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Development Update 12/15 Layoffs Yes, we went through layoffs -- about 10% of our staff. Layoffs are always hard for everyone concerned. The people who were asked to leave were good people, very talented, and well liked. A lot of threads on the forums were asking "why was this done before Christmas?" In the meeting they explained it as such: basically, the company had the choice of laying people off now and giving them good severance, or laying them off in January, after Christmas, with crappy severance. Inventories The rockin' fieryange1 finally got her inventory patch onto the main site... and I think a lot of you noticed it. The backend was sped up significantly, the pages were removed, and there were a number of internal changes that should make the possibility of white pages very remote. The initial push of the code had a small bug that was filtering some items from display, so people thought that they were missing items. We think that we've fixed all such problems, but if you still think that you're missing items, can you please post in this thread and let us know? Thanks! We are looking into applying the same changes to inventory -- it's tricky, but we're taking a look -- and there's a few more optimizations that we're considering. At this time, we currently have a team of four developers working on the next revamp of inventory, which totally reworks the interface and makes it substantially easier and more fun. cache_bust_failed DARKNRGY is currently trying to track down the influx of cache_bust_failed errors that people are getting. If you have examples -- especially, especially, if you have reproducible examples! -- please go to this thread with details. At this point we suspect that one of our memcache servers is flaky. memcache Which begs the question, "What is memcache?" (Also called memcached). We have a bunch of machines which are acting as cache servers: basically, they store information that we think we might need sometime soon. For most database queries, instead of going to the database servers we can instead query the cache, which has the information over 90% of the time and is a magnitude faster. True (geeky) story: A girlfriend was showing me her closet... Her: "I have a weird system. Whenever I wear something and clean it, I put it on the right side of the rod. That way, whenever I want something to wear, I know that it's the closest to the door." Me: "Oh, a clothing cache!" Her: "Huh, everyone else I ever told that story just thought I was weird." Edit button disappearing We aren't sure what's going on here, and we haven't found a reproducible case. We have a theory. A theory and two bucks will get you a cup of Starbucks, but nonetheless we're going to push out some changes / code cleanup early next week to see if that makes the problem better.

Posted by: Panagrammic Wed Dec 17, 2008 @ 06:44pm

Read my journal!

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Lady Merlex
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Commented on: Wed Dec 17, 2008 @ 06:55pm


	Thanks for letting us know how things are going. I hope you have a Merry Gaia Christmas!

Commented on: Wed Dec 17, 2008 @ 07:06pm


	You can get a cup of Starbucks for two dollars!?! Where do you live? lol!

Queene of the May
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Kelwyn
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Commented on: Wed Dec 17, 2008 @ 07:12pm


	Thanks SO much for the server fixes (and pass it on to the hardworking folks who pulled it off)! Sorry to hear about the layoffs, but I'm sure you guys did what had to be done. Merry Christmas!

Commented on: Wed Dec 17, 2008 @ 07:16pm


	With the "EDIT" button missing. It's disappearance is sporadic, it doesn't happen all the time but when it does, a few minutes of waiting and a refresh of the thread, the Edit button will appear.

Bunai
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Necromacide
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Commented on: Wed Dec 17, 2008 @ 07:18pm


	breathe in so deep, breathe me in I'm yours to keep YAY for inventory fixes heart I love how my Picolitrosso's Urn doesn't take up 5 screens anymore when I open it - thanks so much biggrin And everything works so smoothly now, it's awesome! I'm also very sorry about the layoffs =( I really do hope those people can be re-employed in the near future... sniff navigation <profile> <comment> <PM> <journal> <trade>

Commented on: Wed Dec 17, 2008 @ 07:19pm


	Layoffs are hard, but this time I expected it. I hope that Gaia will re-hire them as soon as possible. And Ange is FIERCE! Love the upgrade (I've some suggestions on SF, but small anyways)

Ungoliath
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Lady Kayura
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Commented on: Wed Dec 17, 2008 @ 08:09pm


	Thank you and fieryange1 for working on the inventories. Much of what brings me to Gaia has been returned. The joy I had dressing up my avatar has increased <3

Commented on: Wed Dec 17, 2008 @ 08:12pm


	Thank you for posting about the cache_bust_fail issue. I know a lot of people are really frustrated and it's good to get some tangible attention on the matter. I know everyone's busy but it's hard reporting problems for weeks with no result. Thanks again!

