Peeron Improvement?

[dolittle]

Hi,

After telling Peeron all my sets, as well as all my spares (terrible way to do it peeron.. probably there a dozen better ways... different topic..), it would be great if I could at a click of a button, and waiting, get a list of all the sets I can build using the bricks I have, alas the only option is to go through all the sets in the DB and for each see whether you can or not do it...

It would be great if Peeron would add it, any idea how you can reach them? I sent an email to their website email address, no answer.

In addition, it would be quite nice if it could tell you get this X set (available at stores... not those oldies :]) and you would be able to build X Y Z sets - as it shares the most parts u require.

These two things are pretty easy to know if they have the part listing..

Hope I fall on right ears in this forum.

Thanks,

Noam

[OneSnowTrooper]

How lond did you wait for a reply ?

[Arfman]

Those would be awesome improvements, I agree. Also, when are they going to add the 2H2010 sets like the 8043/8053 to their database?

[shimon]

Those would be awesome improvements, I agree. Also, when are they going to add the 2H2010 sets like the 8043/8053 to their database?

have you tried www.bricklink.com

8043- http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemInv.asp?S=8043-1

8053- http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemInv.asp?S=8053-1

Hi,

After telling Peeron all my sets, as well as all my spares (terrible way to do it peeron.. probably there a dozen better ways... different topic..), it would be great if I could at a click of a button, and waiting, get a list of all the sets I can build using the bricks I have, alas the only option is to go through all the sets in the DB and for each see whether you can or not do it...

It would be great if Peeron would add it, any idea how you can reach them? I sent an email to their website email address, no answer.

In addition, it would be quite nice if it could tell you get this X set (available at stores... not those oldies :]) and you would be able to build X Y Z sets - as it shares the most parts u require.

These two things are pretty easy to know if they have the part listing..

Hope I fall on right ears in this forum.

Thanks,

Noam

peeron.com is a great site but i think this feature exists at bricklink.com you can also make up your inventory

and might even also have the feature you were talking about(not sure though)

[dolittle]

How lond did you wait for a reply ?

Hi,

I didn't wait a few weeks, rather a few days, I expected some kind of answer, like an acknowledgement that it was received or something of this sort, otherwise I couldn't tell u whether or not they have received it.

[allanp]

Those are some good suggestions.

One feature I would like to see is being able to view a parts inventory of your entire collection.

[Blakbird]

One thing I would like to add is that, even though these would be great improvements, Peeron is still an excellent and super useful site. When giving feedback on a web site, I think it is always important to mention the positives and Peeron has a lot of positives. I'm happy that it exists at all, but if somehow these additional features were added then it would be even better.

[mortenm]

that would be nice, with that option.

i've wrote an email to perron about a month ago, to hear how to add a new part, so i can finish my 8043 inventory, but stille havent got no answer (i havent got answer here neither, though)...

[Siegfried]

I do suspect that Peeron is winding down; simple bugs like the BrickSet link has not been fixed, even though it would take 5 minutes. It's a shame as I prefer their format to BrickLink.

BTW, this doesn't belong in Technic so I'm moving it...

[Superkalle]

I do suspect that Peeron is winding down

I get the same feeling. I think BL has now become the de-facto standard for refering to parts and sets (even though Brickset has a fantastic search function and other goodies).

What I like with Peeron is that you can deeplink to brick images, whereas in BL you can't.

Also, as far as I understand, Peeron is fan/enthusiast driven, and BrickLink is strictly commercially driven. Still there seems to be a link between the two, but I don't fully understand it (anyone?).

Also on the CAD side, LDraw is now slow on updates, whereas LDD is taking off and adding more bricks and advanced features.

Are we seeing the end of enthusiast/AFOL driven LEGO databases and utilities?

[allanp]

One thing I would like to add is that, even though these would be great improvements, Peeron is still an excellent and super useful site. When giving feedback on a web site, I think it is always important to mention the positives and Peeron has a lot of positives. I'm happy that it exists at all, but if somehow these additional features were added then it would be even better.

Sorry, you're right. It is an excellent resource for sure.

[mortenm]

i would love to make a new 'peeron' with all the good stuff and more functions as the users requests..

but one BIG thing i dont have, is ALL the images that peeron's got, and i dont think they'll share :)

you can see at the frontpage, that they've made updates yesterday, so something is happening :s

but they don't answer mails apparently :(

Edited August 21, 2010 by mortenm

[Superkalle]

i would love to make a new 'peeron' with all the good stuff and more functions as the users requests..

but one BIG thing i dont have, is ALL the images that peeron's got, and i dont think they'll share :)

you can see at the frontpage, that they've made updates yesterday, so something is happening :s

but they don't answer mails apparently :(

Hi Morten

Just some friendly remarks:

1) Please use capital letters at the beginig of senctences. Makes it easier to read

2) The point you made has allready been posted above. You are of course entitled to express your opinion, but it's important that you read the thread before posting to avoid uncessary duplications.

