Frequently Asked Question
Tldr: This section explains questions that are likely to be frequently asked a lot in the future. And before being asked, I will answer first to make it easier, even though sadly no one asked so far.
What is this project?
This project is designed to simplify the process for content creators in promoting their content, ensuring that it reaches both their loyal audience and potential new viewers.
Viewers are also granted the freedom to customize the content they wish to see, one of the key features being the ability to follow their favorite content creators as well as those they might enjoy in the future.
This project is not dedicated to any specific fandom; rather, it welcomes all content creators to utilize the platform. However, in the initial stages, we will likely focus on incorporating vtubers as the primary content creators within the system.
Which service will be tracked?
Currently, vTual only track and monitors the activities of verified tracker from:
- Twitch (profile, streaming)
- YouTube (profile, streaming, past vod, video, short).
Please take a moment to read the documentation regarding tracker verification to utilize this feature. This documentation provides essential information on the verification process, ensuring that you understand the requirements and steps needed to successfully enable tracking for verified channels.
Additional services may be introduced based on user requests and needs. We are committed to listening to our community and adapting our offerings to better serve you. By actively seeking feedback and understanding the evolving preferences of our users, we aim to enhance our platform and provide features that truly resonate with your requirements.
Who is behind this project?
This project is created, developed, and managed by a programmer and content creator named "Kurokuma Wakaba" or simply, Waka.
Currently, it operates as a one-man show for various reasons (mainly because the cash flow is still allocated for development and server infrastructure, so there is no monetary allocation to pay other members), allowing Waka to maintain full control over the project's direction and execution.
However, there is always the possibility of bringing in additional team members in the future to contribute to this project if there's even enough money to spare.
When was this project created?
The idea, concept, and initial development of this project began on October 10, 2022.
However, due to various challenges (primarily the complexity of the project that exceeded my capabilities at the time, along with other work commitments), the project was ultimately put on hold indefinitely.
Fast forward to March 2024, the development was rebooted. This time leveraging the same ideas and concepts but with a completely new codebase written from scratch.
The public launch is scheduled to take place around the Q1 of 2025. This timeline allows us to ensure that we have adequately testing, refined our product and addressed any potential issues before making it available to a wider audience.
Why this project was created?
Simply because:
- I love content creators, especially vtubers.
- I want to grow my "pool of vtubers" that I can watch.
- Tracking and switching between streaming services to watch my favorite vtubers is a hassle.
- If possible as a means to get more connections, either from the vtuber community, general content creator community or even programmers community.
- As a means to develop my programming skills so as not to get trapped in tutorial hell and becoming rusty overtime.
To overcoming my impostor syndrome, especially after being labeled as someone who cannot perform well.- The most important reason: I need a somewhat complex-ish web application as a portfolio to land a more interesting job compared to the previous one.
The motivations behind a programmer embarking on a project often stem from personal challenges and needs, and this project is no exception.
Will this project offer multilingual support?
That is the initial plan. To optimize development time, later on "I" (as sole rep for now) will focus on adding languages that are predominantly used by the users from countries where vTual is most frequently utilized.
By prioritizing these languages, vTual aim to enhance accessibility and user experience for our core audience.
But given the limited number of team members working on this project, "I" may need to utilize translation tools and AI assistance to ensure grammatical accuracy during the translation process.
If you are interested in contributing, your involvement could be incredibly beneficial. Collaborating with others who share a passion for this project can enhance the quality of our translations and ensure that we capture the nuances of each language effectively.
Is this project a clone project?
Based on my understanding and knowledge, there are currently several similar projects that offer key features focused on tracking the activities of favorite content creators. However, I wouldn't go so far as to say that these projects are mere clones of one another; vTual isn't their clone nor they are vTual clone.
You see, unlike the file hosting market where the codebase is publicly available (through paid web apps such as XFilesharing, Yetishare, etc), I believe that the market for projects similar to vTual remains largely proprietary.
This means that if someone wishes to develop a project of this nature, at the moment, they would need to build it from the ground up on their own and this is a big step that is really difficult.
Some project developers may choose to specialize in creating these projects using content management systems (CMS) like WordPress and its various plugins, while others might feel more comfortable utilizing frameworks such as Laravel, CodeIgniter, and similar tools.
Each approach has its own set of advantages and challenges, allowing developers to leverage their strengths and preferences.
Given the nature of this market, I believe it is somewhat unethical to claim that one project is simply copying another. As each initiative operates within its own unique context and is often driven by different goals, user needs, and creative visions.
Moreover, as the number of similar projects increases, the real beneficiaries are the content creators and their audiences. As each project developer will be motivated to actively enhance their platforms by adding features that attract both creators and viewers to their platform, fostering a competitive environment.
