A Sneak Peek at What.cd’s Project Gazelle
Written by Ben Jones on March 11, 2008A few months back, project Gazelle was announced by What.cd, a new tracker suite for private BitTorrent sites. The first trials of it in Alpha have now started, and the big question is: How does it shape up?
When we reported on the new project back in November, some viewed it with skepticism. However, just over 3 months later, the test site is now up and running and the admins were kind enough to give me a tour of the new system. At first glance, it doesn’t seem all that difference from existing TBsource based sites, which will ease transition for site users.
Speed, however, has been greatly improved over older codes, as well as hardware impact. Its developers estimate that a site running Gazelle can handle approximately twice the number of users that an existing TBsource based site can, on the same machinery, meaning sites can either add more users, or reduce server costs. Contrary to earlier beliefs, a tracker will be offered with the project when it goes public, meaning that everything needed to create a site will be included in one easy package.
How easy is that package to use, though? For the user, it’s very easy. Many people have got used to uploading a torrent file, then having to re-download it before they can start seeding. It’s annoying, and often confuses first time uploaders. Now, if the private flag is applied when the torrent is made, no re-download is needed. It may be a little touch, but it’s one that helps.
Other small touches include tagging, by genre, or style, or whatever the site wants to allow. For films, it means the likes of ‘Rush Hour’ can be tagged ‘comedy’ and ‘action’, allowing easier navigation, and avoiding those questioning niggles of ‘is it more comedy, or more action’ that existing genre-based category systems cause. Having found the title you want, other versions of the same item, in differing formats can be found there too. Again, all this is customizable by the site admin.
Admin tools also seem easy to use, and manage, with less frustrations. Modifying the code to fit the particular needs of a site will also be relatively easy. That’s not to say it’s going to be for everyone. If you’re looking for a small site, then something along the lines of Diferior may be better.
As for downsides, well, it’s an alpha product at the moment, so there are still a lot of bugs to be worked out. Existing TBsource themes will not work with Gazelle, but i’m told they should be fairly easy to create for anyone with experience in making themes. However, it is a positive step moving tracker software forward. The torrent world has needed an easy to use replacement for the aging TBsource, and Gazelle seems like it will fit the bill. How it actually behaves in practice, and the experiences of those starting to deploy it from scratch, are something we will have to wait and see about. Yet, for only 4 months work, it is showing phenomenal potential.
Screenshots
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80 Responses
it finally starts looking like something.. and something good that is.. nice work gazelle team ;)
2GET (sorry)
The current “design” of Gazelle is a simple, TBSource-ish theme. That’s only temporary though. Everything is completely CSS-driven and XHTML 1.0 transitional valid.
Meaning, themes could make the site look completely different, without changing a single HTML element. Much like http://www.csszengarden.com
brown love ?
Diferior can handle loads of traffic too ;) It has many inbuilt caching options and newest version even has experimental support for generating static HTML files.
All the best to Project Gazelle team, I support what you do and what you stand for. Cheers!
meh, music torrent site, meh
http://www.freethescene.net
Mmmmm.. gazelle…
Amazing, can’t wait to see this baby at work.
a dot as word-connector for tags, could the coders figure out how to properly implement such things, rofl?
and the rest looks like a usability-nightmare, urrrg.
If only the site wasn’t filled with mislabeled transcodes and massive amounts of hit and runners.
First thing I realized on the screenshots is, the author uses Opera. Good boy =D
Any chance on finding out how he got his Opera browser to look like that in the last screenshot?
The last screenshot was from whatman, not me, as obviously, he wasn’t going to give me admin access on his new project.
[quote comment="309247"]Any chance on finding out how he got his Opera browser to look like that in the last screenshot?[/quote]
Tools -> Appearance -> Windows Native
That will make Opera use your windows skin.
For the buttons, you can either download them or add them manually.
For that check go to your Opera folder -> skin -> standard_skin.zip -> buttons.
Note:
- Close Opera before applying any changes!
- You should create a backup of any modified files
- You might have to look for the folder/files in the application data folder, if you used per user settings.
- Good luck d:E
OnTopic:
‘a cd of all of evlis’s hits’ <— *cough* :x
[quote comment="309242"]If only the site wasn’t filled with mislabeled transcodes and massive amounts of hit and runners.[/quote]
sad but true
The last screenshot wasn’t using Windows, it was probabl Linux with KDE.
