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Jack Douglas replying to Pax

Hope you don't mind a ping @Pax. If you are still around are you able to give any pointers for this question: https://topanswers.xyz/meta?q=2072 ?

Jack Douglas

I think it will be some time before I'm really confident to make any big implementation decisions

Jack Douglas

I'm still learning Vue.js and I have another project using it that I'm setting up, as well as slowly learning the ropes at work

Jack Douglas replying to Pax

absolutely no need to worry :)

Pax

TL:DR; Sending this since I felt like I ghosted you there by not responding for so long, and didn't want to be rude.   
  
---  
Hey Jack! I saw your response re: SSR when you posted it but it requires some thought in responding. I have a high-level "to-do" list and TA is part of it but I'm still going through my list. 😅 I can't give a date or anything when I will be able to actually respond which doesn't really add anything of value to this project. 🙈 If I might not work on it for another while, hopefully other people passionate about having a better SO alternative can jump in the discussion in Github.

Jack Douglas replying to Pax

Feel free to create project boards as you like - they are for tracking issues in a team iiuc

Pax

Where can I note down what I plan to work on first? "Issues" or "Projects"? But I won't assign it to myself until I actually start working on it.

Pax

Yup! I assume you mean GitHub and I got that one. :D

Jack Douglas replying to Pax

I added you to a fresh repo on GitLab

Pax

Setup a dev environment (with subtasks of setting up docker, tests, configuring the build/deploy process)  

Create the frontend prototype interacting with the existing API in .xyz (subtasks of creating homepage, community feed, question page, q&a forms, chat)  

Not sure about the cookie; i know for sure you can make it work with subdomains;  but we can figure that out as we build the new one.

Where is this project managed? I'm thinking there's a list of tasks somewhere that I can see and I can assign it to myself. I can even suggest (sub)tasks to include as well, pending approval of course.
  
Or you can tell me right here what task I can work on. Either way, I'd need the repo somehow.

Jack Douglas replying to Pax

That's great new, thanks @Pax. We should start chatting about what our first steps should be, but I'm thinking we can keep the api and images etc on the .xyz domain for now, serving both old and new, and use the .org for the new front end, does that sound sensible/doable? Would that mean the .xyz cookies could authenticate on the .org?

Pax

Hey @Jack! How is it going? I just learned today that the company I've been eyeing uses both Python and Node.js so I'm extra motivated to help in the Node.js side of things. 👀 I'm in the middle of a Node.js course. I understand if you'd rather not have public contributions with the rewrite at this stage but I thought I let you know I am eager to help if needed/wanted.

Pax

> If you want the freedom to choose your own libraries and third-party integrations, Express or Loopback might be your best bet. But if your team wants to stand up a brand new app front to back in a matter of a few days, Meteor or Sails might better suit your needs.  ---from [Best NodeJS frameworks](https://rapidapi.com/blog/best-nodejs-frameworks/)  
  
Drawback of Meteor/Sails according to that post is that it's "slower" compared to Express

![](https://rapidapi.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/best-node.js-frameworks-1024x222.png)

Pax

Are you planning to use a framework like Express.js?

Jack Douglas

I think perhaps it comes down to how big the application is, and if we can keep things smal enough to we don't need the extra thing to learn and to go in the build chain

Jack Douglas

I have some co-workers who are big fans but I'm naturally suspicious!

Pax

I haven't actually used typescript but I heard it's javascript syntax with types

Pax

when it comes to building large applications, having type-checking really helps, I find.

Jack Douglas replying to Pax

are you a fan of typescript?

Pax

That's what I remember you saying before about the database. I don't know if using node instead of php would necessarily attract more contributors, but I _have_ heard of node's popularity---people like the idea of learning only one language (js/ts) to be able to build both back and frontends. Are you planning to use typescript? Is there a public repo already for .org?

Jack Douglas replying to Pax

The database api already emits JSON in a lot of cases — so whatever serves that up would be a very thin layer and it wouldn't matter too much what it used — node would do just as well, and again may help attract contributors?

