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Make a deal with them. It doesn't sound like they object to ClassHunt per se, rather they don't like the additional load that ClassHunt causes. So, what do th

by jfarmer 18y ago

Make a deal with them. It doesn't sound like they object to ClassHunt per se, rather they don't like the additional load that ClassHunt causes. So, what do they want? 1. Reduced load and a more stable class registration system What do you want? 1. For ClassHunt to be used across campus (and not get banned!) What can you do to satisfy both these goals? One idea would be to pitch ClassHunt as a load-reducing service. By acting as a proxy to the class registration system you can smooth out the load. Have them actively promote ClassHunt on the class registration page and explain to them how more people using ClassHunt will result is less load for them, not more. It will also make the situation more flexible because they only have to deal with one person (you) rather than relying on the collective behavior of the whole of campus. Anyhow, just a thought.

zaidf 18y ago
Great ideas! We'll see how receptive they are. From the legalese letter I received today it doesn't seem to encouraging. At the same time, the contacts I spoke with at the IT dept. few days ago could not stop praising the website.
- icey 18y ago
  Well, you already know what the worst case scenario is (you get cut off). Anything you can negotiate will be better than that.
- TomOfTTB 18y ago
  One other piece of advice. If the IT dept seems to love your site try pitching a compromise to them and let them pitch it to their boss. The pitch will be worth more coming from an emplooyee anyway and giving the IT dept a chance to play hero makes it worthwhile for them (which in turn makes them advocate even harder for you)
  - jfarmer 18y ago
    Yes, getting an internal champion when you're trying to pitch an organization is very, very important. Sometimes it's very difficult, but in this case it appears that most of the staff actually like the product!
- jfarmer 18y ago
  Like icey said, you know the worst case scenario. They've played their hand. But reading the letter, their only concrete objection is the fact that you're using "excessive resources." That's their pain point, so make them see that your service helps that problem, not makes it worse.
  - brodie 18y ago
    I don't know, I could imagine them being somewhat serious about the license/number of connections violation. Speaking from direct experience, I wouldn't underestimate the amount of bureaucracy internally that would come down on this like a ton of bricks. Like others have mentioned, his best bet is to get someone to champion his cause internally. It doesn't even necessarily have to be someone in their ITS department - it could be a faculty member, or even someone in administration. Hell, you might be able to get a job out of this.
    - jfarmer 18y ago
      Why discount the effort before you try? The worst that happens is they don't buy the pitch, and he's back where he is now.
TomOfTTB 18y ago
I think this is the right idea but it would require a lot more than he's doing now. Product reviews, support if things go wrong, added features to match what the school aleady has and so on. I'm not saying this is a bad idea. Just that zaidf should tread carefully and not get into an agreement like this unless he's willing to put the work in to go all the way.
- zaidf 18y ago
  Well, this is my new startup I was planning to pursue over summer. The launch at UNC was meant to be a model. And my newer ideas are not really dependent on this one feature but on other ideas to make school life simpler. So yes, I will be able to dedicate resources and time if it comes to that.
  - TomOfTTB 18y ago
    If that's the case my advice would be to start putting the effort in now to write a whole registration system. Because even if you convince this school to go along with you there's a good chance the majority of schools won't be so permitting (they are after all beuracracies) Better to dive in now and have a solution for them rather than jump in with the hope that every school will be willing to put up with you.
tlrobinson 18y ago
"It doesn't sound like they object to ClassHunt per se, rather they don't like the additional load that ClassHunt causes." Maybe I'm just a pessimist, but when I hear about something like this I assume they just don't like the service for one reason or another, and try to use a [usually poor] technical excuse for shutting it down.
- mhp 18y ago
  My opinion is you are just a pessimist. They just have a slow ass system and his app is slowing it down even more. If their app was fast at the start of the semester, they wouldn't care. If he can figure out how not to add load to the system (not sure this is possible), he's good. Work with them, and stay positive. They aren't trying to be antagonistic, just trying to keep their out of date software running quickly enough to handle the load.
  - zaidf 18y ago
    "They just have a slow ass system and his app is slowing it down even more" That's the thing: I don't believe that my app is slowing their system down. (1) For the first three weeks, my app caused no problem (2) This week when everyone was rushing to check grades, the entire system was slow...only this time, they have someone(my site) to blame. Of course, like I said, even after they blocked me they admitted they were having issues--like they have every year.
  - tlrobinson 18y ago
    If anything, his system should reduce the load on their system, since people will use his instead. He's essentially distributing the load to his own servers. Well, as long the number of requests he makes to their system (130 per 15 minutes) is fewer than the number of requests he saves them.
- sounddust 18y ago
  You are probably right. They probably just want it shut down because they don't want to invest the time and energy to determine whether or not the app is more beneficial than not. However, I have found that it is quite easy to convince a university administration to listen to your concerns when you engage them positively. I would ask to schedule a meeting with the Chancellor (or someone who would have the power to overturn the decision) and give a positive, optimistic presentation on how the service could reduce the load on the registration system and how you would be willing to work with them to ensure that it will have minimal impact on the service. You might be surprised how seriously they will take your proposal.