Eris_Incognito
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Miles To Go
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Commented on: Wed Dec 17, 2008 @ 08:14pm


	The new inventory fixes are awesome, but pages aren't entirely gone from the equip page yet: http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/4880/pagesindressingrp7.jpg Cache_bust_failed... I was trying to buy a lotus from someone, and he said he kept getting the error no matter how he tried sending the item to me. I will go direct him there! xd Nice story. Pan!!! It's not just the edit button disappearing! A lot of people can't comment people's profiles either! I've been -trying- to get someone aware of this. I haven't been able to comment people for over 3 weeks now. It's not my settings or their settings either. I posted all the information I could come up with in the Bugs forum. Please read and pass it on! http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/bug-reports-technical-support/profiles-unable-to-comment/t.45262884/ Edit: I think the commenting issue has been fixed! I can finally comment people's profile, yay @ o@

Commented on: Wed Dec 17, 2008 @ 09:06pm


	Whenever my edit button disappears, it's usually after I have already edited or posted again in the same thread. I don't know if that has anything to do with it or not. I like no more pages in my inventory! YAY! I was very sad to hear about all the lay offs. My mom was just laid off too, so I understand how it is. hugs everyone

stormoftara
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Cube B
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Commented on: Wed Dec 17, 2008 @ 09:11pm


	Whenever my edit button goes AWOL, it always appears attached to another persons post. I think that maybe whatever tells the system that "this is a post by you" is getting confused. I'm not sure how, or if that even makes sense. But that's what I think is happening.

Commented on: Wed Dec 17, 2008 @ 10:13pm


	Clothing cache! XD That's Brilliant! That is just as good as 10110101000110101. xd

Kamikazi-Cloud
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Malomy
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Commented on: Wed Dec 17, 2008 @ 10:14pm


	So that's why you did the lay offs now. Anyways, Merry Christmas.^^

Commented on: Wed Dec 17, 2008 @ 10:19pm


	God I love your journal entries!!! scream Thanks as always to you and your team on the awesome, solid updates...and I appreciate the insight into the layoffs, even though I know it's very difficult for all that were involved. Aside from that, love the "geeky" story, ahaha xd Keep up the awesome work, and have a kick a** Xmas, Pan!

morozco024
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emorexic-pimp
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Commented on: Wed Dec 17, 2008 @ 10:24pm


	»ĘмǿЯέжĨç~ÞĨмþ« i lol'd at the geeky story whether or not it's "true", it's funny >.> do you guys still need help tracking down the edit problems? if so, where can i help is hating the edit problem I HAS AN AUTO-FORMAT TOO! SEE?

Commented on: Wed Dec 17, 2008 @ 11:19pm


	How many people work at Gaia? I've read articles online that claimed 20% were laid off but then they had to backtrack and say 13% after fin's journal entry. Now it's 10%. You're confusing me! haha And is there anything users can do to help you with the "edit" button glitch? Do you need more information? And thanks for getting back to us about the inventory. A bunch of people come into the Q&A and ask about that. Mods can't do anything about it either, I'm afraid. sad

Sevi Rais
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Smaddy
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Commented on: Wed Dec 17, 2008 @ 11:31pm


	Happy Holidays in advance, Pan! I'm so happy the inventory issues seem to mostly be cleared up. (Haven't encountered any issues thus far...) The funny thing about the Edit button is, sometimes it won't appear for you... yet it appears to you on other people's posts. sweatdrop

Commented on: Wed Dec 17, 2008 @ 11:57pm


	"Memcache" sounds like a fancy European chocolate. Indulge in the luxurious silky taste of Memcache... fieryange1 is the best, I was pretty overjoyed to see the pages in my inventory gone, and that I no longer have to draaaaaag pose menus into the middle of the screen. I can't wait to see what you guys do to the dress-up interface in the future. I mean, it's essentially been the same since the sites inception, right? Oh, and have a happy and safe holiday, Pan!

Gamine
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Dreda
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Commented on: Wed Dec 17, 2008 @ 11:59pm


	The edit post only came on certain occasions to me, like when I loaded from subscriptions instead of going to my posts. Really sucks about so many great people getting laid off emo I hope they have a chance to come back in the future when the economy doesn't suck. The inventory, the main page, is still giving me white page. No matter how many times I reload, it won't load at all gonk (see it used to load after 1-2 reloads) Edit: But my actual Edit avatar screen works <33 So thanks >o< <3 Been weeks since It didn't take an hour to make an avi with reloading white pages so many times.

