The current state of FlexRAID

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 27/09/2008 11:27:09

All,

I know that many of you have noticed that I have not been active on the project for a while now.

In effect, I have gotten busy with real life.
I had a baby a month ago (first child).
So, I had to switch focus for a little bit.

I also got busy dealing with a few legal matters, most of which are now settled with one still pending.

Regardless of all this, I will still continue development on FlexRAID.
Some of you have asked to join the project, which is really cool.
I am working on opening up the project as open source.

The project could use more brains as it has a lot of potential.
Believe me or not, some of the best features of FlexRAID have yet to be released.
So, all those interested in joining the project should PM me.

The basic version is cool and all, but there is a lot more to FlexRAID than that.
I personally wish I had more free time to get everything out in a timely manner.

The next release of FlexRAID won't happen till September 28, 2008 (official date).

Thanks.

Update [September 27, 2008]:
Sadly, the next build is being delayed.
I am sorry to have to push its release another month (October 31st).

I am not going to lie, I have not looked at the code in months.
In insight, I should have taken an official vacation from the project.

After this next build is out, my next priority will be to open the code so that I can be away from the project without it stagging.

What language/tools/skills are necessary to work on FlexRAID?

I am a software engineer with 17 years experience, so I might be able to contribute. Unfortunately my understanding is that FlexRAID is written in Java, which I never got around to learning. I know I could always learn Java eventually, but my experience is that it takes 2-3 months of steady, full time work to really become proficient in a new language. Rather, not the language itself, but the libraries.

Hey Brahim

Congrats on the baby, boy or girl ?
keep up the good work buddy, it is appreciated. It's amazing you have any time to spend on this, while taking care of a little one

Phil

ObjetDart wrote:What language/tools/skills are necessary to work on FlexRAID?

I am a software engineer with 17 years experience, so I might be able to contribute. Unfortunately my understanding is that FlexRAID is written in Java, which I never got around to learning. I know I could always learn Java eventually, but my experience is that it takes 2-3 months of steady, full time work to really become proficient in a new language. Rather, not the language itself, but the libraries.

Java, C/C++, JavaScript, HTML.
The host service currently only needs high level work, which is done in Java.

The best way to learn a language (whether programming or linguistic) is to apply it.
This could be a good way to learn and/or sharpen your programming skills.

A client UI can be developed in any language.
The current DOS and Web UI clients are fine and all, but someone could come up with a better client.

If one really wished, the host service could be written in a different language if that proved to be a better route.

So, if you aren't really comfortable with Java, you will need to focus on the clients.

monkeh wrote:Hey Brahim

Congrats on the baby, boy or girl ?
keep up the good work buddy, it is appreciated. It's amazing you have any time to spend on this, while taking care of a little one

Phil

Well, thanks.
It's a girl.

I like working on this project since it is a good technical challenge.
The brain is a muscle, and it is good to exercise it in all possible ways.

Now that I am almost done with my legal charades, there will be plenty of time for FlexRAID after baby time.
Oh yeah, I guess I would need cut down on the time I spend in my home movie theater.

It is amazing the number of movies I have discovered that I have not yet watched or need to watch again.
There is nothing like watching your old favorites on a high def projection screen.

tell me about it.
My home theatre is the reason I found FlexRaid.

I used to have a 2TB RAID 5 array using 250GB disc (biggest discs avail at the time) and it used too much electricty, so i removed all the discs and put them in caddies. now I have soo many caddies I'm spending too much time cataloging and not enough time watching. So back to online storage with flexraid so they can all power down to save $ as well as have data redundancy.

Oh yeah...
Having all your movies online is priceless. Seriously.

Are you using MyMovies to catalog your movies?

Ps. I am getting a set of these speakers tomorrow... and these too.
I am getting these later.
This also means, I will be revisiting some of my sound effects-supercharged movies.

Very nice speakers, I'm using Eltax symphony 8 for fronts and 4's for the rears, (cant find a picture of them online, their too old. 9 years atleast)
purchased a new TV a few months ago philips 42" 9632.

