ipushpeople wrote:

hmm i didn't catch that the op was suggesting unique display names, that complicates stuff more. would you have a different opinion if this weren't the case (what i was thinking where it's not unique and only username/user ID is unique)?

and i don't understand what you mean by saying scratch isn't social media. i'm not saying it is. i was giving an example of how display names work on a site that happens to be a social media site. if it makes you happier a different site, gamejolt, is a coding site and does the exact same system as well.

-D

Gamejolt is not Scratch. Gamejolt is there own system.

ipushpeople wrote:

hmm i didn't catch that the op was suggesting unique display names, that complicates stuff more. would you have a different opinion if this weren't the case (what i was thinking where it's not unique and only username/user ID is unique)?

and i don't understand what you mean by saying scratch isn't social media. i'm not saying it is. i was giving an example of how display names work on a site that happens to be a social media site. if it makes you happier a different site, gamejolt, is a coding site and does the exact same system as well.

-D

Yeah, I asked the OP and he/she said that it would be unique
Even if it weren't, though, I still wouldn't support (I won't explain why unless the suggestion changes though)

You gave social media as an example.
Gamejolt also seems like a fairly different setup from Scratch…

The only thing that's similar to Scratch and has something similar to this suggestion is GitHub; however, in gh, your “display name” (i.e. just your “name” in its system, as opposed to your username) isn't used very often besides your profile page, and you are almost always referred to by your username

Crafty190 wrote:

I'm just suggesting to add display names! Usernames still stay. And if you dump your old account, wouldn't it be hard to get all your stuff back?? And it would be very stressing too…

So choose a good username that you won't regret a few days/weeks/months later

Yes, you are referred to by your username, the profile still has same link, username is used to log in, and then there'd be a display name with the username. That's it. Just a little display name to fancy up your profile. That's all I'm suggesting.

Crafty190 wrote:

Yes, you are referred to by your username, the profile still has same link, username is used to log in, and then there'd be a display name with the username. That's it. Just a little display name to fancy up your profile. That's all I'm suggesting.

You said that it has to be unique - does it have to be unique within all current ones, or unique within all ones that were ever used?
There would be a history of display names, you said, IIRC. How often will you be allowed to change your “display name”? Or can you just change it willy-nilly?
In forum posts, comments, and projects - what name would be displayed? Would two names be displayed?

Just a sample of questions/possible issues I see with this…

Unique with the current ones. And, you could only change it once every 6-8 hours.

Why do you feel that you need to change your “display name” that often?
What about my other questions?

Fine then, every few days. And, both names will be displayed, but the username smaller, on the right side. There, done.

I wrote:

Why do you feel that you need to change your “display name” that often?

still applies…

I wrote:

You said that it has to be unique - does it have to be unique within all current ones, or unique within all ones that were ever used?

Crafty190 wrote:

And, both names will be displayed, but the username smaller, on the right side. There, done.

So you're still displaying your username in the end, and everything is referenced by your username, not your “display name”. K.

Firedrake969 wrote:

iamunknown2 wrote:

Firedrake969 wrote:

I actually think that you don't understand how the servers and codebase would be impacted by this. Based on what Crafty190 has said, it's essentially a second, changeable username. Uniqueness has to be enforced, possibly storing past display names so you can't impersonate someone when they switch theirs, and switching over everything being displayed from username to display name. That's not minor.

On the other hand, it's not as bad as changing your normal username - as all your projects, comments, topics and posts are linked to your username, changing your username would mean changing all the associations with topics, posts, comments, and projects. Although you could simply link it to the user number, I don't believe that the Scratch servers have been programmed to do so.

But your display name would also be linked because that's what's actually being displayed!

MathlyCat wrote:

Abstract- wrote:

The servers couldn't handle it. That's the main reason they can't change usernames…

By th way, this belongs in “Suggestions”

The site isn't compatible to change the actual user. Display names are completely different; really easy to add.

Support, I see no problem, and if it works like Steam in a sense then you could still see the original Scratcher…
I personally like being the MC of Scratch.

How can you say how easy they are to add? Have you developed sites like this where there are users with multiple attributes linked to them (e.g. favorite projects, studios, etc.)?

Please read what I wrote earlier -

I wrote:

I actually think that you don't understand how the servers and codebase would be impacted by this. Based on what Crafty190 has said, it's essentially a second, changeable username. Uniqueness has to be enforced, possibly storing past display names so you can't impersonate someone when they switch theirs, and switching over everything being displayed from username to display name. That's not minor.

Yes I have in fact.

But not as many as Scratch. I guess that is difficult…
Semi-Support

Any examples I could see?

Firedrake969 wrote:

Any examples I could see?

Would a forum page that apparently is giving me an error help?
Here, I'll go try on a quick forum page.



I

My friend…
That's who programmed it!

I'll get ahold of him and his script

The way a forum's DB is set up is fairly different from the way Scratch's DB is (probably) set up.

Lythium wrote:

iamunknown2 wrote:

ipushpeople wrote:

Abstract- wrote:

The servers couldn't handle it. That's the main reason they can't change usernames…

i don't think that's true, do you have sources?

if you can store projects with images in them, i don't think having a display name would be too much for the servers to handle.

-D

First, they would need a system that would move all the projects over to that username. Second all the comments would have to be moved. Forum posts as well.

Plus, it would be confusing.

Display name is different from username.
Also, Duplicate.

how is that duplicate if the “dupe” is newer?

Why was this bumped up if it's rejected?

Za-Chary* wrote:

8.1 Changing usernames
If a user could change their username (or even set a certain “nickname”), this could be very confusing for the Scratch community, especially for those following that user. In addition, this would make moderation of the website more difficult because it would be harder for the Scratch Team to keep an eye on what a user may be doing. The Scratch Team has allowed username changes only on very rare occasions, such as if the username contained inappropriate content or personal information. Generally, the Scratch Team does not change usernames on request (including for reasons such as “I do not like my current username anymore”).

However, because of the way that usernames are stored on the server, changing the cases of letters in your username (for example, changing @Za-Chary to @ZA-CHARY) is NOT rejected; you can discuss it on this topic.