| ::Building a web application for use with standard web servers and application servers | ::Building a new web server or application server |
| ::Working the most popular browsers (IE6, NN7/Mozilla) | ::Working with uncommon or outdated browsers |
| ::Security in the form of user accounts, passwords, and permissions | ::Special security against hackers. Finding or patching security holes in existing software components. |
| ::One simple sample look-and-feel and instructions for customization | ::Our own high-quality look-and-feel. A library of look-and-feel options. |
| ::Database and server load and data volume that can be handled by one computer. | ::Managing a cluster of servers. |
| ::Keeping track of which users are in which clans | ::Tracking all user activity on the site and producing custom reports |
| ::Displaying advertisements to visitors. Billing advertisers for impressions. | ::Automatically selecting ads that fit the visitor's interests. On-line management of advertising or real-time reporting to advertisers. Participating in existing banner advertising affiliate networks. |
### Deliverables
*TODO: Briefly list project deliverables. When you are done, what will
you deliver to the customer? This can be copied from the draft project
plan and simplified to reduce technical detail.*
- ::Clan website directory engine
- ::Customization guide
- ::Sample look-and-feel
- ::On-line help for end users
- ::Command-line advertising configuration tool and report generator
### Risks and Rewards
#### What are the main risks of this project?
1. ::There is a potential conflict between the goals of a
high-quality appearance and one that is completely customizable.
We can only succeed if players find the web site appealing, and
game vendors can customize it with no more effort than would be
needed to build a static website. We already have a design in
mind that will address this risk and we will review it with a
web site designer who worked for a game vendor site.
2. ::There are significant technical difficulties in building a web
site and web application. This will be a risk because one person
on our team has much experience with the relevant tools
and technologies. Although the others will learn, we will
certainly make some mistakes and suboptimal choices. We will
address this risk by scoping the project such that we have
enough time to train and to review the design
and implementation.
3. ::The schedule for this project is very short. We will manage this
by planning a conservatively scoped functional core and series
of functional enhancements that can be individually slipped to
later releases if needed.
#### What are the main rewards if this project succeeds?
::If we accomplish the elements of our plan, our clan directory
website engine will replace existing clan directory websites and
generate traffic which will result in advertising revenue and/or
hosting fees paid by game vendors. Our ability to overcome the
challenges above will determine time to market, the speed of
adoption, the amount of web traffic, and thus the generated revenue
over time.
### Project Plan
See attached draft of [project plan](plan.html) and [resource needs](resource-needs.html).