Of course, I had to watch Transformers and all three matrix films as soon as I had plugged it in

I use moviecollector for my films, it's quck and looks good. I also have a excel spreadsheet for the DVD backups, as i have 2 800 jukeboxes full now.
but now I have flexraid i wont need to backup any move HD movies with DVD

Brahim wrote:
The best way to learn a language (whether programming or linguistic) is to apply it.

Yes I agree, that's why I said learning needs "steady, full-time work."

Brahim wrote:
This could be a good way to learn and/or sharpen your programming skills.

True, although my skills are already getting plenty sharp during my day job.

Learning new languages or skills wouldn't be my primary motivation for participation in FlexRAID development. My goal would only be to help improve the product itself.

Brahim wrote:
So, if you aren't really comfortable with Java, you will need to focus on the clients.

Alright, sounds like writing a new client would probably be the best way I could contribute. I'm not a big fan of JavaScript/HTML, I've worked on JavaScript apps before and didn't find it to my liking. I'm mainly a Windows desktop app guy. Anyway, if I can find some free time any time soon, I'll let you know. Do you have any docs available on the current client/server protocol?

I might be able to help out with a Java client. I am a professional developer with 15 years experience, and I have been using Java exclusively for the last 9 years. I am proficient with all forms of Java development - client, server, J2EE/webapp, etc. For a client such as this, I would build it on Eclipse RCP (Rich Client Platform), which is unbeatable when it comes to Java client GUIs.

Let me give you some background - I am starting up my own open source project to build a central server for cataloging and managing your media. The idea is simple - store your media and generate metadata one time, and make it work with whatever front end gui you choose (Sage, MCE, Myth, etc.). As I have been planning this, it became apparent that some form of redundancy would be a huge benefit for my program. Enter FlexRAID. I came here looking for information on how it was implemented and how to integrate with it. It looks like there is a lot of synergy (uhh, I hate those buzzwords but that's a legitimate use of it) between our projects, so maybe we can help each other out.

In case you aren't familiar with it, Eclipse is based on OSGi, which is an architecture designed for easily extending the application with plugins. RCP is just a base platform for running your plugins as your own app, without all the IDE stuff specific to the Eclipse development environment. So a well-written plugin can run inside an instance of Eclipse, or in a standalone app, or anything inbetween. So it should be possible to write plugins for managing FlexRAID which could be used in a standalone FlexRAID client, as well as integrated into my media cataloging application (which will be called FlexMC - more synergy).

What do you think?

ObjetDart wrote:
...
Alright, sounds like writing a new client would probably be the best way I could contribute. I'm not a big fan of JavaScript/HTML, I've worked on JavaScript apps before and didn't find it to my liking. I'm mainly a Windows desktop app guy. Anyway, if I can find some free time any time soon, I'll let you know. Do you have any docs available on the current client/server protocol?

I think a Windows fat client will be of a great benefit to FlexRAID.
In fact, I can see most users switching to the desktop client from the Web UI.

mikester wrote:I might be able to help out with a Java client. I am a professional developer with 15 years experience, and I have been using Java exclusively for the last 9 years. I am proficient with all forms of Java development - client, server, J2EE/webapp, etc. For a client such as this, I would build it on Eclipse RCP (Rich Client Platform), which is unbeatable when it comes to Java client GUIs.

Let me give you some background - I am starting up my own open source project to build a central server for cataloging and managing your media. The idea is simple - store your media and generate metadata one time, and make it work with whatever front end gui you choose (Sage, MCE, Myth, etc.). As I have been planning this, it became apparent that some form of redundancy would be a huge benefit for my program. Enter FlexRAID. I came here looking for information on how it was implemented and how to integrate with it. It looks like there is a lot of synergy (uhh, I hate those buzzwords but that's a legitimate use of it) between our projects, so maybe we can help each other out.

In case you aren't familiar with it, Eclipse is based on OSGi, which is an architecture designed for easily extending the application with plugins. RCP is just a base platform for running your plugins as your own app, without all the IDE stuff specific to the Eclipse development environment. So a well-written plugin can run inside an instance of Eclipse, or in a standalone app, or anything inbetween. So it should be possible to write plugins for managing FlexRAID which could be used in a standalone FlexRAID client, as well as integrated into my media cataloging application (which will be called FlexMC - more synergy).

