Since the Edge Element’s beta release, I’ve been steadily plugging away at all the issues that turned up in testing. I tested it before uploading, but there was heaps I just couldn’t even try to test in the localhost environment. (Random plug – I was using XAMPP for local development.) So anyway, the site seems to be working pretty well now – users can easily subscribe (that’s free, by the way), send me a message or leave some (nice please) words in the guest book.

From now on I’ll be trying to add a couple of images to the gallery every week. I’ll also rotate images through the free gallery so people who don’t want to subscribe still get a decent range of options. Most of my images are going to remain in the subscribers-only gallery, though.

Now the fate of my site is officially in the hands of you, the users. Will it fade into obscurity and eventually be removed or will it become a success? Only time will tell.

Okay, this is finally it. In a couple of minutes the Edge Element alpha version will go offline for… well, permanently, actually. For the next few hours you’ll get one of a variety of ‘site offline’ messages. Don’t panic, though – I’m just deleting the old site and adding the new one, so the beta version will be available soon!

I’ll post messages here as well as on Twitter and Facebook when I’m done.

After… however long it is – somewhere close to an academic year… of hard work, the beta release of The Edge Element is finally almost ready! If all goes to plan I’ll be uploading it tomorrow and then putting the site straight into use. Or the more likely scenario – once the site goes live I’ll spend the next week or so on tweaks and bug fixes. Either way I’m looking forward to it.

The Edge Element beta release poster

All TDA readers are invited to become members of The Edge Element! It’s free and you’ll get access to heaps of cool pictures!

There’s going to be other stuff as well in the future – web themes, WordPress themes and more!

I’ve installed a new plugin and disabled the original Anti-captcha which was putting real comments in the spam folder. Users now have to enter the Captcha code when they want to post a comment. If this system is causing anyone problems, please let me know.

‘The Edge Element’ is a self-directed project that forms the major assessment for my current course. Because I’m essentially working for myself I’m constantly looking for ways to get feedback and advice from as many other people as possible. Posting designs and links to test sites on ‘The Daily ALIEN’ is an important part of this process.

I’ve just uploaded the site prototype (‘Alpha’ version) to http://ee.siasan.com/ and I’d like as many people as possible to be involved in the release.

I invite all TDA readers to participate in testing or just go and take a look around the site. My only request is that you keep your comments polite – as usual, all comments with offensive content will be deleted. You can provide your feedback in three different ways:

1. Use the ‘comments’ form at the bottom of the page
2. Use the contact form on this site or the contact form on The Edge Element
3. Email me directly: my address is emma AT siasan.com.
4. Help me with formal testing

There are more instructions/advice for people who are involved in formal testing on the test site.

Go to the testing advice on The Edge Element

For people who just want to take a quick look at the design, here’s an image preview:

Edge Element site interface

I’ll post more images from the gallery here in the next couple of days.