Views and ideas on Omidia's "structure."

Well, I've just had a few thoughts running on the new and improved Omidia.  Looking to how it currently was (minus the database issues),  I've found it to be at best, generic.   Why?  Well, sure it had some great ideas going, for one the ability to share original MIDI's although the submission system in my opinion, wasn't at all the best.   In addition, the listings for sections of the site were quite unorganized in my opinion.  There wasn't a solid structure prepared for the site, though it had some good ideas (such as the information sections), how it was presented wouldn't appeal much to strangers.

What needs to be put down on planning stages are better ways to implement the site's functions to things like how original MIDI music should be uploaded.  In addition, what kind of databasing systems to use, and more importantly, showing off all the information to people in the best possible way.

In my opinion, I've found a lot of information do get posted on sites like Wikipedia merely for general knowledge purposes, as well as some added contexts from experts in select categories of research.  Then there's places like KVR Audio, where news of anything audio and computer software geared towards virtual audio software, and also serves as a large community mixed with amateurs to professional software developers for music, as well as musicians to discuss whatever.  The main forte of that site is that they database almost every virtual synth/effect plugin available in the world, and keep up with the news for latest versions.

[b]With Omidia, the main question is, what does this site have to offer that other sites don't?[/b]

For the old site, there was:
---Original MIDI Compositions archive.
---Articles detailing on MIDI-specific issues and perhaps tutorials
---A collective of users on a forum with an aptitude to things MIDI-related.

Most of this was done through a phpBB2 forum system, really.  In my opinion the submission system for MIDI uploading was quite tedious, not to mention time-consuming for both the user and the administrator (since they have to put them on the site manually)

Really, it seems to be the methods of sharing information were limited to nothing but an unskinned forum.  This needs to change.

My brief ideas are:

[b]-A wiki-like system-[/b]
[b]Pros:[/b]
*With a wiki-like system, people can write up articles assigned to designated categories of anything MIDI-related at their will, and it would be easy for people to view and edit.

[b]Cons:[/b] 
*Moderation for validity of information, in addition to keeping things at a cohesive format, and possible vandalism.

*Possibly tedious method of managing file uploads. (ie: Quality control issues)

*Possible limits to visual appeal.  (ie: Site design imagery)

*Certain wiki systems were made only to run on large server farms.

[b]-PostNuke or other portal-like system similar to sites like Gamespot-[/b]
[b]Pros:[/b]
*Uses PHP system as a norm to database all information.

*Able to integrate things such as a forum, chat system, and somewhat easier to manage information shared across the forums to designated sections of the website.

*Integrating a file-uploading system to a database table which can be easily sorted to let's say, File Author.

*Can be designed in whatever way possible.

[b]Cons:[/b]
*One may need to understand PHP or some advanced web coding language to be able to make the most out of this.

*Design construction may be a bit trivial.

*Everything depends on a database. If that goes, it all goes.

[b]-Almost entirely HTML-managed site-[/b]
[b]Pros:[/b]
*Does not necessarily require knowledge of other web code languages though it may be necessary, but not as much as the above.

*Easy scripting and management of site design.

[b]Cons:[/b]
*Possible difficulty in terms of managing databased data and submissions.

*Limited integration capabilities.  (However, if a forum system was used to house information under a specially-designated section, it could work either way.)

*Neatness issues with sorting uploads.

*Possible messy code issues?

*Possible design imagery difficulties if one isn't careful.

Anyway, the above 3 ideas are just basic thoughts and possibilities.  Need some ideas to be thought up, if not any extensions to any of the above 3 possibilities.   There could be more things that could be added or improved on Omidia, but at this point it's just brainstorming.

[i]Some of these ideas were based on discussed possibilities from Willow himself.  I'm merely noting down what's good and what isn't, though I could be wrong as well.[/i]