Random Notes

Server Migration

As Code::Stats grows, so do its hardware needs. The current server has worked well for us, but it has regular spinning disks and no SSD. This leads to the I/O performance being a bottleneck and leading to timeouts in certain situations, such as when restarting the service.

To fix these issues, Code::Stats will be moving to a new Hetzner cloud server this summer. This new server will have twice the memory of the current one and 160 GB of SSD storage for roughly the same amount of money. It also has builtin backups, which is a great bonus, as the current backup system is kind of hacky. On the flip side, it "only" has 4 virtual CPU cores shared with other cloud users, but C::S has never been CPU bottlenecked, so I'm not too worried about that. The new server will be in Finland or Germany (Finland preferred), so this will not have an effect on your privacy. You will need to accept the changes to the privacy policy, though, or you can delete your account.

Sticker Sales

Running the service costs money. Currently the server costs about 20 € per month, and that is what the new Hetzner service will also cost. When the service grows, more power will be needed and that will cost more. I pay for all of these out of my own pocket.

People have asked many times how to support the project monetarily. This is an issue in Finland, because our draconian law on money collection does not allow donations for private persons. In other words, I cannot put a PayPal or similar donation link anywhere because it would be illegal. Running a Patreon would also be in a grey area, as giving money for nothing in return is considered a donation and I would have to spend a lot of time making some sort of rewards to prevent that situation.

On the other hand, selling things is legal! So if you wish to support the project, this is the perfect chance! I have ordered two rolls of stickers from Stickermule that proudly carry the C::S logo. These are perfect for your laptop, desktop tower, bicycle, or whatever you want to add some geek factor to! They are durable, weatherproof, and dishwasher safe. The size is 5 × 3.3 cm (1.97" × 1.3").

How to Order

NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS OUTDATED AND NOT VALID. Please see this newer post for new purchase instructions.

First decide how many stickers you wish to order. The cost will be determined as follows:

1. 2.5 € per sticker if you order 1 or 2, or 2 € per sticker if you order more,
2. 1.5 € for shipping costs (cost of normal letter in Finnish post), and
3. 0.6 € for offsetting payment processing costs.

Example if you order 1 sticker: 2.5 + 1.5 + 0.6 = 4.6 €.

Example if you order 2 stickers: 2 × 2.5 + 1.5 + 0.6 = 7.1 €.

Example if you order 3 stickers: 3 × 2 + 1.5 + 0.6 = 8.1 €.

To order, go to paypal.me/ndymium to make your payment. Remember to add a note specifying how many you are ordering and add your shipping address. I will send the stickers through regular mail. Thanks for supporting! 🙂

Note: If you are in Finland, see the FAQ about alternatives to PayPal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will the money be used for?

The money (what is left after shipping and payment processor costs) will go 100 % to the project. First it will be used to pay for the stickers themselves (they cost 54 €). After that, any profit will be used to pay the server bill. All money will go to a separate bank account so it is precisely tracked.

How long will the shipping take?

The stickers are shipped in a normal letter with priority shipping from Finnish Post. Estimates from their website:

• Nordic countries and Central Europe 2–5 working days,
• rest of Europe 3–6 working days,
• rest of the world: large cities 4–10 working days, other destinations: no estimate.

Note that before sending the letter, I will have to get stamps and I don't have time to send them every night, so it might take a few days for them to be sent in the first place.

Can I pay with something else than PayPal?

After some research it seems PayPal is the only good (or least bad?) method of paying internationally. If you wish, you can contact me through our channels (see the footer of the site) to suggest another method, but it is unlikely that it will work. I cannot accept cryptocurrencies.

If you live in Finland, I can also accept normal SEPA bank transfer and MobilePay. Please contact me separately through our channels if you wish to do that.

Can you show more pictures?

Sure!