What do you think?

I think this is fantastic.

I am well familiar with Eclipse and Eclipse RCP.
Your project also sounds super cool.

Are you trying to do a "MyMovies meets iTunes" sort of thing?

Now, this is exciting me to the point where FlexRAID will get more of my currently flooded attention.

Well, see my update in the first post, and hopefully I will be able to get back into the groove of things and get FlexRAID back on track.

Great! I would like to get started looking at the FlexRAID code and playing around with the current GUI. It looks like all the downloads have been removed, or at least I can't find them. Can you give me access to RC3 or whatever the latest stable build is, so I can start getting a feel for things?

Congrats on your new baby, BTW. I can understand how you have been distracted lately. I don't think anyone anticipates how much time a child can take up. I know I didn't (mine are 11 and 8 now - how time flies!).

mikester wrote:Great! I would like to get started looking at the FlexRAID code and playing around with the current GUI. It looks like all the downloads have been removed, or at least I can't find them. Can you give me access to RC3 or whatever the latest stable build is, so I can start getting a feel for things?

Congrats on your new baby, BTW. I can understand how you have been distracted lately. I don't think anyone anticipates how much time a child can take up. I know I didn't (mine are 11 and 8 now - how time flies!).

Yep, those little creatures are certainly a handful.

I have not setup the source code yet for public view.

I will alert you when that's ready.

Well, 6 days before the next release is due out. Heres hoping that it happens. I've been waiting to see if this project continues to mature or just dies. I'm delaying building a media server until I see what happens with this. Hopefully he will open source it and some other people will fly with it. I really loathe the idea of buying/running unraid. I want to use Windows Server 2k3 or 2k8 for my media server. I don't need the insane bandwidth that raid arrays can offer and the limitations it imposes. Being able to mix and match drives really apeals to me. With large arrays OCE could take a loooooong time and from what I've read bit error is a real concern. I'm just hoping this project doesn't die off. It is the perfect solution for home media servers.

How do you now the next release is due in 6 days? If so, Brahim, please do not put a time-bomb on the release. A simple JAR distribution would be appreciated.

johndoe74 wrote:How do you now the next release is due in 6 days? If so, Brahim, please do not put a time-bomb on the release. A simple JAR distribution would be appreciated.

In the first post of this thread, Brahim said the next release would be October 31.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 28/10/2008 20:06:38

I definitely hope something gets released on the 31st. Even if it's just Build 008 with a prolonged trial period. I don't want to have to set up a dedicated Server or buy a dedicated RAID card. Half my HDD's are 640GB and the other half are 750GB.

Anyways, I'm keeping my fingers crossed,

bigbud120 wrote:I definitely hope something gets released on the 31st. Even if it's just Build 008 with a prolonged trial period.

I know he's apparently busy, but what you're suggesting above is something he could have accomplished in mere minutes. Changing this trial date in his source code, recompiling this code and then putting it up for download would take him mere minutes.

He doesn't have a few minutes for those he's leaving hanging like this?

I know I could take a hex editor, find wherever this "trial" date is located in his executables, and modify it myself? But why bother? Apparently he won't release the source code to his open source Flexraid.

Look, everyone, don't hold out any hope any longer.

Flexraid's dead. Stick a fork in it already.

I've already bought almost a grand in raid hardware the last few weeks. Not that Flexraid didn't have its positives (metadata checking for corruption, my hardware raid cards won't do that...), but going absolutely AWOL with this "trial period" baloney and not doing at minimum a recompile with an adjusted trial date is just a slap in the face to those wishing to use it.

Flexraid won't take up any more CPU cycles on my machines...

Well October 31st and so far not even a peep. It would be great if instead of teasing us He would either say no can do anymore and go elseplace or even better release the source to the open source community and let us work on it. This had so so so much potential that it is almost depressing to see somethinig like this die, It could have given unraid a strong run for its money, Hell I would have even paid to see this keep going.

Well I have had enough rant, and had enough with all this hardware waiting for me to do something with it, back to unraid I come.

I do appreciate the idea, And somewhat understand.