlled system.
Advertising
To cover the costs of the site, it would most likely need advertising. This being said, I will not accept money for promoted listings, featured posts and biased reviews (feel free to quote me on that). Ad's will be placed in accordance (if possible) to Adblock's advertising guidelines along the side or bottom of the page. If I did receive sponsorship from a provider, advertising would not be necessary.
TL;DR
In essence, I am looking at creating a provider controlled VPS database. It would show up-to-date specials, packages and allow users to search for VPS' with their specific requirements (HDD, bandwidth, etc.) and get the best possible prices with the providers they want. It would be written in Python using the Django framework and be open sourced (but still hosted by me in the final version).
Thanks' for reading and I hope I didn't bore you too much. Let me know what you think of the idea, any pitfalls and what you would like to see added / removed. It is open sourced so that all your ideas come into play and when it is finally deployed, you can still create feature requests and pull requests to be added during maintenance windows.