[mortenm]

Hi Morten

Just some friendly remarks:

1) Please use capital letters at the beginig of senctences. Makes it easier to read

2) The point you made has allready been posted above. You are of course entitled to express your opinion, but it's important that you read the thread before posting to avoid uncessary duplications.

hi Superkalle

1. I'll try, but can't promise :) as it is the beginning of the line, I don't see any difference - to me it's just the look (as long as it is just a thread like this, i dont mind if people use capital letters or not, if they just use commas and periods i'm glad :) )

2. which point? - that they dont answer?

[Jetro]

Also on the CAD side, LDraw is now slow on updates, whereas LDD is taking off and adding more bricks and advanced features.

Are we seeing the end of enthusiast/AFOL driven LEGO databases and utilities?

Actually quite the contrary is true. Although LDD has greatly increased the number of available parts, LDraw still has many more parts - and many that LDD will never see. Also, although in the past LDraw updates were few and widely spaced, as of 2008 that has changed greatly and this year two updates have been released already with a third in the making.

[davee123]

Peeron's development is, likely, winding down. I've been close to the site owners for quite some time, and without getting into the particulars of the situation, it's not likely in the near term to see much in the way of new functionality added to the site. However, the site's data maintenance continues-- that's why you see activity. The AFOLs that enter new data into the system continue to be active. There has been discussion of how to improve the site and get active development started again, and that discussion has progressed quite slowly over the last few years. Hopefully, there will be a breakthrough, but it's not here yet. It's similar in some respects to what happened with LUGNET.

BrickLink isn't likely to have any features like the ones seen on Peeron for inventory tracking. BrickLink is meant to be a shopping site, not a free site for you to keep track of your collection and get information. BrickLink's owner appears to be very protective of his data, and hasn't been especially forthcoming with utilities like historical searches, personal collections, set reviews, and so forth. That data would be invaluable to the community as a whole, but it's unlikely to much money for BrickLink, and would likely cost more in development, storage, capacity, and bandwidth, so it won't likely happen, unless the owner has a change of heart about giving more information freely to the community.

For the foreseeable future, the most likely candidate for the features you're after would probably be BrickSet-- not Peeron, LUGNET, or BrickLink. BrickSet's owner/developer is still actively adding features, and has been for years. I'm sure if he ever adds inventories (no doubt it's crossed his mind), you'll see many of the features that Peeron currently has start to get mirrored on BrickSet. But that's most likely still a ways off as well.

DaveE

[CP5670]

I use Peeron just for basic inventory searches, without using the personal account features. I like its interface better than Bricklink's inventory. As long as people keep updating it with new set inventories, I think it works very well and provides a valuable service to the community.

Actually quite the contrary is true. Although LDD has greatly increased the number of available parts, LDraw still has many more parts - and many that LDD will never see. Also, although in the past LDraw updates were few and widely spaced, as of 2008 that has changed greatly and this year two updates have been released already with a third in the making.

Yes, LDD is not much of a replacement for LDraw, since there are tons of old parts that will never appear in it. This is the main reason I always use LDraw-based programs over LDD for designing stuff. If TLG adds in the ability to import LDraw parts into LDD, that would improve things a lot.

[Bojan Pavsic]

If TLG adds in the ability to import LDraw parts into LDD, that would improve things a lot.

Never gonna happen... And not because TLG wouldn't want, but because it's not possible. LDD's part has lots more information about the part, which does not exist in LDraw brick definition. It's possible to convert LDD part to LDraw, but not the other way around.

So for everyone that still waits for an importer or something. Unless LDraw adds lots more info about the part or LDD's parts descend from "smart parts" to 3D meshes only, it's not gonna happen.

[drdavewatford]

Peeron has been treading water for a while now - my understanding is that the site owners are no longer as engaged with the site as they were for personal reasons. It's a huge shame as I absolutely love the site - the interface is simple and clean, and it offers a great way of keeping track of my parts inventory that other sites don't seem to offer. Brickset is my top choice for keeping track of my sets and I can highly recommend it to anyone who has yet to discover it.

It's pleasing to hear that people are chipping in to keep Peeron ticking over, but as time goes by it becomes more and more out of date because it's not keeping up with new set inventories. If an agreement can be reached for others to pick up the baton and return Peeron to its former glory I for one would be absolutely delighted !

Cheers,

Dr. D.

[Superkalle]

BrickLink's owner appears to be very protective of his data, and hasn't been especially forthcoming with utilities like historical searches, personal collections, set reviews, and so forth.

Excellent and informative post Davee123

The only thing I don't understand is what you mean when you say that BrickLink's ownwer is protective of the data. I mean, it is possible to download much of the site.

Also, I think it's fine that BrickLink is a pure set and part database. Personal collections, set reviews etc I gladly use Brickset and Eurobricks for respectively.

What I would like in BrickLink however, is possibility to deeplink to pictures and maybe that an overview/review of the categorisation system is made (it's cracking in the logic sometimes)

[CP5670]

Never gonna happen... And not because TLG wouldn't want, but because it's not possible. LDD's part has lots more information about the part, which does not exist in LDraw brick definition. It's possible to convert LDD part to LDraw, but not the other way around.

