Notes from the red book - part 5

User profiles Pretty standard for any community site

- List of pieces List of pieces submitted by a user
- - most recent (added/updated) Organised by most recently submitted or updated, possibly other options available
- Description A general description submitted by the user
- Blog An optional blog that a user can use to talk about their writing, or whatever
- Links Any links the user wishes to add to their profile (like MySpace, Facebook, etc)
- Ratings-at-a-glance A value showing their reputation, either a single value or a ratio of their comments score vs. their number of pieces
- - Links to more detailed stats Click through to a more detailed run-down of their activities on the site
- Most recent comments A selection of their most recent comments (in full or as extracts)
- Picture and/or avatar Used to identify the user quickly. Possibility of using just an avatar, just a picture, or both
- - Large on profile (though not too big)
- - Resized to 50x50 elsewhere Such as on comments or forum posts, etc
- Signature? Possibility of allowing users to include a signature with their comments/posts
- - Text/emoticon only Means no inclusions of large images, etc
- - 1 0r 2 lines Means no long, text-filled, signatures

Emoticons A selection of images for use in comments/forums posts/etc

- Build up database Either create them myself, use free-to-use images, or have them be user-created (should have visual coherence)
- - All graphics open and CC licensed
- Sane selection + some randoms Need all the standards (smile, frown, wink, etc) with a couple of non-standard, try to avoid a massive selection of stupid emoticons
- Sane functions to call them Try to avoid anything that could come up in someone's writing (common ones include "8)" or things like multiple punctuation marks)
- Not available in text submission, only comments Pieces shouldn't be filled with emoticons, they are intended for discussion/conversation/etc