The Cyberix Network, although operating as a refuge for people interested in the true old Internet, fucking sucks in its website's design when compared to genuine examples from that era.
In contrast to actual old Internet websites, Cyberix consistently employs design techniques and decisions similar to modern websites and retro larpers, despite avoiding some of the more egregious pitfalls seen on places like Neocities.
Observe the following websites:

https://celephais.net/board/forum.php – unchanged since 2002, featuring a text-heavy layout with functional navigation via simple HTML links, no apparent large padding. Desktop-centric structure simplicity without any need for JavaScript.
https://megatokyo.com/strip/1 – unchanged since 2007, with multi-section organization (news, console, credits) using basic spacing, straightforward hyperlink navigation. Relies on direct URLs rather than "modern" interactive elements.
https://web.archive.org/web/20080703202514/http://www.php.net./ – 2008 PHP.net, structured around textual headings and lists for content like news and events. Embodies a simple, information-focused design typical of the time.
https://web.archive.org/web/20031001182919/http://www.txraves.org/main.php – a 2003 rave forum (replaced by chink porn, do not visit the modern site), displaying densely packed text, minimal padding, standard system fonts, and horizontal text-link navigation that's not friendly for phoneposters but Perfectly Functional without JS.

All these sites share sensible, computer-first design principles absent in Cyberix. They feature compact layouts without large bunches of padding, unique yet intuitive layouts easy to navigate, and a focus on dense, efficient design that loads SEAMLESSLY in old browsers.

Cyberix's design, by comparison, is a padded, bloated, flat mess that would never have been built in the early Internet. https://cy-x.net/ uses categorized sections with markdown-like formatting that implies modern structural organization. There is a lot of unnecessary spacing and flat aesthetics not seen in the references. Forum topics, example being https://cy-x.net/forum?t=278 rely on contemporary styling leading to bloat, unlike the straightforward, JS-free navigation in the old examples.

Admin should take these references into heavy consideration for a total remake. Cyberix is missing KEY efficiencies like minimalistic spacing, pure text-based hierarchies, and browser-agnostic simplicity. Meanwhile it is failing horribly in areas that could be fixed by direct comparison. The astounding fact that it won't even load properly in an era-accurate browser, despite not requiring JS in modern ones, makes it painfully obvious how far it strays from authentic old Internet principles.

Intriguing points. I’ll definitely chew on this some more. I see the stark differences between Cyberix and those older sites, but I’m still set on keeping the design usable for mobile users. That doesn’t mean settling for shitty design, though. Plenty of old-school sites like the ones you mentioned manage to look nice without being a complete fucking nightmare on phones. (On-the-go moderation shouldn’t be a pain in the ass, either.)

maybe.PNG

Perhaps. I'll keep experimenting with this.

front page redesign.PNG

Concept 2

Concept 3.

I like this one the most.

concept 3 frontpage.PNG

why do you want the website to be accessible for phoneposters?
phones are for consumption, not creation
seems pretty antithetical to this website's goal, doesn't it?
at best you get useless lurkers
at worst you get zoomers impulsively shitting out meaningless babble on their school break https://cy-x.net/forum?t=283

>phones are for consumption, not creation
>seems pretty antithetical to this website's goal
Yes, that is true, and I agree with you completely on this. I fucking hate phoneposters - there has not been a single phoneposter on this site (to my knowledge) that has been able to contribute on the same level as a poster who used a regular computer.

The only reason I am trying to maintain compatibility with these devices is so I don't have to waste time navigating a desktop-centric layout on my phone to quickban child porn or some punk who is trying to derail a thread or two.
If I didn't have to worry about that, then I wouldn't care at all. Unfortunately I have to check in every now and then and sometimes I don't always have a computer near me to check the site with.

You give me a good idea, though. Maybe posts made using a mobile devices should be given a [PHONE] or [MOBILE] tag next to it in the same way proxies are publicly marked ([TOR], [VPN]). It's going to be used to directly help me and every single person on this site easily notice patterns and trends and take immediate action when it comes.

