Website Features

Hardware and Software

Hardware

For the first year of operation (1994), the Nine Lives host system was an AMD 386/40 based ISA system with 16 MB of RAM, and a Complete PC 28,800 baud modem connected to an Intellicom intelligent 8-port serial board.

In January of 1995, the server was upgraded to support additional load , as the Los Gatos home page is beginning to attract more visitors. The present system is a JDR motherboard with an AMD 486 DX2/133 with 32MB of ram. The other equipment remains the same. The server is at "home", not in the Nine Lives store.

Software

The system is running UNIX from the Santa Cruz Operation, which is in turn providing NCSA's http server. A "cron job" manages the 24 hr/day dial-up connection by pinging the local internet provider. If necessary, a call is placed by the ppp server in response to a series of one-count ping commands done at one minute intervals. This approach allows each individual ping to fail (lost connection, for example) without giving up on the connection attempt.

Nine Lives

What Makes It Go: Inventory Data

The data which is being served for Nine Lives is created by real-time queries against the store inventory data file. The data file is in ASCII format, so conversion to HTML simply involves fielding the data for appearance. The query itself is done with awk using the parameters provided by the fill-in form. The query iterates through ever-broadening criteria if the initial results are null, eventually delivering results, even if they are not as specific as the original request. The data in the inventory is maintained through dial-up point-of-sale entry from the store, using a vintage Radio Shack Model 4P computer running terminal emulation software. It is the complete integration of the POS system and the inventory that makes the Nine Lives web site possible. An HTML interface is being designed for the Nine Lives software, enabling standardized user interface design and potential Internet access to all store functions.

The Personal Shopping Assistant

Profiles are stored in ASCII files along with the name and password given by the user. Each profile access is password controlled, and there is no way to list arbitrary profiles. Since profile maintenance involves presenting a form which has been configured with current profile selections, each access causes a custom form to be created for that person and filled in with their current profile. The programming for this activity was challenging. Once a profile is stored or updated, scripts executed by cron check incoming inventory daily for matches between profile parameters and new inventory. Mail is sent to the owner of the profile when a match is found.

HTML Interface

The Web forms which are created for queries are assembled by scripts. Executed every 24 hours, the scripts read and analyze the entire inventory in order to create categories and price ranges that actually exist. The form presented in the opening screen is limited to items which appear 5 times or more in the inventory. This approach increases the 'hit' rate on queries. Planned enhancements include a "Unique or One-of-a-kind" page created from items below the cutoff.

The Personal Assistant form is a composite of every item that has ever been taken in by the store. This form is created by a variation of the script that creates the opening form. The same ten item minimum is imposed on the Personal Assistant form to eliminate typographical errors as choices and to prevent truly odd items from extending the length of the form. This design allows a profile to be created that watches for items that are not currently in inventory.

Los Gatos Businesses and Town

The Los Gatos pages are a logical outgrowth of the investment in hardware, software and time required to place Nine Lives on the WWW. The work is progressing in stages, with each business being added individually, allowing focus on the individual needs of the businesses. The Town information is direct from Town sources, including the maps which are scans of Town planning department plots.

Human Components

Mary Jane Nesbitt, the owner, created the entire Nine Lives business from scratch in February of 1993. Mary Jane (MJ) has a legal background and a Master's degree in business management. She is a long way from her home, which is near Niagra Falls. Her loyal husband, David Butcher, is the webmaster, accountant, handyman and computer programmer. David has an MBA and a real job as a manager of electronic information distribution (that means a "webmaster").

History

Nine Lives has been on the Internet since January 16, 1994
Back To: [ Nine Lives Storefront ] [ Los Gatos Town Plaza ]
This page is hosted by The WEBworks * Copyright 1994