Commented on: Thu Dec 18, 2008 @ 01:27am


	Oh Oh I am so glad for the patch. I'm not sure if it's related, but also now my customize me page loads without the massive white space on the left that sent my inventory hiding under the ads xD Lately I've not had as much trouble with the cache_bust_failed .. the only time over the last day was once when I tried to send trades -pouts- just happened once though And that's a funny story about closets xD Hm I'm glad that despite the circumstances, the Gaia team was able to let go of the staff with giving them the best they could for severance pay. I hope the economy picks up so they can come back again

Chanthar
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Kunai Jones
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Commented on: Thu Dec 18, 2008 @ 01:34am


	Please pass on my personal thanks and congratulations to FieryAnge1 for her work on the Customizer. It works like a dream now, and I don't mind pages on a few tabs when we can fit so many more items on-screen. But I'm still getting rampant white-pages when interacting with items in my basic Inventory pages. I had to move most of my inventory into storage the other day when I was trying to incubate and open Fortune Eggs, otherwise I'd just get white pages after waiting a minute or more for each action. Right now I'm trying to gift a pair of Striped Stockings to a friend, but I'm getting a white page every time I try to load the page for the item. It's failed about six times now. This is particularly problematic when you're introducing new item forms that require extensive interaction within one's inventory. I bought a Cash Card at Wal-Mart the other day, but redeemed it on a mule and worked 15 of my Fortune Eggs on that account, then transferred 10 to my main in hopes of getting an Oni Set. And at that point I had to move most of my Inventory into storage to stop getting whitescreened at every move. Which brings me to my last concern: soulbinding. Please be selective with it. If you soulbind Cash items or items that only come from Cash randoboxes, that's an authentic pay-to-play feature. There's no second-hand market in the Vend when an item gets soulbound, and it hurts the community, further stratifying between Cash and No Cash users. It's fine to soulbind the Fail Coins, that makes good sense, but the Oni Set is an actual avatar item that could ONLY be obtained via Fortune Eggs. And with such a fine item from a clearly talented artist, that's a shame to see it reach only a limited audience. Thanks again for the Customizer and Arena fixes, things are getting so much better around here.

Commented on: Thu Dec 18, 2008 @ 01:50am


	Thanks so much for all the fixes, especially the inventory! heart Also, thanks for informing us better about the layoff situation. Like many have said, I hope someday they can be re-hired. Just a question, do you know when will this problem involving Homes be completely fixed? (Failed to Load error) I have a G9 Laptop frozen in my house because of this, and I miss arranging my furniture. xD;; Keep up the great work, and have a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! smile

Azura Cantarella
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Ketira
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Commented on: Thu Dec 18, 2008 @ 02:30am


	giggles at the joke Cute, Pana.... but then, I have a programmer as a brother. Only now he's out wandering the West - see his website for details on where he is now. Will he get out to Gaia's neck of the woods? Ask him! I thought I wasn't the only one getting the "cache-bust" problem; I'll just remember to keep trying. At least it's fixable, unlike the memory leak in zOMG!..... sighs hugs you um... need boots for those feet? I think I could find you a nice pair.... wink

Commented on: Thu Dec 18, 2008 @ 03:29am


	\|\| Thumbs up. \|\|

iMadame Twinkle
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Dieidiotscum
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Commented on: Thu Dec 18, 2008 @ 04:10am


	I'm still getting a lot of white screens whenever I load my inventory or try to equip anything, it seems as though nothing's changed. Perhaps it's because I have a large inventory, but I don't know. I was so looking forward to this fix ;_; As soon as I can get my inventory to actually load though, I'm looking forward to the changes in pages! =D

Commented on: Thu Dec 18, 2008 @ 05:09am


	I should organize my closet that way. It makes a lot of sense to me. lol Especially since I just throw my worn clothes on the floor.... because if they're on the floor or hung on a chair I know its only "semi-clean".... whereas if its in the closet, I know its perfectly clean. xd

Riddle-Me-This
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dreamsk
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Commented on: Thu Dec 18, 2008 @ 07:02am


	Thanks for the inventory patch! Very helpful! For the editing button disappearing, it IS erratic. I swear, it comes and goes on its own with a few refreshes. Sometimes the edit button doesnt even appear for your post but the next guy down's. Maybe its the system having an error recognizing people to their post (since it doesnt affect the "quote" button)? Although I've never taken a programming class, but I have taken psychology! Maybe we're all just crazy bastards who cant actually see the edit button when its right there in front of us, because we've been traumatized somehow with the edit button that our brain filters out any sight of it! The edit button has disappeared for commenting on journals, too, at random times. Ah, well, as always, dont work too hard over the holidays, and thanks for all the work you've done on Gaia~

