speedcubes.net (new website)

[Stefan]

I've been working on a few cubing websites for a while, one is now somewhat ready. Example views:

3x3x3 centers: http://speedcubes.net/puzzle.php?puz...compare=center
3x3x3 names: http://speedcubes.net/puzzle.php?puzzle=3x3x3
3x3x3 summaries: http://speedcubes.net/puzzle.php?puz...x3&summaries=1
3x3x3 cube4you: http://speedcubes.net/model.php?puzzle=3x3x3&model=1

The site's goal is to offer competent help with these common questions:
Identification: What cube is this? How does cube X look like?
Source: Where can I get cube X?
Evaluation: How good is cube X? What is the best cube?

Though regarding that last aspect, the introduction page quickly adds that there's no globally best cube and why.

Besides the technological advantages I see over forum threads and wikis, I also like the idea of independence. We here have our own stuff spread across the site, the Germans, the Vietnamese and quite possibly other communities have their own as well. I'd like to bring us all together in a nicely done place, to get more and better information.

There's still a lot to do, but due to new motivation I finally at least got it to a reasonable and useful state to show. And I'm working on it. Check out the News page for a brief plan of how I intend to progress, check out the other pages for more explanations.

[Yes, We Can!]

Good page!
Hopefully there won't be too many "Best cube for speedcubing" anymore

[Mr.Toad]

Thanks Stefan, it's looks great.

[andyt1992]

when i get my uk store site up and running we'll have to swap links. your site is cool now there might be less "which is" and "where are" and "how do I" threads.

[PHPJaguar]

That's terrific!

[PeterV]

Looks great, Stefan! I've had a quick look around the site and I'm quite impressed with it. Keep up the good work!

[GermanCube]

Nice homepage, good structure and not too many words.

I like it.

[Cride5]

I like it! Excellent work, especially with the detailed photos! I'm looking forward to seeing the new ratings system - its something the community has long been needing.

My only worry is that a site managed by a single person always runs the risk of becoming stagnant if the maintainer loses interest and moves on. Are there any plans to allow for user accounts so that others can add cubes, images etc? If this were possible, it would make it a great community resource.

[miniGOINGS]

Looks good!!

[Stefan]

Excellent work, especially with the detailed photos!

Thanks. I'm fairly happy with them, though I might retake some I'm not so happy with. Still getting used to my camera. But first I'll of course add stuff that's not there yet.

I'm looking forward to seeing the new ratings system - its something the community has long been needing.

Well, yours isn't bad. But yeah, I do think it's better with a good database and interface, and combined with a model catalog. I'm glad you're interested in this, cause I'm interested in starting off with the data you've collected already. Thinking of importing it and have people confirm/update the data in the new system. Possibly changing rating aspects in the process, for example if you think that a scale should be renamed or replaced. I hope you're ok with this and we can talk about that a bit later, right now adding and validating/correcting puzzle data is the priority.

My only worry is that a site managed by a single person always runs the risk of becoming stagnant if the maintainer loses interest and moves on. Are there any plans to allow for user accounts so that others can add cubes, images etc? If this were possible, it would make it a great community resource.

Yes, like briefly mentioned in the plan on the News page, I do intend and hope for others to participate. I imagine the usual structure roughly with these capabilities:

Administrator/Host: Me. Can obviously do everything.
Moderators: Selected competent people I trust. Can add/update data (includes accepting what normal users have submitted).
All users: Everyone. Can rate their puzzles, submit puzzle names/pics/data/links/comments, flag links/names/etc as correct or wrong.

Haven't decided on the details, that will come step by step and I'll see how it goes and adapt. But you get the idea. Ideally, I provide the system but aren't necessary for maintaining it (doesn't mean I won't, just that I'm not needed).