Update in 5 minutes.

Nevermind. Update now, at 06:50 on October 5th.

https://cy-x.net/forum?t=243 is broken, the table is way too wide. I assume it's because of the

 block. The font is too thin for white on black too.

I can't say I agree with "trying to look old" through non-semantic HTML btw. You don't have to imitate old sites being broken, use a CSS grid ffs.

</pre>
Wtf, sanitize your inputs.

Thread is locked, lol

Dammit, doesn't work

Why did it work before?

Test post

Bold text
Italic text
Strikethrough
Inline code

1. First item
2. Second item
3. Third item

CSS quick-fix for https://cy-x.net/forum?t=243 being too wide:

pre {
max-width: 800px;
overflow-x: scroll;
}


And for greentext not flowing properly:

.greentext {
display: block;
color: #789922;
}

Why is the color set as inline style for each line?

Should be fixed, now

Thanks for fixing
>ban
Wow, no fun allowed

>Wow, no fun allowed
???

malding

>>Wow, no fun allowed
>???
I got a message saying I was banned, which I assumed was due to me trying to exploit the >pre< bug on this page.

I did not ban you. You must've got unlucky and hit a Tor GOP that WAS banned, but I have only banned CP posters in the last couple of weeks.

In hindsight I think banning Tor users in the first place is extremely ineffective

Since this is the redesign cybertruck.win/forum post:

Make the navigation panel horizontal, and let the threads be full width. This will be especially useful when posting articles, which look cramped in the current setup.

Either go full grayscale, or tone down some of the colors. Overall good choices, then, suddenly BRIGHT GREEN (for no reason).

Threads are a bit noisy; horizontal bars divide posts, but attachment box adds complexity. Posts lack the identifiable header of 'chan's with a line of (yous), and the distinct box for each post. Things look fine until there's inline images and attachments. The design is missing secret sauce here.

Make it possible to reply to specific posts, in part so users can track visually which posts are most interesting

> https://cy-x.net/articles?id=26
Why do people have to email you to send you a piece of writing? Just let people send a post and add a random number to the URL to protect it. Authors can return to that page to get editorial feedback.

> example: https://cy-x.net/forum?t=176
Can't we adapt the title into a slug so URLs are semi legible? How about
> https://cy-x.net/t/mission-nostalgiafaggotry-cyberix-needs-to-be-redesigned
Append 4 digits of the posts hash to distinguish between identical slugs:
> https://cy-x.net/t/mission-nostalgiafaggotry-cyberix-needs-to-be-redesigned/4be0

> https://cy-x.net/forum?t=191
> Prohibited Content Illegal Material
> Absolutely no illegal content whatsoever
> No child pornography or any content sexualizing minors
> No linking to illegal material or discussing how to obtain it
> This includes anything that could compromise the site's legal standing
So aside from the interest in self-protection, I find the "any content sexualizing minors" to be a problem. Many movies "sexualize" minors, or, rather, explore the sexuality of minors. For example
> You Are Not Alone (1978)
> Young Hearts (2024)
Both of these films contain nudity and kissing between pubscent boys (12-14y). Do these count as "sexualizing minors" and are they therefore "illegal" on cy-x.net and is it therefore prohibited to link to them or discuss how to get them?
In Australia the Swedish film Barnen's O is illegal, but it was originally released in Sweden in 1980 as a 7+ film, as appropriate for children 7 and up. The film shows a boy masturbating. Is discussion of that film banned on cy-x.net, even though it is legal throughout the rest of the world?
Bernardo Bertolluci's 1900 has a scene where a boy plays with his erection and discusses masturbation with his friend. The film is legal everywhere. Is it considered "illegal" on cy-x.net?
Is a picture of a 13 year old boy in speedos swimming in a public space "sexualizing" and thus "illegal"?
Is a picture of a shirtless boy "sexualizing" and thus "illegal"?

