Historic: NewStart (documenting the original datatracker conversion)

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The Datatracker Script Conversion Project

These are the project pages for the project to convert the original Perl-based datatracker.ietf.org web-site to a design which uses a database abstraction layer to hide some of the nitty-gritty details of database access, and uses templates to separate the html presentation details from the content generation.

The django framework has been chosen as a good base for the project.

Avoiding Second System Syndrome

As tempting as it is to do otherwise, the decision was made that the first phase of the project should strive to replicate the original view as much as possible, in order to avoid spending time on feature creep and look-and-feel design and discussions.

Another pass to update the look-and-feel across the board can be done later.

Phase 1: Replace public pages

Replace all no-authentication-required tools. This was completed in mid-2007 and announced at the Chicago IETF meeting plenary.

Phase 2: Replace restricted pages

Replace authentication-required tools.

We already have the infrastructure to allow semi-seamless login transition from the Apache access control to django users:

• A custom authentication class allows authentication via DES password hash and using the email address as username
  • DES hashes are upgraded to SHA1 at first login
• A script to import htpasswd file, creating users as needed
• An account-creation / password-recovery system is in progress.

Authorization tools:

• django permissions
• django groups
• role-based permissions (e.g., "IETF Chair has these permissions", "foowg WG Chair has these permissions")
  • These require extensions to django's permission model