Commented on: Thu Dec 18, 2008 @ 07:20am


	Regarding the edit button -- it's related to the time of a comment occasionally reverting to PST, right? And also images going to whitelisted only, instead of whatever the user has set? I'm not sure how forums work... really complex includes, at a guess... but maybe somehow the user information is being dropped when the post is being included in the thread? Not a clue in the world as to its randomness, though. Also, FYI, there's a tiny error in Profiles, but it would probably be an easy fix. It has to do with the Badges box's "View More Badges" and "Hide" links. Currently, there's four (I think) forms of URLs to get to a profile. Using fin as an example, we have: http://www.gaiaonline.com/profiles/?u=724385 http://www.gaiaonline.com/profiles/724385/ http://www.gaiaonline.com/p/724385/ http://www.gaiaonline.com/p/fin Of those URLs, the first is the most common, generated in the forums, from profile to profile, and I'm not sure where else. It's also the one with the biggest glitch... basically, since the View More Badges link is just <a href="?showmorebadges=true">, it never works. Using simple code to make that ? an & or ? (depending on the current URL) would be very easy. Or it could be changed to an absolute link rather than a relative one. The Hide link (only appearing on the showmorebadges=true page) glitches when the URL ends in a /. Since it's also a relative link, in this case to the userid number, when you're looking at http://www.gaiaonline.com/profiles/724385/?showmorebadges=true and click Hide, you're sent to http://www.gaiaonline.com/profiles/724385/724385. Which does load, but is somewhat confusing to people who pay attention to URLs. biggrin Anyway, just letting you know (in case you didn't already). I know it's not high priority, but since the vast majority of Gaians just click links and don't edit URLs, hardly anyone ever gets to the showmorebadges page...

Mindset
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Chocobo Princess
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Commented on: Thu Dec 18, 2008 @ 10:21am


	A tough week for Gaia. I know it must've been hard to have to lay people off, especially for Lanzer. I'm glad to hear they were able to receive a good severance package. As others have stated, I'm hoping to see as many as possible back on the payroll soon. I bought a cash card. sweatdrop Thank you for the attention to Inventory fixes. heart I love the new pose-box~! How brilliant! Way to be SO AWESOME, fieryange1! 4laugh Good luck to DARKNRGY with that cache bust problem; it sounds tricky, but after Item Norm, we know you are magical. whee Ganbatte! Thanks for keeping us update, Pan. Have a happy holiday season. blaugh

Commented on: Thu Dec 18, 2008 @ 11:57am


	I was indeed one of those people with the Cache_Bust error, but yesterday morning, to my pleasant discovery, I found that it had been fixed for me. It was reproduceable every single time I tried to save my avatar, give a gift, finish a trade I started, sell back to the shops, buy or sell from the MP, and even buy something from the cache shop. Again though, I was pleasantly surprised yesterday morning to find mine had been fixed. So a bit THANKS to whoever was able to do that and hopefully it won't come back. smile

Nerelda
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Akabi Yoru
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Commented on: Thu Dec 18, 2008 @ 02:32pm


	I loved your geeky story! xd Thanks for the inventory fix, that was great!

Commented on: Thu Dec 18, 2008 @ 03:30pm


	By "easier" and "more fun", I hope you mean that those of us with larger inventories will actually be able to get this new system to work. Because too often, "easier" to Gaia seems to mean "it uses more of your computer resources" to me. The last time I was able to load the arranger without it crashing was during the Olympics. My items are a horrible mess, and I have a number of useless fail coins, as I can't access my inventory to sell them back to the stores, or gift them to my mule to use his sellback. It's getting very, very frustrating.

Lady Pyre
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ayleria
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Commented on: Thu Dec 18, 2008 @ 07:11pm


	I've noticed more frequently that the edit button appears on posts I didn't write. I haven't experienced not being able to edit my post, but seeing people saying they can't, I'm pretty sure both that and the edit button on posts by other people are related.

Commented on: Thu Dec 25, 2008 @ 02:22am


	I'm still getting whitepaged. Every time I go to my inventory it white pages on me and I have to refresh a hundred times and HOPE it will work for a click or two without whitepaging again. And with the arranger still broken last I tried it, I can't even more some of my extras into storage or to the top of my inventory for selling off. It really is getting to me. Why should I spend money when I won't be able to use the items I buy?

KawaiiKittenCalico
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ThE_bLuE_NiNe_tAiLeD_FoX
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Commented on: Tue Dec 30, 2008 @ 07:08pm


	i know how it feels to loose good members cuz well last fall my father lost his job because the company my dad worked at could not afford for him being in there business. For doing that they lost a very good employer... My father helped fix his previous job on there computers and also he did some accountant stuff... After that my father has been struggling my brother, mother, Max(my parents pet dog), and me to survive from this family crisis. This year was also the first year we had to skip christmas. Because of how hard it is for my father to find a job since everyone is cutting off people from there jobs. Anyhow, during the end of this economic crisis everyone is going through everything will come clear for example sun shine coming out of dark grey clouds from a rough and terrorifying storm. Since this my last year of Senior High school im looking forward to work in computer programming field for my job career.... If you are interested on any of idea's that i invented your welcome on messaging me or go to my website that my profile on gaia has a link too... later

Commented on: Sat Jan 03, 2009 @ 10:01pm


	Hello I have just a random question, or I guess its more of a request. Right now, to change our faces we have to delete and start a whoile new avatar. It would be really great if there was some kind of eye shop to be able to change the color/ shape of the eye without having to delete

Lunime
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