To me, "sexualizing" is a feminist term of political art, which, like codes of conduct, indicates a good reason to not invest time and energy in a project. It is a push button solution handed off to (lazy) people looking to solve a hard problem. I therefore strongly advise you to clarify the "illegal content" section. Instead of conflating everything you don't like as "illegal"--most of it is not--just have a list of things you don't want to deal with, and specify them. That will provide users with more freedom to discuss things you do allow, rather than be restricted by vague language and the false claim that everything that "sexualizes minors" is illegal (it's not).
To give you some guidance, I suggest you look at kohlchan's (legal) shota thread:
> https://kohlchan.net/b/res/10546052.html
None of that is illegal, but it does require moderator attention to ensure that the content never crosses a line. On the other hand, by enforcing a rule that all such content has to be in that thread and nowhere else, it simplifies moderator responsibilities. And, of course, it means that people of that persuasion are also included in the site and find some interest there.

Since the purpose of cy-x-net isn't to replicate the standard chan format, and since it's focus is on tech (for now), and has a limited population, I suggest three things.
> First, since you deliberately choose to privilege text over images, it makes sense that cy-x.net isn't about posting huge dumps of kid image content of any kind, legal or illegal. But that would also be true of adult porn, and other kinds of image dumps. I suggest being principled here. Maybe apply Sharia law here and restrict specifically pointless image dumps of human beings so we can still get image dumps of computer setups and other niceties.
> Second, allow all non-erotic discussions of kid content, and allow links to kid content so long as it's not illegal, for example to IMDB pages of banned films
> https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080419/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1
> Third, allow images of non-nude non-lewd kid content that is illustrative of the topic being discussed. Non-nudity generally solves the problem, and you can deal with issues as they come up. If it's not illustrative, then delete it. If it's illustrative but lewd, delete it.
These choices get you away from conflating everything you don't like with illegality, it closes some doors as a matter of policy, and leaves others open as a matter of policy.

are we gonna return to pic rel

cyberix rules july sojmething something.png

Let me know what you think of this:

Forum Guidelines and Features

Thread Bumping System

This forum uses a hybrid bumping system designed to encourage active discussion while preventing content death:

[ACTIVE] - Threads with recent replies are bumped based on new contributions

[RESURGING] - Threads without recent replies (several days old) can be bumped by views, allowing valuable content to resurface

This prevents the traditional forum problem where older threads disappear forever, while still prioritizing active discussions. Resurging threads always appear below active ones.

Anonymous Posting

Users can post without registering, allowing for anonymity when posting. Registered users are given a green hue in their username.

Users are able to customize the name that they will use when posting. Unregistered users will default to "Anonymous". Registered users may customize their name as well as choose to display their role's distinction in their post.

This way of posting should encourage posts to be more about the content of what's being said rather than who's behind it.

Registration Benefits

Registering isn't a waste of time however, especially if you're interested in attachments.

Anonymous Users

• Only get to upload one attachment per post
• All anonymous attachments are automatically removed after 10-15 minutes
• Additional restrictions apply

Registered Users

• Upload a maximum of five attachments per post
• Reserve permanent attachment archival (assuming it isn't removed by us)

Attachment System

Attachments can be embedded inside of posts. If you type:

attachment: 1

Without the space between the number, it should format properly for you.

This forum supports HTML, BBCode and Markdown formatting. You can wrap that attachment call around [image], [audio], or [video] tags depending on the attachment's file format if needed.

User Roles

Roles can have short codes adorned to them. This is how you can differentiate between a moderator and an admin aside from the color of the poster's name themselves.

Anti-Spam Systems

Rate Limiting

We have a ratelimit implementation built into the forum. Posting too fast will require you to fill out a (privacy respecting) captcha in order to proceed with your action. Ignoring the captcha or failing it will prevent you from accessing the forum.

R9K System

R9K is an additional anti-spam utility. Similar or outright identical post and thread contents will be denied, which cuts out static spamming behavior.

