Hi!
Usual internet transmission protocols aren't extremely suited to carry big files (typically HD manga pages) through instable networks (typically mine, but I'm not the only one in this case).
Pages load slowly, or fail even loading because of timeouts.
Of course, we have the "compressed image" mode and MD@Home to address such issues, but they can't make up for some networks just being bad, and compressed quality is not perfectly satisfying.
Thus, I suggest we experiment alternate ways of serving manga pages, to improve manga transmission reliability.
For example, in the last two decades, several experiments based on an improved IPoAC protocol (see RFC 1149 for original protocol), made in different countries, allowed to achieve better speed than broadband connections in high-volume data transfer, with SD cards and homing pigeons.
Rest assured, though, I'm not suggesting that Mangadex shoould use pigeons or even octopi to carry data. Using drones, or maybe even traditional mail services, could do the job with a less random success rate.
For example, the protocol could be this:
Although it'd mean a very high latency, it could give poor people access to cultural material they're deprived of, and would allow to transfer chapters in non-compressed quality.
Usual internet transmission protocols aren't extremely suited to carry big files (typically HD manga pages) through instable networks (typically mine, but I'm not the only one in this case).
Pages load slowly, or fail even loading because of timeouts.
Of course, we have the "compressed image" mode and MD@Home to address such issues, but they can't make up for some networks just being bad, and compressed quality is not perfectly satisfying.
Thus, I suggest we experiment alternate ways of serving manga pages, to improve manga transmission reliability.
For example, in the last two decades, several experiments based on an improved IPoAC protocol (see RFC 1149 for original protocol), made in different countries, allowed to achieve better speed than broadband connections in high-volume data transfer, with SD cards and homing pigeons.
Rest assured, though, I'm not suggesting that Mangadex shoould use pigeons or even octopi to carry data. Using drones, or maybe even traditional mail services, could do the job with a less random success rate.
For example, the protocol could be this:
Code:
1) A user sends to MD in an envelope:
a) an SD card with chapters to add/update to MD
b) a written list of chapters/series he/she would like to get on the SD card in exchange (as long as the data amount fits in the SD card)
c) a stamped envelope for the return trip of the SD card, or money to cover the mailing cost
d) optional other stuff like donation money, thankful messages, etc
2) Some volunteers willing to help MD would do the data transfers and send the SD card backAlthough it'd mean a very high latency, it could give poor people access to cultural material they're deprived of, and would allow to transfer chapters in non-compressed quality.
