A very important request - please read.

PowerSwitchJames · Post by **PowerSwitchJames** » 23 May 2008, 12:32

The motto of the book ?Howard?s End? by E.M Forster is ?Only Connect??

At PowerSwitch, we want people to once again ?Only Connect?.

LocalPower (working title) is a Peak Oil/Climate Change/Sustainability networking site that has been under development by PowerSwitch for the last 18months by volunteers with the specific aim of helping those interested in these issues to find others in their area and then do something about it (such as developing Transition Towns, or lobbying, or just a local support group). In many ways this is the most important thing that PowerSwitch is doing right now.

However, the project has understandably experienced delays in its development due to the fact that this can only be done in spare time, of which our developer has found increasingly little. Like all good software development, it has resulted in the launch continually slipping. We are determined to get LocalPower developed into a functioning website that can be used and then if necessary refined at a later date.

We are therefore looking for voluntary donations to finish this project. We have received an estimate for the work to be completed of ?2500, and as such we are looking for fifty people to donate ?50 each. We will of course accept donations greater or smaller, but feel that ?50 is, although not a small amount, certainly not a large amount to put towards helping a grass-roots response to the problems we face.

I know there are many requests for donations but I hope you will not ignore this one.

LocalPower?s functions essentially are:
? Enter your postcode and immediately find and contact people and groups closest to you.
? Allows people to set up and manage groups and communication.
? Organise events.

The programming language is Ruby on Rails.

You can see it in its development at http://peaknik.solidstategroup.com

All we are looking for at this moment is pledges to complete this project. If you have any pledges, comments or questions please email me at james@powerswitch.org.uk

We have never requested donations in this way before, never wanted to, but now we have to. We hope that we have developed enough trust over the last four years to support what we consider to be a very important project. Your donation could make a really big difference.

Please pass this on to anyone else you think may be interested.

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 23 May 2008, 12:53

Do you take PayPal?

I've been looking forward to the launch of this project since it was mentioned . . .

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 23 May 2008, 13:13

Please provide Account Number and Sort Code.

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 23 May 2008, 13:35

I know this Nigerian guy who needs a bank account to pay ?10 million into . . .

Post by **admin2** » 23 May 2008, 14:04

Thank you - we'll just take pledges right now, and when we have all the pledges we'll need we'll provide the details. Many thanks! 3 down, 47 to go!

SunnyJim · Post by **SunnyJim** » 23 May 2008, 14:14

Will you NEED to have an account (i.e. login) to access local groups etc?

Post by **admin2** » 23 May 2008, 14:17

You'll need an account to contact other groups/people but to just see who/what is nearby, no, you won't need an account. Logins are needed to provide a level of security.

SunnyJim · Post by **SunnyJim** » 23 May 2008, 14:41

admin wrote:You'll need an account to contact other groups/people but to just see who/what is nearby, no, you won't need an account. Logins are needed to provide a level of security.

And will this new site be hosted on solar powered servers? I mean internet access may be limited by electricity supplies in 5 years time!

Post by **admin2** » 23 May 2008, 14:51

Hopefully this will be so successful in the first couple of years that it may not even need the internet by then!

SunnyJim · Post by **SunnyJim** » 23 May 2008, 14:59

admin wrote:Hopefully this will be so successful in the first couple of years that it may not even need the internet by then!

Top stuff. If I've got the cash when you need it I'll stump up. Absolutely brassic at the mo after DHW solar panel purchace.

Andy_K · Post by **Andy_K** » 23 May 2008, 17:04

Are there any other developers around who could help out with it? I'm a web developer & programmer myself; I'd offer to help out but I have no experience with Ruby or Ruby on Rails

PowerSwitchJames · Post by **PowerSwitchJames** » 23 May 2008, 17:23

Hi Andy, we would welcome all help. The trouble we have had is that very few people know Ruby on Rails. If this had been developed in a more common language this would probably be live now. If you want to have a go, please let me know.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 23 May 2008, 22:26

I suppose I could pledge 50 smackers if they're still taking Sterling by then...

snow hope · Post by **snow hope** » 23 May 2008, 22:58

James , would you not be better developing it in PHP or something more popular? The trouble with a less well known language is that it can end up being expensive to develop and expensive to support into the future. I haven't been involved so I don't want to speak to much out of turn, but it is too late for a rethink? Just trying to be helpful.....

Come to think of it ?2,500 is a fair bit of dosh and is more appropriate to the commercial arena. Usually in a site like this somebody or group of people do the development on a weekend basis FOC or for a very low rate. Maybe you should try to push for this kind of set-up?

eatyourveg · Post by **eatyourveg** » 23 May 2008, 23:04

This site has been worth so much more than ?50 to me that it would be churlish not to donate.
Put me down for 50 smackers then.