Abusers are forced to make their posts unique, at least through mashing their keyboard in order to post.

Rules and Moderation

Anonymous posting is a privilege and can easily be turned off at any time. Certain situations may require temporarily disabling anonymous attachments only, but I hope that won't have to happen.

Posting Standards

Common forum rules against thread derailing, spamming, trolling, double/triple/quad posting, a general failure to make sense, and talking in all caps are all off the table here.

Conversely, this forum is not a receptacle for all the worthless nonsense you can think of. If you seriously cannot figure out where the line is drawn, then all I can say is LURK MORE. For further reference, play pretend and act as if you're speaking to a group of people in real life.

Posts should contribute meaningfully to discussion. This means:

• Adding information, analysis, or legitimate questions
• Staying on topic for the thread
• Making an effort to advance the conversation

What isn't allowed:

• Child pornography
• Direct uploads of material that is illegal in the United States to the forum
• Gore, shock content, or pointless image dumps of human beings
• Unrelated images or videos posted to threads

Just because the forum should always be considered not safe for work doesn't mean we care for your stupid fucking pics you swiped from rotten.com, stileproject, 4chan, and so forth.

We have no tolerance for this sort of malicious fuckery here and you won't find anywhere good on the internet that does.

Quality Control

We maintain standards here. Low-effort posting patterns commonly seen on other imageboards will not be tolerated. This includes but is not limited to:

• Excessive use of memes (even outdated ones, you aren't quirky) as substitutes for actual discussion
• One-word replies or meaningless interjections
• Generic inflammatory bait designed to derail conversations

If you can't be bothered to write a coherent paragraph about the topic at hand, you should stick to lurking until you learn how.

Reading Assignment System

If you get banned, you'll be assigned homework. Your assignment is reading the forum's existing threads for the duration of your ban. If you were banned for 10 minutes, you'll need to read the forum for 10 minutes straight.

This isn't punishment for punishment's sake - it's to help you understand what quality discussion looks like here.

If you've been banned permanently, I suggest throwing your computer out of a window.

Appeals and Support

If you have a question or want to dispute a ban, contact me or anyone with mod powers through IRC, XMPP, Mumble, or whatever other communication methods we're hosting.

You can also join those chat services for general conversation. They exist as public spaces for realtime discussion, and I have no problem handling moderation disputes publicly unless you have a compelling reason for privacy.

The Bottom Line

This forum exists to foster genuine discussion about technology, internet culture, and related topics. We're building something better than the typical imageboard cesspit or corporate-sanitized "social" media platform.

If you're here to contribute meaningfully to that goal, you're welcome regardless of your background or how you normally post elsewhere. If you're here to recreate the same low-quality patterns that plague other sites, you'll find yourself unwelcome pretty quickly.

Quality discussion requires effort.

IF YOU FEEL ANY OF THIS IS UNFAIR, GO FUCK YOURSELF.

There are plenty of other forums on the internet that you can visit.

Feel free to try something new.

Open to suggestions.

>>51914

>Make the navigation panel horizontal, and let the threads be full width. This will be especially useful when posting articles, which look cramped in the current setup.

But my current 160px sidebar leaves 640px for content at 800px total width on a PC.
Posting articles (long-form text) shouldn't be cramped. If they are and you need more posting space, you can use the textarea dragger that should come with every single browser. I'm using it right now to type this long reply and I have no problem with it.

For clarity, there's a dragger in the bottom left corner of the message textbox that you can click and drag to make the whole box bigger.

If I really need to, I could add a user preference toggle later, or try and find a larger display to test the site on if large monitors cause these kinds of issues.

>Either go full grayscale, or tone down some of the colors. Overall good choices, then, suddenly BRIGHT GREEN (for no reason).
The bright green for registered users does stand out harshly. I have toned it down. It is slightly brighter than Anonymous white and retains a subtle green hue.