This healthy competition encourages innovation and improvement, ensuring that users have access to a variety of options tailored to their needs. As a result, the risk of a single platform monopolizing the market diminishes, allowing for a more dynamic and diverse ecosystem.
Is this project free to use?
Currently, all the features offered by our project are available for free, allowing users to take full advantage of what the project provide without any cost. However, it is important to acknowledge that in the future, there may be certain features that will only be accessible through a one-time purchase or even subscription fee.
Even though "offers all the features for free" looks generous, considering the development, maintenance, and operational aspects of the project incur humongous costs, it becomes essential to explore a healthy and sustainable business models.
We do not wish to adopt a "burning money" business model strategy either, which has proven to be unsustainable; Hence this project is not 100% free.
Nevertheless, I can assure you that the core features of our project will remain free and will not be commercialized, as our main commitment is to ensure that all users have access to essential functionalities without any cost.
We will only commercialize additional or cosmetic features, as this approach allows us to enhance the user experience without compromising the core functionality of our services.
Is the services down?
In this imperfect world, despite all efforts to maintain the uptime of our services, there are times when downtime inevitably occurs.
Before asking or waiting for an official announcement related to service disruption, you can refer to the following resources regarding the infrastructure status used by our services:
Status page
If you experience any service interruptions, we encourage you to visit our status page. There, you will find comprehensive information regarding the overall history and current status of the servers utilized by all of the Silverspoon Project, including vTual. All servers are monitored and checked every minute.
This page is designed to keep you informed and provide transparency about any issues that may arise, ensuring that you are always in the loop regarding the performance of our services.
Ping result
Another tool you can use to check the status of vTual services is our ping result. This platform provides real-time ping results for vTual from various Internet Service Providers (ISPs) across different countries and continent.
By utilizing this tool, you can gain valuable insights into the accessibility and performance of vTual services from various locations, helping you understand how well the service is functioning in your area and beyond. This additional resource can be particularly useful for troubleshooting and assessing connectivity issues between your localhost and vTual.
Moving forward
If all resources indicate that the service is running smoothly and is accessible, we recommend trying to access vTual using incognito mode or even as a guest in your browser. This approach can help eliminate any potential issues related to cached data or cookies that might be affecting your browsing experience.
And if you have tried all the suggested methods and verified that everything is functioning correctly, yet you still cannot access vTual, please do not hesitate to reach out to us for further assistance. There may be an underlying issue that requires our attention, and we are here to help you resolve it.
E.g: While the server used by vTual may be online, incorrect configurations could potentially block users from accessing the service.
Your experience is important to us, and we want to ensure that you can access our services without any hindrance.
Is the services going to end?
Every endeavor that has a beginning inevitably has an end, and this holds true for the vTual project as well. However, there is no need to worry, as that conclusion is not imminent. There is still so much I wish to accomplish and demonstrate through this project.
That said, it is also essential to balance dreams with a reality check. If I reach a point where, despite all the effort and dedication I have poured into this project, it fails to yield positive results for me personally (this assessment is not limited only to monetary-based reason), then that could serve as a decisive moment for determining the project's future.
What is your stances for problematic content creator?
In a large community, it is undeniable that problematic individuals will emerge, bringing challenges to the community as a whole. Unfortunately, this reality is vividly illustrated within the vtuber community, which has been marked by various issues and dramas.
As a platform for content creators and their fans, we are committed to addressing these issues in a professional manner without being swayed by emotions or the prevailing atmosphere. Therefore, vTual will only respond once a consensus has been reached regarding any problem.
Because we only want to recommend content creators who can provide a positive impact, then if a content creator is found to have committed an offense that is widely opposed by the community, they will be removed from the platform.
The UI is dogsh*t
There are no issues with the UI Kits I'm using for the UI design, but the real challenge lies in my own limitations when it comes to UI design. Personally, I have a stronger grasp of backend development compared to frontend, which means that for the release of version 0.1, I will be utilizing a rather basic UI.
While Bootstrap 4 can create attractive user interfaces, I can not utilizing it well, so final result is a dogsh*t.
If you're interested, I would greatly appreciate your contributions to the development of a more suitable UI. You are welcome to design your own interface or even purchase templates, UI Kits, and other UI tools that you think would enhance this project.
Reach out to me about this inquiries, as your input could make a significant difference in improving the overall user experience, and I look forward to collaborating with you on this aspect.
Nobody ask for this project
I know.
Is that all?
Feel free to ask any questions, and I will respond here so that others can benefit from the information as well. This is a great way to share knowledge and ensure that everyone has access to the answers they may be seeking.