New Server Coming Soon

Update: Tuesday night 5-May. I couldn;t solve the speed problem so started all over again with a different server located at a different place. FIG is running again now at normal speed.

I now have to finish transferring the font library, test everything, and switch DNS to the new server. FIG should be back online by end of this week.

Update: Sunday night 3-May . I have FIG set up and "running" on the new server. Its a virtual dedicated server provided by a hosting company. Only problem is that for some reason ImageMagick is taking between one and two minutes to generate a simple image. I've been working with the tech support staff to resolve the issue but no luck yet. You would think it easy to find a problem where an image that should be generated in less than one second takes 2 minutes.

Any server admins out there want to lend a hand? I could use some help.

~Jeff

FIG will reopen soon on a new server. I've just started setting up FIG on a new server as will reopen ASAP. Hopefully I'll be able to undo the changes made trying to keep the site alive on the old host and the site will run faster too.

I don't know much about setting up a server so this will take a bit of time.

Stay tuned here and to the site for updates.

~Jeff

Server overload

FIG has been shut down again because of server overload. Its not the first time. The old site is UP and will continue to operate.

FIG makes use of ImageMagick to generate images. The old site does not. ImageMagick is a server based image processor that frankly is a resource hog. Often times there are several users on FIG at the same time. When numerous requests hit ImageMagick at the same time, the server can't keep up. The server is a shared server where other websites are trying to operate as well. When FIG sucks up all the resources, all the sites on the server suffer, people complain, and the hosting company goes after the offender. Thats FIG.

I've made an inquiry at the hosting company about moving to a dedicated server. Its expensive. FIG is free. Those Google ads pay for coffee and thats about it.

Is anyone willing to pay a small subscription fee of a few dollars per month for FIG to keep operating and add new features, fonts, etc? If so please leave a comment here.

Please check back here for updates about FIG status.

~Jeff

Technical Issues

Update (Final): The following changes have been made to FIG to reduce server load and allow the hosting company to restore service:

1. Changed the ImageMagick working canvas from 800x600 to 480x320
2. Changed the default image format from PNG to JPEG
3. Limit text string length to 140 characters or less
4. Turned off PNG compression and filtering
5. Turned on JPEG compression (quality 80)
6. Disabled the ImageMagick editor where users have direct access to the IM command line. Will work to restore the IM editor in the next few days.
7. Update ImageMagick to version 6.5.1

The site should be available again late today 4-28-09

Update: A set of changes has been put in place to reduce server load. I'm waiting to hear back from the hosting company if they will restore site operation.

Update: The hosting company made several suggestions to solve the problem. When the changes are in place, FIG will be restored to service. I'll try to have this done in the next 24 hrs.


I received a notice today that Font Image Generator places excessive server load on the shared host where its located. Because of this, the key scripts that power FIG have been disabled rendering the site up but non-functional.

The issue has to do with FIG's use of ImageMagick to generate images. Apparently, FIG's use of ImageMagick at such high volume is not anticipated when offering it as a feature on a shared host.

The old site is still up and running and you are encouraged to use it until the issues are resolved.

I'm working with the tech support folks at my hosting company to see if there is any way I can modify the site to bring server load into line with their requirements. I hope to have a solution in hand later today.

I hope you'll stay with the site as the problems are worked out. Meanwhile head on over to the old site and I'll post updates here.

~Jeff