Pax

How will the pure JSON API be built? Php?

Jack Douglas

but I may be misunderstanding how this can work — I probably need to get my hands dirty and start seeing what is possible!

Jack Douglas

The rest would just be static pages I think — whether we have an SPA or multiple pages

Jack Douglas replying to Pax

I think the backend would morph into a pure JSON API

Pax

What are your initial thoughts re: the backend if rendering is not included? If rendering is included what would change?

Pax

It would be an option with the disadvantage of it being more complex (especially if the backend won't be using a framework whatsoever). I did a quick research and Google seems to index SPAs fine except for sections that are from an external service, and elements that don't render < 300ms --- that's what I remember anyway.

Jack Douglas replying to Pax

I'm leaning away from thinking we should make compromises for the non JS users particularly if TA will take years to build up, I think we should be forward looking. On the other hand SEO is a great point and an SPA makes that more complicated — plus it's breaking how the web is supposed to work. Would it be sensible to server render the skeleton but use Vue component for all the complex code?

Pax

How about SEO and making the main content available to non-JS users?

Jack Douglas replying to Pax

I think I have changed my mind on that, and I think there are a few advantages of having nothing rendered opn the server in terms of ease of development?

Pax

> setting up a docker dev environment should be my starting point rather than an afterthought, and I think I’d like to have things set up so a merge into master automatically deploys  
  
that'd be beautiful, indeed. and given a modern stack, more people may be more interested to take a stab at contributing (making the docker dev environment valuable). maybe also have tests a priority as well?  
  
I remember you were hesitant about a completely js frontend. Have you changed your mind? Or what are your thoughts about architecture? Vue can still be used with server-rendered pages, only having some parts of the page powered by Vue (maybe the chat?)

Jack Douglas replying to Pax

initially the thing I'm most appreciate is helping me think through the development process. I think perhaps setting up a docker dev environment should be my starting point rather than an afterthought, and I think I'd like to have things set up so a merge into master automatically deploys

Jack Douglas replying to Pax

I actually have a subscription for that from work, though I haven't logged on yet :)

Jack Douglas replying to Pax

We ultimately plan to switch to the .org and get rid of .xyz — but in the short term I was thinking of using the .org as a testing ground for a ground-up rewrite with vue

Pax

If there's anything specific you think I can help with, I'd be super interested.

Pax

https://www.vuemastery.com sometimes has "free weekends" where all their videos are available for free during the weekend.

Pax

Oh wait! I just realized it's a completely different domain. What are your plans with the .org domain? Some sort of landing page for the organization I guess?

Pax replying to Jack Douglas

Cool! You can do a few Vue components here and there. Start small then see what makes sense.

Pax replying to Jack Douglas

Yes. It's my go-to when it comes to js frontend.

Jack Douglas

The main reason being that the place I work now use Vue so I'm going to be getting exposure to the ecosystem

Jack Douglas replying to Pax

Hi @Pax, have you used Vue.js before? I'm thinking about having a play with a node/vue front end: https://topanswers.org

Pax

I wonder if creating and seeding another database for the image would be the better way. In case contributors' change breaks retrieval of images somehow, it would be good to see that before it's in a PR. Although this might cause another overhead having to synchronize the schema of the image database as well.

Jack Douglas

Do say if you have a better idea — but I'm not sure what other options might be. The images are their own 'database' really and will probably eventually be served by a different server.

Pax

Alright!

Jack Douglas

some sort of redirect I mean

Jack Douglas

you could just use the full TA links there?

Jack Douglas replying to Pax

good question

Pax

Any chance we can get the logo and comm icons?   
  
![Screen Shot 2020-07-14 at 6.05.29 AM.png](/image?hash=eef4d0b6690d13ffc33f26248c8dc7c5a223c5c970e4e0dfc3d12af4717e928d)

Pax

But it seems more straightforward if I just specify where the SQL scripts are found rather than messing with the postgres` container's initialization process.

Jack Douglas

I'm glad I half-understand what is going on now though :)