OT: Hosting providers

[Richard Gaskin]

Alex Tweedly wrote:

 > I used to use Dreamhost and was happy enough with them. Are there
 > still issues with using Livecode server on dreamhost (shared hosting)
 > accounts ?

Unfortunately, yes.

Under Dreamhost's current configuration LiveCode 7.0.x 64-bit is both 
required and also runs unusually slowly, taking a couple seconds for 
scripts that used to take a fraction of a second.   Previous DH configs 
were lightning fast, and testing the same scripts with LiveCode 7 on 
other shared hosting services also performs well, so this seems to be an 
issue not with LiveCode 7 nor with Ubuntu, but with something specific 
to DH's current setup.

Phil Davis and I have been working with a senior support rep at 
Dreamhost to try to pin down the cause, and while they've had some 
success getting at least one server to perform as fast as their earlier 
configs, they've not yet been able to find the specifics to replicate 
that success across the server farm.

Our diagnostic efforts with them are still ongoing, so while I think 
Dreamhost is a great company and would highly recommend them for 
traditional LAMP sites, if you need to use LiveCode (and possibly other 
less common CGI engines) I can't recommend Dreamhost until this issue is 
resolved.

They recently had a meeting with several engineers to explore this 
issue.  Fingers crossed that we'll hear back from them soon.


 > Or is there another provider you'd recommend for low-priced web
 > hosting ?

Over the years I've found it helps me sleep at night to split my web 
sites among multiple hosting companies.  I recently dropped one because 
they don't offer shell access (needed or serious work, IMO), and 
currently have two I work with daily.

In addition to Dreamhost (momentarily hampered for LC work) I have both 
shared hosting and a VPS at InterServer:

Shared Hosting @ >$5/mo
<https://interserver.net/dock/website-175645.html>

VPS @ $6/mo w/ 1 GB RAM, 25 GB HDD, 1 TB xfer
<https://interserver.net/dock/vps-175645.html>

I don't need support from them often, but when I do their response time 
has been usually well under an hour, sometimes just a few minutes.

They don't have LC pre-installed, but that takes only a couple minutes 
anyway so that doesn't really matter much.  If any of you have any 
trouble setting up LiveCode on any commercial hosting service, drop a 
note here and we'll work it out to get you up and running quickly.

I'm also bringing a new VPS online for testing soon with a Los 
Angeles-based company, ChunkHost, which offers exclusively SSD storage 
for just $5/mo w/ 1 GB RAM, 20 GB SSD, 4 TB xfer:
<https://www.chunkhost.com/referral_codes/44490>


Disclosure: US federal law requires me to note that this email includes 
affiliate links in which I may earn a modest commission if a sale is 
made through them.  But those of you who know me understand that I never 
recommend a service I don't honestly believe in, and the few referral 
fees that come in help offset my expenses in providing support for 
LiveCode on such hosting services here, in the forums, and elsewhere.

-- 
  Richard Gaskin
  Fourth World Systems
  Software Design and Development for the Desktop, Mobile, and the Web
  ____________________________________________________________________
  Ambassador at FourthWorld.com                http://www.FourthWorld.com