>Threads are a bit noisy; horizontal bars divide posts, but attachment box adds complexity. Posts lack the identifiable header of 'chan's with a line of (yous), and the distinct box for each post. Things look fine until there's inline images and attachments. The design is missing secret sauce here.
I have made some changes to the layout in hopes that this will be solved.

>Make it possible to reply to specific posts, in part so users can track visually which posts are most interesting
I have implemented this ability, but I have purposefully discarded showing replies to posts. 4chan and other imageboards inherently suffer from a problem similar to modern social media where users are more concerned about (You) farming rather than actually discussing the thread. Indeed, I do not wish for Cyberix to emulate or otherwise behave more like an imageboard. I would like to ensure the forum's functionality and visual approach feel like a nice, cozy BBS with some of the more useful features that come from imageboards.

> https://cy-x.net/articles?id=26 Why do people have to email you to send you a piece of writing? Just let people send a post and add a random number to the URL to protect it. Authors can return to that page to get editorial feedback.
This is fair. I've been wanting to rewrite the majority of my articles as they don't really represent how I feel about the site or how it should be run anymore. Simplicity is ultimately the key and more complexity does nothing but hurt. I'd be perfectly fine with people posting articles in threads and I completely agree with this approach.

> example: https://cy-x.net/forum?t=176 Can't we adapt the title into a slug so URLs are semi legible? How about > https://cy-x.net/t/mission-nostalgiafaggotry-cyberix-needs-to-be-redesigned Append 4 digits of the posts hash to distinguish between identical slugs: > https://cy-x.net/t/mission-nostalgiafaggotry-cyberix-needs-to-be-redesigned/4be0
Yes. This has been implemented. All links should use slugs. Legacy links will still work the same and any autists are free to write a script that converts the slug links into legacy links if they so please.

>So aside from the interest in self-protection, I find the "any content sexualizing minors" to be a problem. Many movies "sexualize" minors, or, rather, explore the sexuality of minors.
>The film shows a boy masturbating. Is discussion of that film banned on cy-x.net, even though it is legal

The broad implementation of that particular rule was because I'm not looking to facilitate erotica discussions on my site, period. I'm not a fan of any kind pornography in general, and if anything, I actively avoid it (4chan forces me to disable images outright, and it's an imageboard for fuck's sake).

The previous wording was admittedly vague and could be interpreted to ban legitimate film discussion or academic content. That wasn't my intent. The intent was and is to prevent the forum from becoming a repository for people posting thinly-veiled sexual content about minors under the guise of "discourse."

I've seen what happens to places that allow this kind of content, and they attract exactly the kind of users I don't want here, and before long the entire site's culture shifts toward catering to them. I'm not interested in moderating endless debates about where the line is between "artistic exploration of sexuality" and "hey guise check out this hot 14 year old."

The revised rules are more specific: no CP, no illegal uploads, no human image dumps, no unrelated images. This should make it clear that quality discussion about films, books, or other media is fine, but we're not hosting your spank bank or providing a platform for people to test boundaries.

>Since the purpose of cy-x-net isn't to replicate the standard chan format, and since it's focus is on tech (for now), and has a limited population, I suggest three things.

I agree with all of them and find that they are a significant improvement over what was there before. They specifically target the exact things I was trying to cover originally. I have revised the forum rules in my above message. Please let me know your thoughts on them.

Tomorrow, I will make it so that clicking on the blue post id will redirect to the reply box and have it autofill instead of being a useless link.

Enable TLS 1.1 and 1.0 so I can load this site on Firefox 2 and 25 year old browsers. This site is perfectly capable of doing it and I'd love to grab some pics for the old aesthetic thread
>>51611

I like the new design, except for the black background. It's no mystery that colors can affect a person's mood, and black is the most depressing of them all. I'd change it to dark blue or purple, but that's just me. I also wanted to congratulate OP for his well thought-out posts, a very rare sight nowadays.

I should work on a little settings page that lets you change the site theme.
Or even better, just add a dropdown and an apply button in the header that people can use to change themes. Should be simple and I wouldn't mind making a few