More efficient way for a changelog in-game.

ID:1362539
 
Aug 26 2013, 10:45 am
(See the best response by Lavitiz.)
Code:
world/Del()
    if(fexists("SystemFiles/Changelog.txt"))
        fdel("SystemFiles/Changelog.txt")
        text2file(Changelog,"SystemFiles/Changelog.txt")
    else
        text2file(Changelog,"SystemFiles/Changelog.txt")
    ..()
world/New()
    if(fexists("SystemFiles/Changelog.txt"))
        Changelog = file2text("SystemFiles/Changelog.txt")
    ..()

mob
    var
        ChangelogUp = 0
    verb
        Changelog()
            if(usr.ChangelogUp==0)
                winset(usr,"Changelog","titlebar=0;is-visible=true;border=0;can-resize=false")
                usr << browse("<html><body bgcolor='#900020'><center><img src=Banner.png></img><br><table border bordercolor=white><tr><th colspan=3><font color=#D3D3D3>Changelog</th></tr>[Changelog]</table></center></html>","window=Changelog;titlebar=0;border=0")
                usr.ChangelogUp=1
            else
                winset(usr,"Changelog","is-visible=false")
                usr.ChangelogUp=0

var
    Changelog
    new_changelog
    Currenttime=time2text(world.realtime,"MM/DD/YYYY")

mob/Staff/verb
    Set_Changelog()
        set category = "Staff"
        var/msg = input("Set changelog to?","Changelog") as text
        if(!msg) return
        new_changelog="<tr><td><font color=#D3D3D3><u><center>Author:</u><br>[src.name]</center></td><td><font color=#D3D3D3><u><center>Date:</u><br>[Currenttime]</center></td><td width=350><font color=#D3D3D3><center>[msg]</center></td></tr>"
        Changelog=new_changelog+Changelog


Problem description:
Is there any more efficient way to handle a changelog in-game, meaning the saving and loading of it.
Aug 26 2013, 11:47 am
The way you're doing it, save files, external web page, sql database.

I'm not sure what you're looking for. Define "more efficient" for me. It all depends on what you're trying to accomplish.
Aug 26 2013, 11:49 am
In response to Lavitiz
Lavitiz wrote:
The way you're doing it, save files, external web page, sql database.

I'm not sure what you're looking for. Define "more efficient" for me. It all depends on what you're trying to accomplish.

Just saving it in a file server-side.
Aug 26 2013, 11:51 am
Best response
Text or save file works. Simplicity isn't a bad thing. =P

Are you having trouble with the one you use currently? Or were you just seeking an opinion?
Aug 26 2013, 11:52 am
In response to Lavitiz
Lavitiz wrote:
Text or save file works. Simplicity isn't a bad thing. =P

Are you having trouble with the one you use currently? Or were you just seeking an opinion?

It's working perfectly fine, I just wanted an opinion from other developers.
Aug 26 2013, 11:54 am
Yeah, every way is fine, really. I generally don't save stuff in raw text though. Using save files is my preferred method so it's not as simple as opening it up in a text editor to make changes.

Either way works though, and it's completely up to you.
Aug 28 2013, 3:37 am (Edited on Aug 28 2013, 5:58 am)
I prefer MySQL saving due to the querying ability of it. When you look at logs, your usually looking for something, so it gives you the power to define it quickly.

For BYOND Server side saving, if the server crashes and Del() isn't called then you won't save your new changelog. I wouldn't pull back the entire change log into the game either.

I would probably instead append to the file as changes happen.
file("SystemFiles/Changelog.txt") << newchange


If it needs to be loaded, I would just browse(file("SystemFiles/Changelog.txt"))


Edit: Changed MSSQL to MySQL. MSSQL isn't as easy to access in BYOND.
Aug 28 2013, 3:53 am
SQL does have the benefit of you being able to paginate the changelog quite easily, which makes a fair amount of usability sense, as opposed to loading up the entire changelog for your game for the past X years or whatever as one huge text/save file.