Open up the Catalog

Loremonger

Lawrence,

You can take this or leave this, but I think you have a real opportunity to do something great. Obviously, the site that shall not be named is closing its code and blocking access to the community-created catalog that so many people depend on. People in the forums are even asking the site to delete their contributions and deleting pending contributions.

I think what you have here is great. The one thing that everyone (or at least the vocal minority) is talking about is the need for one catalog. So my suggestion is to ride the wave of what's happening now and open up the Brick Owl catalog. Go ahead and share it with Brickset, Peeron, and anyone else who wants to use it. Figure out a way to download inventories to BrickStore. Heck, I think BrickStore is open source, so you could even create a new version that works with your XML.

I understand that this is a commercial venture, and that making the catalog freely available may open the doors to future competitors, but I have the feeling that Brick Owl could become the premier place to buy and sell before that happens.

Just food for thought.

Enoch

Lawrence

I have no problem doing that, when things settle down a bit, I will create an API to allow users to retrieve various pieces of information. The only thing I wouldn't share are the pictures that are physically taken by members, I don't see an issue with any of the other data at the moment though.

Jazzabell

Enoch said:

"Lawrence,
You can take this or leave this, but I think you have a real opportunity to do something great."



My thoughts exactly.
This is a chance to make the catalog simple, clear and unified.

Many people here would participate in it, for sure.
Best wishes for you and your team,
Isabel

Nathvw

Brick Owl has my support.

Loremonger

You could add a sharing check box to photo submissions, something like "Allow Brick Owl to share this image with third parties."

theHellmouth

@Loremonger: yes this would have my vote too.

Nathvw

I give you permission to use my uploaded photos as you wish, I admit they are not of superior quality, but I would like them to be a benefit to the site/community.

If I had the slightest concern BO would pull a stunt with user's data like BL my opinion would be otherwise.

Lawrence

I've added a checkbox to the bottom of the submission form to that effect.

johnsma2000

I've started taking pictures and uploading them here. I am also considering splitting my inventory (New parts and sets on one site and Used parts on the other). This for me would be the easiest way to split my inventory as they are already stored separately.

Any way to quickly update the inventory so I can separate the 2 sites inventories? This would be greatly helpful.
M

Lawrence

@johnsma2000 thank you for the pictures, I've posted on the other thread about how to achieve the split inventory like you mention.

BWA

Lawrence,

You can take this or leave this, but I think you have a real opportunity to do something great.....

but I have the feeling that Brick Owl could become the premier place to buy and sell before that happens.

Just food for thought.

Enoch

Hear, Hear and so say we all!
Liked your post on the other Sid(t)e too...

albumman

Lawrence, without sounding overly dramatic you have the chance to really save our hobby if you do make this an open catalog. You have my vote (and the work that goes with that). Where's the greatest need?