Dangerous Prototypes Open Source Hardware

NEW SITE: open for testing with giant warning

March 31, 2016, 08:53:37 am

Think I squashed all the recent bugs and did some pretty hard testing of the PCB system. It is open again with a giant warning that it is for willing testers only. Testers so far have been super supportive and understanding. Thanks so much.

Please for testers only. No promise of fast and helpful service. I asked the team to prioritize fixing the site over order support.

Re: NEW SITE: open for testing with giant warning

Reply #1 – April 13, 2016, 12:51:28 pm

Hi Ian

The order history list shows my latest order (April 5) as received, but clicking the order number it says in production, so there is a code issue there. There are also board images generated from the gerbers :)

I sent a message a few mins ago asking someone to push the job before I realised it was in production, so please ignore that message.

Cheers
Mike

Re: NEW SITE: open for testing with giant warning

Reply #2 – April 15, 2016, 06:08:12 am

Thanks so much for testing. Here's an update overall:

Fixed the stupid bugs causing massive problems. Things seem to be stabilizing now.

I spent a full day adding extensive logging, debug, and error handling to the rendering backend. I now get three emails for every rendering processed (and more if there's an error with a full log of events). Hopefully this solves the no renders issue.

PS: there are renders of every layer of the PCB as well, we just need a nifty viewer to flip through them.

Yes, there is ongoing confusion about order status. On the new site there is an overall order status, and then an individual item status. PCBs, 3dprints, and PCBA are pushed to manufacturer and go in production, not the entire order. Will work on clarifying this.

Debugged Twitter notices, should be working for all status updates in the next upgrade.

Fixed view rendering when not logged in bug. Now logged in users AND users viewing the order status as guest can see the board images, but they are protected by a 64 character unique key.

Fixed the shipping backend once and for all I hope. Now new site orders should ship normally and tracking numbers should be provided automatically. We are now using the shipper's labels and commercial invoices.

Lots of back end fixes to view unreplied support tickets, decouple tickets from database items so they can be seen even if there is a database error. We have a master SKU list now and the warehouse is reorganizing around the system.

Today I'm bringing up a new order invoice and PO system. This should help avoid missed orders that don't contain PCBs or 3dprints.

Re: NEW SITE: open for testing with giant warning

Reply #3 – May 17, 2016, 07:57:05 am

Hi Ian,

I gave it a go with 4 pcb's and here are my findings:

I chose the new site because it was cheaper than the old site by $4 per board (I was ordering a few different boards) and the new site offers DHL Next Day (Although no processing time option)

My 4 boards uploaded fine, I was able to set my options fine, the renders were fine as well.

I went to pay and was taken through the usual paypal card stuff, which went through ok, although I was not charged for the upgraded delivery
Edit: I did have a screencap of my order confirmation, but the new user spam filter picked it up.
See DP order #201560.

I got the confirmation email from paypal but nothing from DP.

My 4 boards were still in my basket online and registering and logging into the site and going to my order history reports

"EMPTY!
No Order History Yet"

I knew the risk when I tried the new site, but the $4 per board and DHL Nextday were enough to weigh it up in the new sites favour. Now I'm not sure if the order went through, and i've been charged for 4 boards less delivery.

Is there anything else you would like to know about my ordering process?

Vs the competitors, to generate a render from the eagle .brd file it is much quicker than the purple one and if working, the 'shop style' ordering system and the flexibility of different types, thicknesses and colours of soldermask will make this service my preference, but I can't commit to it yet.


Edit: I will be raising a support ticket, but I figured you'd appreciate the feedback.

Re: NEW SITE: open for testing with giant warning

Reply #4 – May 28, 2016, 07:01:13 am

Hmmmm. I ordered from the dev store today, but now I don't know if it is open or closed. Should I be using the dirtyPCB site instead?

Re: NEW SITE: open for testing with giant warning

Reply #5 – June 06, 2016, 05:47:19 pm

Did you raise the prices? I wanted to order same boards as before from the new site and now its showing me 6 bucks more, am I doing something wrong or there was a raise?

Re: NEW SITE: open for testing with giant warning

Reply #6 – June 07, 2016, 10:45:52 am

Yes, I announced a price hike a while ago and raised the prices to match dirtypcbs when we integrated with the main site.

Re: NEW SITE: open for testing with giant warning

Reply #7 – June 07, 2016, 11:07:15 am

:(

Re: NEW SITE: open for testing with giant warning

Reply #8 – June 07, 2016, 11:16:31 am

I can't go on loosing money forever :) Now that things are stable there's no reason to give a discount for helping to test the new site and compensate for all the problems. Until very recently you were much better off paying the few bucks extra at DirtyPCBs so you get your boards in a normal time, that savings on the new site probably meant orders a month late, lost, etc, etc.

Re: NEW SITE: open for testing with giant warning

Reply #9 – June 07, 2016, 11:26:02 am

Yes yes I know, I should test more the site before changes :)

I appreciate your work. Mine boards came super fast and 12 pcs.and I'm super happy. They were my first PCBs ever :) thanks!