“How easy is that package to use, though? For the user, it’s very easy. Many people have got used to uploading a torrent file, then having to re-download it before they can start seeding. It’s annoying, and often confuses first time uploaders. Now, if the private flag is applied when the torrent is made, no re-download is needed. It may be a little touch, but it’s one that helps.”
thats on a lot of trackers…
hey, could anyone get me an invite for this site ? that would be great
murdoclu@gmail.com
[/quote[quote comment="309262"]The last screenshot wasn’t using Windows, it was probabl Linux with KDE.[/quote]
Not sure, with help of Stardocks alike, it’s possible to make Windows look just like that. Anyways it doesn’t matter, as it should work on KDE as well :x
Waffles is filled with normalized and burst mode EAC rips from noobs that tried to rip with EAC because of the immense upload pushing the admin set on the users in the early history of waffles.
[quote comment="309321"]Waffles is filled with normalized and burst mode EAC rips from noobs that tried to rip with EAC because of the immense upload pushing the admin set on the users in the early history of waffles.[/quote]
/me waves to the what.cd admin
[quote comment="309333"][quote comment="309321"]Waffles is filled with normalized and burst mode EAC rips from noobs that tried to rip with EAC because of the immense upload pushing the admin set on the users in the early history of waffles.[/quote]
/me waves to the what.cd admin[/quote]
/me waves to the worst artdirector in torrenttracker history over at waffles because he makes the most ugly cartoon bs waffles i have ever seen.
These flame posts are not made by What.CD staff.
Who gives a flyin fuck!!!
The site is invite only, most of us cant get in anyway FUK-EM
psssst, You want an invite to WAFFLES, try asking one of the admins. Message (or comment) on the YEMD myspace site (myspace.com/youreyesmydreams)
or BEAU at hxxp://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=2241
(who may trade one for a false ID)
-they’ll be only too glad to help :)
There is an Advanced Search now, the second picture is outdated
[quote comment="309394"]There is an Advanced Search now, the second picture is outdated[/quote]
Except the second picture isn’t about the search, but about the way multiple quality versions of the same release can be listed.
too bad what.cd has burned every bridge possible towards making a solid bit torrent community. i can’t believe some of the stories i read about people posting in their forums and being banned for mentioning site bugs and security problems.
wow i get to see inside the new what.cd…… that i’ll never get an invite too.
I’d be more excited if the site wasn’t tighter than a fishes bum to get in.
[quote comment="309313"][/quote[quote comment="309262"]The last screenshot wasn’t using Windows, it was probabl Linux with KDE.[/quote]
Not sure, with help of Stardocks alike, it’s possible to make Windows look just like that. Anyways it doesn’t matter, as it should work on KDE as well :x[/quote]
Nope, that’s KDE. The folder icon looks the same, and it’s got the same file-system paths as Linux uses.
Gazelle doesn’t look so bad, though it appears, so far at least, to be designed for music trackers.
[quote comment="309431"][quote comment="309313"][/quote[quote comment="309262"]The last screenshot wasn’t using Windows, it was probabl Linux with KDE.[/quote]
Not sure, with help of Stardocks alike, it’s possible to make Windows look just like that. Anyways it doesn’t matter, as it should work on KDE as well :x[/quote]
Nope, that’s KDE. The folder icon looks the same, and it’s got the same file-system paths as Linux uses.
Gazelle doesn’t look so bad, though it appears, so far at least, to be designed for music trackers.[/quote]
Ok, you win this one, I didn’t look at the path :E
But as said, it would work on KDE as well anyways.
what.cd is supposed to be hard to get into. that is what keeps the quality of the audio very good. What.cd admins do not and would never ban or warn anyone for posting about a bug in the forums. they might for doing it in the wrong place though…and again, that keeps the site running well.
[quote comment="309431"]
Gazelle doesn’t look so bad, though it appears, so far at least, to be designed for music trackers.[/quote]
It should work equally well for TV/movie tracking, or indeed anything else. It looks optimised for music, because right now, it’s a music site thats testing it.
the code will eventually be open-source and thus adaptable to any type of tracker and any type of file
[quote comment="309425"]wow i get to see inside the new what.cd…… that i’ll never get an invite too.
I’d be more excited if the site wasn’t tighter than a fishes bum to get in.[/quote]
You’re missing hte point, Gazelle isn’t just ‘the new what.cd’ – I’ll be a freely available tracker+site package, for any site to use.
[quote comment="309413"]too bad what.cd has burned every bridge possible towards making a solid bit torrent community. i can’t believe some of the stories i read about people posting in their forums and being banned for mentioning site bugs and security problems.[/quote]
That is the biggest load of BS i’ve ever read on TL, i’m a member of both waffles and Whatcd? And have been there since almost the beginning, and the Whatcd? Staff are the NICEST group of folks i’ve ever seen or talked to on a torrent site.
They give 2nd chances like birthdays, talk to people and pm them and work things out, and are always open to suggestions and comments, saying they have burned bridges or treated anyone unfairly they didnt deserve it is a complete LOAD.
Just more crap from people that want to be on the site making up stuff about the site.
