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Faster, Safer, Better...ActiveRain is Undergoing a Major Tune-Up So 'Please Excuse The Mess'

By
Real Estate Technology with BoomTown

ActiveRain has been admittedly a little extra 'wonky' lately.  Everyone has probably experienced the 'Proxy' (and a few other) errors, including HTML, widget and other outside application disfunctionalities.

While it may seem like things are breaking down, in reality we're really beefing things up.  The programming architecture that AR primarily runs on recently underwent a pretty substantial upgrade.  In a nutshell, the version upgrade allows our programmers to work, implement and fix features and utilities much faster and easier than before.  It also places an emphasis on simplicity, security and stability, all vital for a bustling community such as AR to function properly.

Alas, little bugs, glitches and other side-effects are inevitable (1 step back to take 4 steps forward)...also, we've locked out certain widgets, HTML tags and other scripts that can be malicious in nature (which can/have caused other issues on the network), such as:

  • Certain HTML tags will not work, specifically the <font> tag.  H (header) and tags should be used instead.
  • Only 'approved' widgets will work in the network.  Brad Andersohn will be releasing a post with the specific approved widget providers. 
  • Some 3rd party applications (i.e. realestateshows.com) were temporarily down.  Jeff Turnerites, please put down your pitchforks ;)

We've had other issues around commenting and inter-network email outages as well as links not opening in a new window, but they've been fixed. 

I've noticed various posts popping up around the network identifying some or all of the above.  While open communication is great, as it helps the entire community understand these issues are not theirs alone, if anyone notices 'bugs' in the future please also drop a line to Brad (brad@activerain.com), Rich (rich@activerain.com), Bob (bob@activerain.com) and/or myself (jcorbett@activerain.com).  Chances are the powers that be are already aware of and working on the issues but some items may slip through the cracks and we want to make sure we've addressed everything.  In any case, these bugs and issues are very temporary and will fade to black in the near future.

As always, we appreciate your patience and participation as we continue to build on the worlds best real estate social network. 

 

 

Comments (97)

Linda Jandura
Raleigh Cary Realty - Apex, NC
Realtor, North Carolina Buyer & Seller Specialist

Does this mean that if you've written a blog about the problems, as I have, that your site will be the last to be fixed?  lol!  Sorry guys, I wrote that blog early on the first Sunday, when I could find nothing written about any problems.

I trust you to get it all fixed soon!

Dec 01, 2008 02:44 PM
Rosalinda Morgan
Brookville, NY
"The Rose Lady"

Jeff - Thanks for the updates.  I know you guys are working hard to fix the problems and we do appreciate it.

Dec 01, 2008 02:46 PM
Susan Neal
RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker

Thanks Jeff.  I am one of those people who has struggled a bit with AR the last few days, thinking it was something wrong with my computer.  Glad to know I'm okay, and that the fixes are in progress.

Dec 01, 2008 04:00 PM
Anonymous
Anonymous

Thanks for making the information I love improvements, this is a fantastic site.  Thanks

Dec 01, 2008 06:42 PM
#81
Mayra Espinosa Realtor San Mateo Pacifica Homes
Mayra Espinosa Broker- Realtor | Call 650-996-8961 - Pacifica, CA
San Mateo County Real Estate | Buy | Sell | Invest

 This is a fantastic site, Thanks for making the information.  I love Active rain. Thanks for all the hard work.

Dec 01, 2008 06:50 PM
Palm Coast Homes
100 Plus Realty LLC - Palm Coast, FL
Palm Coast/Flagler County Real Estate, The Ross/Co

I haven't noticed any problems... guess I have not been visiting enough lately...everything looks great!!!

Dec 01, 2008 07:25 PM
Susie Blackmon
Ocala, FL
Ocala, Horses, Western Wear, Horse Farms, Marketing

Turnerite here, checking in. And yes, it's been a bit wonky here lately, but I'm a huge fan and appreciate everything about AR... and the quite fix of my RESs.

Dec 01, 2008 07:37 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

Another Turnerite checking in.  I am happy to hear you have solved the RealEstateShows problem.

Dec 01, 2008 07:46 PM
"The Lovely Wife" The One And Only TLW.
President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Kissimmee, FL

X...

Is there any reason why Proxy can't be changed to Wonky? I likes it :)

Not only do I like it I think the posts that will be written about it would be amusing as well :)

TLW...ROAR!

Dec 01, 2008 09:36 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

We trust that the Rain Gods have our best technological and networking inerests at heart...at monitor and keyboard...and hoping that there will be some folks who still write in English....and that the errors will not come during the time when we have the most time to write....thank you for all you do and continue to do...happiest of holidays !

Dec 01, 2008 11:00 PM
Sandy McAlpine
RE/MAX EXECUTIVE - Cornelius, NC
Search Lake Norman Homes For Sale - Lake Norman NC

that explains it!! I was trying to figure out why the google docs widget for my graph was not working and I tried uploading it about 5 times and gave up. I had watched your video and thought I was doing something wrong! Google docs no longer lets you save your graph as an image, you have to use the script.

Dec 01, 2008 11:34 PM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

I always liked Willy Wonka so this should be just a box of chocolate in the end.

Dec 02, 2008 02:39 AM
April Hayden-Munson
Brookfield, WI
Brookfield Wisconsin Real Estate

Jeff,

I am so glad we have you to fix things!  If it were my job - we'd be in BIG trouble!!

thanks for your hard work!

Dec 02, 2008 06:48 AM
Esko Kiuru
Bethesda, MD

Jeff,

Good to hear a bit of background to some of the minor disturbances lately. Everybody certainly is excited about the new and improved AR and willing to put up with some dust now.

Dec 02, 2008 07:29 AM
TIM MONCRIEF
Tim Monciref - Austin, TX
Over 2,000 homes sold…..

Thanks for the update.  Very, very appreciated........by all.

Dec 02, 2008 11:42 AM
Diane Aurit
LKN Realty, LLC - Mooresville, NC
Lake Norman Real Estate

Jeff, I have been so busy trying to save my own, old RSSPieces blog from complete loss that these problems, albeit frustrating, are certainly understandable and I truly appreciate how hard you all work at AR and how much we can trust you.  Thanks!

Dec 02, 2008 11:37 PM
Shirley Parks
Sands Realty 210-414-0966 - San Antonio, TX
Broker, 210-414-0966, San Antonio TX Real Estate

Jeff, Thanks for the update. Improvement should make Active Rain even better.

Dec 03, 2008 02:30 PM
"The Lovely Wife" The One And Only TLW.
President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Kissimmee, FL

X...

Do you know if we are ever going to be able to access Members Only Blog Posts on a search?

TLW...ROAR!

Dec 04, 2008 08:43 AM
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552

Thanks for including your email addresses so that we can communicate with you directly if necessary!

Dec 09, 2008 03:08 AM
Patty Carroll
Vancouver, WA

Thanks for all that the AR team does. Sometimes growing pains can be a bit frustrating but in the end good things are always worth the wait.  Scott and I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season with all of the joy and love that it brings.

Dec 25, 2008 01:31 AM