MadSync

[Keith] [11/11/2011]   Release 1.5.7: Events, mobile, and documents upgrades.

We just deployed some new code. The first thing we want to mention is that we've improved our basic interface in the default skin for mobile phones. There are still some improvements that need to be made, particularly with regard to sub pages (the frame approach has problems on most mobiles), but we've made a start.

Another important upgrade is to the admin documents area. We cleaned up the interface, made it more AJAX-y, and have given you the ability to restrict member acccess to documents on the basis of your custom roles. Document access also now obeys server authorization; ie. if someone does not have access to your document, not only will links to it be hidden but attempts to download it will be met with a not authorized message.

Finally, in working with Clint Bickmore from the ACA, we have introduced "Event Mode." Event mode is designed to make it easier for mobile registrations online on race day. MadSync now offers a QR code in your event editor that will take mobile users to a stripped down version of the app. This version has no menus, no sidebars, just the form for your race, a permanent link on every page back to your event ... and of course a link to exit event mode.

[Alan] [9/8/2011]  Bear Creek TT Series online reg. is closed

There will not be online registration for race day entries, due to the complexities of doing this with a lottery. However, the ACA wants you to know that there will be race-day registration for the Bear Creek Lake Time Trial Series until 4pm each day. Race day reg. is first-come, first-served and race days can be purchased a la carte for $25. If you cannot be there in time for 4pm, please call the ACA offices at (303)458-5538 to reserve a spot.

[Keith] [7/15/2011]   ACA/Handlebargains Membership Drive

The American Cycling Association is having a membership drive, partering with handlebargains. The first 100 participants get a gift code for $10 off bike parts!

[Alan] [1/9/2011]  MadSync server upgrade and software release 1.4.5

Tonight we upgraded the MadSync servers and web software! Notable improvements:

• Guest Registration (MadSync now allows sign-ups for your events without requiring the registrant have a user-name and password)
• Auto promoting your events on Twitter and Facebook (Your participants now have a direct link to their social media sites. We envision they will use this feature on your race registration page to promote your event for you.)
• Server Speed (we upgraded to a much faster server which will greatly improve your page loads)

Information about our 2011 MadSync club contest is forthcoming.

[Keith] [4/24/2010]   We're now about halfway through with the event registration upgrade, and normally I don't post until the coding's done; but wow, I'm starting to feel pretty good about this change! The changes are too numerous to go into, but they involve a simplification of event editing UI, a more robust model for events and activities, new editable content in the event itself, an improved look and feel for the registration page itself; and some slick-as-hell UI that makes me want to sign up for a few events.

More later; it remains to add support for complex events (like omniums) and a couple of other minor surprises to improve the user experience.

[Keith] [4/15/2010]  We've been steadily improving madsync's feature list and trimming down our bug list. We've added a bunch of calendar improvements to make things more personalizable (and therefore more useful to you), and shortly we will be upgrading our events system, which works great but needs to be slightly more flexible.

One thing in particular we're really excited about is the new shorthand URL server we've built, mdsnc.us. We're leveraging it for the events pages so far, but there's much more to come.

Oh yeah - and our brochure page looks different!

[Keith] [2/21/2010]  MadSync's permissions have been overhauled to what is (hopefully) a less-confusing model/interface. The new control will default to hiding custom role-base permissions, but allow you to edit these at any time. The same model will also now apply to visibility of forums and of page. Flexibility and simplicity should both improve once we release to production. It's in the final stages of testing but should be out in a matter of days.

[Keith] [1/25/2010]  MadSync has just been updated to run clubs and events for sports other than cycling. Running/track is now fully supported and we will be adding event-wizard support for other sports in the coming months (in the meantime, feel free to choose sports from your edit club page). This release, which also brings improved forum permissions and payment support, brings the TeamOS software to milestone 1.1.0.

[Keith] [1/17/2010]  Happy New Year! MadSync TeamOS 1.0.8 was deployed tonight. We've been steadily providing bug fixes and minor features for the past two months, in between work Keith has been doing to maintain and improve the ACA site. The holidays, and a few too many projects, have not kept us from making the important updates; but they have slowed some of our intended feature-adds. This should change soon.

[Keith] [10/4/2009]  MadSync TeamOS 1.0.0 was deployed tonight! Wow, what a lot of work ... The changes are relatively minor from the user perspective, but under the hood there has been a massive retooling of almost everything in the application, changes to literally 1000s of pages of code. Highlights include:

• Ability to sign a user up for more than one club.
• Improved events tools.
• AJAX interfaces for many of our most intensive pages (the slowest pages in the beta test are now some of the fastest in the new release)!