TF not TL, typo.
yea he’s right, the staff at what.cd are actually real people, and if you talk to someone personally they will always help you or walk you through anything. thats why the site is so good.
lookin for what.cd invite have TL invite lloyd.rtcw@gmail.com
Thank you, coders and developers at what.cd; for technical and for philosophical reasons, I’ve seen the torrent scene and the internet in general as falling way behind the times [although there has been a lot of good news in the torrent scene over the past year, there has been a lot of bad news too].
I and many others have complained that the torrent technology must stay on the “edge of the envelope” to counteract the consistent suppression by the IFPI, RIAA, MPAA, etc;
but talk is cheap, and development projects were few and far between.
Thank you for actually doing the work that the rest of us are always saying needs to be done; the community owes you one.
everyone who posted your email, you can expect your email to be indexed by google. then used by spammers. good job
[quote comment="309413"]too bad what.cd has burned every bridge possible towards making a solid bit torrent community. i can’t believe some of the stories i read about people posting in their forums and being banned for mentioning site bugs and security problems.[/quote]
there is a big difference between informing admins of a site bug, and exploiting that site bug, repeatedly
“i can’t believe some of the stories”
exactly that, you get half the story from the person who broke whichever rule, and got his ass banned for it…
believe it or not I got kicked off for apparently leaving a bad comment on a admins social network page (complete bull but they kicked me off anyway.)Personally hope they get closed down asap (and I say that purely out of spite)
I wish I could get into what.cd =(((
what.cd don’t ban anyone without good reason. if you got banned, it’s probably because you are a cunt.
I don’t know which tracker will be included in the package, but I hope it’ll be opentracker (http://erdgeist.org/arts/software/opentracker/) because performance-wise there isn’t anything faster.
[quote comment="309551"]I don’t know which tracker will be included in the package, but I hope it’ll be opentracker (http://erdgeist.org/arts/software/opentracker/) because performance-wise there isn’t anything faster.[/quote]
they have a xbt tracker that they got from someone at bitsoup
These freaks will be out of business within a year!
http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com
[quote comment="309253"]The last screenshot was from whatman, not me, as obviously, he wasn’t going to give me admin access on his new project.[/quote]
So, do you use Linux/UNIX/Mac too? I couldn’t imagine someone so experienced with BitTorrent and the dangers of filesharing in general using anything less secure.
Where the FUCK do people host these damn sites! I can’t find a single host, that allows torrents and man that stinks!
Oh yeah i meant for free of course….Why doesn’t anybody set up a torrent community/ social networking site? Where people can host their own torrents on their own personal pages//////
What.CD is the finest, most elite, high-quality tracker I’ve seen outside of OiNK
[quote comment="309666"]What.CD is the finest, most elite, high-quality tracker I’ve seen outside of OiNK[/quote]
agree to disagree
[quote comment="309666"]What.CD is the finest, most elite, high-quality tracker I’ve seen outside of OiNK[/quote]
if you like, dupes, misstags and mutt rips. sure!
Doesn’t seem all that “difference”? Where did you learn grammar, Ben?
I don’t see anything really new in this project, but good luck to developers ;)
@58
Well, this project I believe is more about reducing server load and optimising everything more than anything else. Making it easier for anyone to run a tracker too.
And also adding a few minor features that will make the site better and improve the experience for the User.
seems promising
The only problem about what.cd is the lack of activity. Everybody just seeds, nobody seems to download. Most users look for music in other place just to upload it on what.cd. Stmusic, for instance, is far more active – though the music selection is weaker. The users are less “l33t” – and they just stick to the tracker.
Well, IMO What is a very good site. I am an active downloader and uploader. i love it there and I for one can not wait till gazelle is done!
[quote comment="309459"][quote comment="309413"]too bad what.cd has burned every bridge possible towards making a solid bit torrent community. i can’t believe some of the stories i read about people posting in their forums and being banned for mentioning site bugs and security problems.[/quote]
That is the biggest load of BS i’ve ever read on TL, i’m a member of both waffles and Whatcd? And have been there since almost the beginning, and the Whatcd? Staff are the NICEST group of folks i’ve ever seen or talked to on a torrent site.
They give 2nd chances like birthdays, talk to people and pm them and work things out, and are always open to suggestions and comments, saying they have burned bridges or treated anyone unfairly they didnt deserve it is a complete LOAD.
Just more crap from people that want to be on the site making up stuff about the site.[/quote]
That’s the truth. Besides, it’s wise to use common sense on a private tracker. If you do something stupid (ratio cheat, act like an ass on the forums, etc.,) then you’ll be banned. However, if you apologize and take what they give you, it’s one of the most friendliest communities around. I’ve had to delete a FLAC rip of mine from there due to it being improper (one part of the CD was scratched so a file wasn’t an exact copy), and I apologized to the Mod that told me so, and I didn’t even get a warning.
