ArsDigita Community System FAQ

• I have a site made of static html pages. How can I add some collaboration features without setting up my own machine?
• I would like to use the ArsDigita Community System. How do I set up the basic infrastructure (Unix/Linux, Oracle, and AOLServer)?
• I have a machine with Unix/Linux, Oracle and AOLServer installed. How do I install the ArsDigita Community System and the ArsDigita Server Architecture?
• Where can I find ArsDigita Community System documentation?
• I am stuck. Where can I ask a question?
• What teaching and training is available? How can I sign up?
• What resources are available for learning and reference?
• What ISPs and independent developers support the ArsDigita Community System?
• How can I contribute to the development of ArsDigita Community System?
• Where can I learn about ArsDigita, the company?
• How can I work at ArsDigita?

• Spam will allow you to maintain mailing lists
• LUSENET will run a discussion group for you
• BooHoo link manager will allow your users to post related links
• Loquacious will allow your users to post comments
• clickthrough.net will track how many people follow links from your site to sites that you recommend
• Uptime will monitor your server and notify you when it is unreachable
• Vox Populi will allow you to add polls to your site
• Telegraph will allow forms on your site to send email

Sean Yamamoto's Building an RDBMS-backed Linux Web Server provides the following guides for those taking the Linux (free) route:

• Installing Red Hat Linux on a PC - Version 5.2 for Intel
• Installing AOLserver web server software - Version 2.3.3
• Installing Oracle8 database software - Version 8.0.5 Standard Edition
• Compiling and configuring the ArsDigita Oracle8 database driver for AOLserver - Version 1.0.3

• Installing Oracle 8.0.5 on Red Hat Linux 5.x
• Installing AOLserver 2.3.3 on Red Hat Linux 5.x

• Oracle 8.0.5 on RedHat Linux 6.1/6.0/5.2 (Fort Wayne Newspapers) (link dead)
• Oracle 8i on RedHat Linux 6.1 (Oracle Technet, registration required)

Along this process, you will use the following guides

• ArsDigita Community System Installation
• ArsDigita Community System Acceptance Test
• Keepalive Installation
• Uptime Installation
• Glassroom Installation
• WatchDog Installation
• Reporte Installation
• ArsDigita Server Architecture Audit

When upgrading, you should grab the latest utilities.tcl file.

Where can I find ArsDigita Community System documentation?

• ArsDigita Community System Documentation
• Getting the software
• Scalable Systems for Online Communities
• Using the ArsDigita Community System
• ArsDigita Community System Installation
• Developers Guide
• Documented Procedures
• Version History
• Feature requests and bug reports

• The One day web course will be offered in several cities. (not anymore)
• ArsDigita Community System Conventions are held quarterly in Cambridge and San Franscisco. (not anymore)
• We conduct 3-5 week boot camps covering the core skills needed to install, configure and extend the ArsDigita Community System and the ArsDigita Server Architecture. These are available to people who:
  1. are planning to do something for a non-profit organization
  2. are willing to commit their time to support or extend the ArsDigita Community System and its community
  3. are MIT students
  4. are considering employment at ArsDigita
  If interested, please mail your application (reason you want to attend, resume, and plans for using ACS) to teadams@mit.edu.
• Software Engineering for Web Applications is taught by ArsDigita at MIT and Caltech. Students cover several problem sets and then complete a student project. Materials for this course may be used at other Universities or for other programs at no charge.

• Philip and Alex's Guide to Web Publishing
• SQL for Web Nerds (tutorial for the SQL language; links into online Oracle docs for completeness)
• Tcl for Web Nerds (tutorial for the Tcl language; in rough shape right now and you might consider using the Welch book (below))
• Common errors made by database backed web developers
• Tips for using Oracle

• Problem Set 1 (basic db-backed Web sites; AOLserver, Tcl, SQL) Question and answer forum
• Problem Set 2 (extending the ArsDigita Community System, Web sites to support collaboration) Question and answer forum
• Problem Set 3 (content management) Question and answer forum
• coming soon: two more psets
• coming soon: project ideas

• Using the LCS Web/db computing facility (helps your sysadmin/dbadmin set up the server and then helps students get through the mechanics of logging in, connecting to Oracle, etc.)

Other online resources

• AOLServer Documentation

Recommended purchases

• Unix Power Tools (helps students with the mechanics of the Unix shell and Emacs)
• Oracle 8: The Complete Reference (more concise than the online Oracle docs)
• Practical Programming in Tcl and Tk (Brent Welch 1997; Prentice-Hall;)
• Visual Explanations : Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative (Edward Tufte 1997; Graphics Press; order directly by calling (800) 822-2454) - general design principles

• Problem set 1 questions
• Problem set 2 questions
• Problem set 3 questions
• Database backed web site discussion forum

• Furfly offers ACS-based services and hosting.
• Sebastian Skracic has made an InterBase port

• ACS buddies: Many interested users need a little help with the first installation and initial questions.
• Module experts: We need experts for both existing and modules in development to suggest extensions, test new releases, write documentation and answers questions.
• Module creators: John Lowry has already created and publicized new modules.
• Teachers: Use our teaching materials to teach your company, friends, or at a University.