So for everyone that still waits for an importer or something. Unless LDraw adds lots more info about the part or LDD's parts descend from "smart parts" to 3D meshes only, it's not gonna happen.

I'm curious what kind of extra information the LDD parts contain. Is it related to the connection types and angles? There are LDraw-based programs like SR3D Builder that detect connections nicely and let you place pieces based on that.

[Bojan Pavsic]

I'm curious what kind of extra information the LDD parts contain. Is it related to the connection types and angles? There are LDraw-based programs like SR3D Builder that detect connections nicely and let you place pieces based on that.

Not just that :) There's additional data in the 3D meshes (which polygons define the studs, outside of the brick, inside of the brick - the hole from bottom side, etc...), the definitions of all connection points, hinges and so on... And i don't think SR3D detects connections. Unless stated otherwise, i'm pretty sure it has them built in by hand for each piece (but can't say 100%, since i don't know how it does it).

[Whittleberry]

I don't think Peeron's "winding down" in the same way Lugnet has. Lugnet has become disused because LEGO fans wanted less formal / more specific forums for different themes, while there is still strong support for Peeron within the AFOL community, and a desire to keep using it.

Peeron is starting to seem not all that crash-hot because it's lacking in new inventories and updates, and I think this has something to do with the inaction of the admins. I have submitted corrections, scans and inventories quite a few times, and only one has appeared on the site. It's enough to make anyone stop bothering to complete inventories! If everyone's updates get ignored then is it any surprise the site isn't a thriving hub of the community like Brickset?

What Peeron really needs is new admins to deal promptly with submissions and keep the inventories in good order. I for one would be willing! If this happened then Peeron would receive more submissions and once more become the best website for keeping track of one's inventory.

Or perhaps Peeron should look into an open-edit model like Wikipedia? Then changes would be instant and those updating the inventories would be able to see the results of their labour immediately.

Peeron is by far the web's best site for seeing how many of which part you have, and which sets they come from. And the interface is lovely and easy to use, considering its age.

Does anyone know how I could more directly contact one of the current admins, because emailing the inv@... email address feels like talking to a brick wall.

[MarcoB]

, it would be great if I could at a click of a button, and waiting, get a list of all the sets I can build using the bricks I have

I think that feature would be possible to create (and useful too), but it would take A LOT of database resoureses because it would go through ALL ~10.000 sets.

Peeron would need Google hardware

[davee123]

Lugnet has become disused because LEGO fans wanted less formal / more specific forums for different themes,

Nah, LUGNET had more specific forums for virtually everything already.

LUGNET became disused because of competition. Web forums up until roughly 2001 were pretty technical to set up. What other online forums existed prior to then in the LEGO hobby? RTL, FBTB and 1000steine, I think, and that's it. And RTL wasn't really a web-forum, and 1000steine was only for German speakers.

But suddenly, other people were able to make their own web forums. Classic-Castle, Classic-Space, Eurobricks, ILTCO, BrickLink, all started popping up with web forums. At that point, software was available for people to effectively just purchase out-of-the-box and run on their own. LEGO clubs started forming their own sites, and various other sites have been popping up ever since. LUGNET wasn't customizable enough for people, and couldn't meet the same appeal as a "do-it-yourself" site where you could have authority and creative control.

Additionally, LUGNET had other problems-- new members had to be manually approved with a difficult-to-manage admin system, and people were required to provide their real-life names (a staple of newsgroups of old, rather than Web 2.0). On top of that, people were discouraged from posting fluff (as often happens in a population of old-timers), which disallows new blood from being active.

while there is still strong support for Peeron within the AFOL community, and a desire to keep using it.

Yep. LUGNET had competition. Web forums up until 2000-2002 or so were VERY difficult to set up. Now, almost anyone can set up a web forum very easily. But a customized set database for LEGO? That requires some customized coding, so there's less competition. Peeron's effectively cornered the market in terms of maintaining people's set lists and inventories-- there are only a scant few competitors.

Peeron is starting to seem not all that crash-hot because it's lacking in new inventories and updates, and I think this has something to do with the inaction of the admins.

Definitely. Admittedly, that's pretty harsh, because they ARE active-- but there's no way they can keep up with the fast pace of new additions and so forth. There aren't many admins at Peeron, and their rewards for their hard work are mostly self-satisfaction. That's good enough for SOME work, but without something extra, it's difficult to keep people motivated.

Or perhaps Peeron should look into an open-edit model like Wikipedia? Then changes would be instant and those updating the inventories would be able to see the results of their labour immediately.

I've mentioned that before a long time ago, and I think the reasoning not to do it at the time was that the unwashed masses are dumb in the ways of LEGO. They'll enter incorrect colors and part numbers a LOT, and the admins were very worried that it would quickly become a mishmash of crappy data. You really have to know your stuff when it comes to LEGO colors and parts.

DaveE