by jfarmer 18y ago

zaidf 18y ago

Great ideas! We'll see how receptive they are. From the legalese letter I received today it doesn't seem to encouraging. At the same time, the contacts I spoke with at the IT dept. few days ago could not stop praising the website.

icey 18y ago
Well, you already know what the worst case scenario is (you get cut off). Anything you can negotiate will be better than that.
TomOfTTB 18y ago
One other piece of advice. If the IT dept seems to love your site try pitching a compromise to them and let them pitch it to their boss. The pitch will be worth more coming from an emplooyee anyway and giving the IT dept a chance to play hero makes it worthwhile for them (which in turn makes them advocate even harder for you)
- jfarmer 18y ago
  Yes, getting an internal champion when you're trying to pitch an organization is very, very important. Sometimes it's very difficult, but in this case it appears that most of the staff actually like the product!
jfarmer 18y ago
Like icey said, you know the worst case scenario. They've played their hand. But reading the letter, their only concrete objection is the fact that you're using "excessive resources." That's their pain point, so make them see that your service helps that problem, not makes it worse.
- brodie 18y ago
  I don't know, I could imagine them being somewhat serious about the license/number of connections violation. Speaking from direct experience, I wouldn't underestimate the amount of bureaucracy internally that would come down on this like a ton of bricks. Like others have mentioned, his best bet is to get someone to champion his cause internally. It doesn't even necessarily have to be someone in their ITS department - it could be a faculty member, or even someone in administration. Hell, you might be able to get a job out of this.
  - jfarmer 18y ago
    Why discount the effort before you try? The worst that happens is they don't buy the pitch, and he's back where he is now.

TomOfTTB 18y ago

I think this is the right idea but it would require a lot more than he's doing now. Product reviews, support if things go wrong, added features to match what the school aleady has and so on. I'm not saying this is a bad idea. Just that zaidf should tread carefully and not get into an agreement like this unless he's willing to put the work in to go all the way.

zaidf 18y ago
Well, this is my new startup I was planning to pursue over summer. The launch at UNC was meant to be a model. And my newer ideas are not really dependent on this one feature but on other ideas to make school life simpler. So yes, I will be able to dedicate resources and time if it comes to that.
- TomOfTTB 18y ago
  If that's the case my advice would be to start putting the effort in now to write a whole registration system. Because even if you convince this school to go along with you there's a good chance the majority of schools won't be so permitting (they are after all beuracracies) Better to dive in now and have a solution for them rather than jump in with the hope that every school will be willing to put up with you.

tlrobinson 18y ago

"It doesn't sound like they object to ClassHunt per se, rather they don't like the additional load that ClassHunt causes." Maybe I'm just a pessimist, but when I hear about something like this I assume they just don't like the service for one reason or another, and try to use a [usually poor] technical excuse for shutting it down.

mhp 18y ago
My opinion is you are just a pessimist. They just have a slow ass system and his app is slowing it down even more. If their app was fast at the start of the semester, they wouldn't care. If he can figure out how not to add load to the system (not sure this is possible), he's good. Work with them, and stay positive. They aren't trying to be antagonistic, just trying to keep their out of date software running quickly enough to handle the load.
- zaidf 18y ago
  "They just have a slow ass system and his app is slowing it down even more" That's the thing: I don't believe that my app is slowing their system down. (1) For the first three weeks, my app caused no problem (2) This week when everyone was rushing to check grades, the entire system was slow...only this time, they have someone(my site) to blame. Of course, like I said, even after they blocked me they admitted they were having issues--like they have every year.
- tlrobinson 18y ago
  If anything, his system should reduce the load on their system, since people will use his instead. He's essentially distributing the load to his own servers. Well, as long the number of requests he makes to their system (130 per 15 minutes) is fewer than the number of requests he saves them.
sounddust 18y ago
You are probably right. They probably just want it shut down because they don't want to invest the time and energy to determine whether or not the app is more beneficial than not. However, I have found that it is quite easy to convince a university administration to listen to your concerns when you engage them positively. I would ask to schedule a meeting with the Chancellor (or someone who would have the power to overturn the decision) and give a positive, optimistic presentation on how the service could reduce the load on the registration system and how you would be willing to work with them to ensure that it will have minimal impact on the service. You might be surprised how seriously they will take your proposal.