Good deal.
btiteam.org for the free tracker code
xbtit.com for the fully supported relationship service
The article STILL says “Doesn’t seem all that difference”. Way to seem like a pro, Ben.
I’ll bet 99% of the people reading this aren’t members lol – and BEN isn’t even a member of What.cd.
To Annonymous – if you can’t hack it (reads follow the rules) perhaps you should visit thepriatebay (*ahem* mutt rips/transcodes galore). As a VIP on what.cd I can assure you that EVERY transcode is both reported and deleted, hence the warnings you people can’t cope with. LMAO
viva private trackers
[quote comment="310950"]I’ll bet 99% of the people reading this aren’t members lol – and BEN isn’t even a member of What.cd.
To Annonymous – if you can’t hack it (reads follow the rules) perhaps you should visit thepriatebay (*ahem* mutt rips/transcodes galore). As a VIP on what.cd I can assure you that EVERY transcode is both reported and deleted, hence the warnings you people can’t cope with. LMAO
viva private trackers[/quote]
lol. ben has an account on the project gazelle beta. good call
[quote comment="309551"]I don’t know which tracker will be included in the package, but I hope it’ll be opentracker (http://erdgeist.org/arts/software/opentracker/) because performance-wise there isn’t anything faster.[/quote]
They’re rewriting the tracker, based off opentracker
It’s pathetic they released this “alpha” that is barely even usable.
Their ETA for an actual beta is over six months!
It’s pathetic because it’s a 100% HYPE move.
I’m a member at both sites, staff at one. I use both sites, I enjoy both sites.
It’s you USERS who bring down the level of either tracker. Before posting obvious slights at anyone, you should all step back and take a look at your own behaviour(s).
Bunch of children.
And as staff at the other site and a member of both sites I agree completely. The stronger both sites are the stronger the community and the music sharing scene are. We wish success to eachother as we have the same goal. These sites are not for profit companies but communities for music lovers. The more of us there are the better for everyone.
[quote comment="309335"]/me waves to the worst artdirector in torrenttracker history over at waffles because he makes the most ugly cartoon bs waffles i have ever seen.[/quote]
HAHA THIS SHIT IS SOO TRUE. THE GRAPHIC PERSON AT WAFFLES SHOULD KILL HIMSELF FOR FORCING THAT BADLY DRAWN AND GOOFY CHARACTER ON THE USERS. DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE SHITTY GENRE ICONS THAT LOOK LIKE THEY WERE MIX-MATCHED FROM IMAGES FOUND IN GOOGLE!
[quote comment="309242"]If only the site wasn’t filled with mislabeled transcodes and massive amounts of hit and runners.[/quote]
If you were on the site using gazelle already, you’d know thats just outright blaspheme.
Both sites sound interesting. It is a bummer that they are so difficult to get into. As a former member of oink I can see the benefits of being a private tracker it just sucks for us who kept a good ratio on oink but haven’t found a way to get into what.cd or waffles. If anybody has an invite I would greatly appreciate it. EAF226@gmail.com
I am looking for invites also… livesunkept (at) gmail dot com :)
thanks if anyone has any…
Too bad what.cd screws with their trackers’ economy!
http://zip.4chan.org/mu/res/1062546.html
[quote comment="312779"]Too bad what.cd screws with their trackers’ economy!
http://zip.4chan.org/mu/res/1062546.html/quote
lol
[quote comment="311741"]HAHA THIS SHIT IS SOO TRUE. THE GRAPHIC PERSON AT WAFFLES SHOULD KILL HIMSELF FOR FORCING THAT BADLY DRAWN AND GOOFY CHARACTER ON THE USERS. DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE SHITTY GENRE ICONS THAT LOOK LIKE THEY WERE MIX-MATCHED FROM IMAGES FOUND IN GOOGLE![/quote]
gtfo.
[quote comment="311559"]I’m a member at both sites, staff at one. I use both sites, I enjoy both sites.
It’s you USERS who bring down the level of either tracker. Before posting obvious slights at anyone, you should all step back and take a look at your own behaviour(s).
Bunch of children.[/quote]
You are a TOOL. You have an account there. Stop selling out the community you belong at. Needless to say, you do not approve
Hey if its possible at all to get an invite to waffles or what.cd could I get one please, it will be very much appreciated… Thanks!
batfink182@gmail.com
oh boy… yet another TB based site code that comes with all the mods installed…
great, now another 1000 dorks can open new torrent sites with no skills, work or understanding of what is involved in running a torrent site.
I’m sure that it is 110% safe and “un-sinkable”… we have seen the great track record of the developers already pmsl.
bla bla bla funny how brown is the color of sh*t
how do i get invitation 2 what cd?
my email: thecatintheboots@gmail.com
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