Future of HiO
Hello everyone,
It’s been a while since I last wrote here, and there are a few things I wanted to share with you.
On the agenda:
1. The joys of hosting in 2026
You may have noticed this through significant slowdowns in recent months: the site has been facing relentless waves of AI bots, which account for over 99% of connections and overload the server. I spend a considerable amount of time blocking them and adapting our protections. I've rented a significantly more powerful server and had to use Cloudflare's protection services. At the same time, component shortages have led to a sharp increase in server costs. With all these effects combined, the cost of hosting the site has tripled in two years...
It's a bit of a pain, but I wanted to reassure you that there is nothing to worry about moving forward, you can count on me!
2. The future of the site
Let's move on to the good news. V3 (third version of the french language website Poudlard.fr and first version of the english language website Hogwarts.io) was launched at Christmas 2017, after two years of work, followed by three more years of intensive work. Since 2020, I've been caught up with a demanding job that has taken up much of my evenings and weekends, so the site has seen far less development.
But eight years later, the code has aged and is particularly tangled; add to that the fact that I'm quite out of practice: every modification requires a disproportionate amount of effort.
So I've decided to embark on the development of a V4.
I want to clarify right away: whereas previous versions brought a massive amount of changes, that won't be the case here: I love the site as it has become, it will keep the same graphic style, the same philosophy, the same atmosphere.
However, I want to rewrite the entire visible part of it, with a few fundamentals:
Unlike V3, however, I won't be working alone in my corner, and I want this process to be participatory: I want you to have access to an experimental version (alongside the current one), so you can see the new features before they're available to everyone, and I can read your feedback as we go!
I should mention that I plan to use a development assistant (Claude), which I've been testing for a few weeks and which will be a great help in advising me and auditing my code. However, everything will be fully programmed and reviewed by me: you know I like doing things by hand.
3. Call for donations
I'm always a little embarrassed to ask for support, partly because I am not at all in need in my personal life, and partly because I would prefer this not to have a place on the site.
But as you know, hosting the site, protecting it, and its domain name represent a significant, and most importantly recurring (monthly) cost; the same goes for the use of development tools.
The choice we made to have an entirely free site, with no ads or freemium features, therefore forces me to ask for your support, unless I pay for it entirely out of pocket!
Every contribution, even a modest one, concretely helps me (after 50% in taxes and social charges) to cover the costs of the server, protection, and soon the development tools for writing V4; and, if anything, to acknowledge a bit the hundreds of hours it will take by covering the coffee expenses!
I will be leaving the Tipeee/Patreon platforms in favor of a simpler platform with lower fees (Stripe):
Thank you for reading this far. And simply, thank you for being here. This site is nothing without you. I recentlyread encouraging owls which touched me far beyond anything you can imagine.
Warmly to you all,
Zachary
It’s been a while since I last wrote here, and there are a few things I wanted to share with you.
On the agenda:
- the difficulties I'm facing with bots;
- the announcement of the work on a new version of the site
; - a call for support.
1. The joys of hosting in 2026
You may have noticed this through significant slowdowns in recent months: the site has been facing relentless waves of AI bots, which account for over 99% of connections and overload the server. I spend a considerable amount of time blocking them and adapting our protections. I've rented a significantly more powerful server and had to use Cloudflare's protection services. At the same time, component shortages have led to a sharp increase in server costs. With all these effects combined, the cost of hosting the site has tripled in two years...
It's a bit of a pain, but I wanted to reassure you that there is nothing to worry about moving forward, you can count on me!
2. The future of the site
Let's move on to the good news. V3 (third version of the french language website Poudlard.fr and first version of the english language website Hogwarts.io) was launched at Christmas 2017, after two years of work, followed by three more years of intensive work. Since 2020, I've been caught up with a demanding job that has taken up much of my evenings and weekends, so the site has seen far less development.
But eight years later, the code has aged and is particularly tangled; add to that the fact that I'm quite out of practice: every modification requires a disproportionate amount of effort.
So I've decided to embark on the development of a V4.
I want to clarify right away: whereas previous versions brought a massive amount of changes, that won't be the case here: I love the site as it has become, it will keep the same graphic style, the same philosophy, the same atmosphere.
However, I want to rewrite the entire visible part of it, with a few fundamentals:
- better ergonomics, so the site is simpler and lighter to use, with no more complicated drop-down menus or tiny buttons that are hard to click...;
- full accessibility, for everyone with disabilities;
- faster and lighter site;
- clean and modern code, easier to maintain and also more scalable for the future;
- preparing for the arrival of phpBB 4, which will succeed phpBB 3 (released in 2015 and the foundation of our current V3) in a few years;
- same graphic style, the same philosophy: you will still be on the exact same site.
Unlike V3, however, I won't be working alone in my corner, and I want this process to be participatory: I want you to have access to an experimental version (alongside the current one), so you can see the new features before they're available to everyone, and I can read your feedback as we go!
I should mention that I plan to use a development assistant (Claude), which I've been testing for a few weeks and which will be a great help in advising me and auditing my code. However, everything will be fully programmed and reviewed by me: you know I like doing things by hand.
3. Call for donations
I'm always a little embarrassed to ask for support, partly because I am not at all in need in my personal life, and partly because I would prefer this not to have a place on the site.
But as you know, hosting the site, protecting it, and its domain name represent a significant, and most importantly recurring (monthly) cost; the same goes for the use of development tools.
The choice we made to have an entirely free site, with no ads or freemium features, therefore forces me to ask for your support, unless I pay for it entirely out of pocket!
Every contribution, even a modest one, concretely helps me (after 50% in taxes and social charges) to cover the costs of the server, protection, and soon the development tools for writing V4; and, if anything, to acknowledge a bit the hundreds of hours it will take by covering the coffee expenses!
I will be leaving the Tipeee/Patreon platforms in favor of a simpler platform with lower fees (Stripe):
- recurring donation of €5, €10, €15, €20 per month
- custom donation
Thank you for reading this far. And simply, thank you for being here. This site is nothing without you. I recentlyread encouraging owls which touched me far beyond anything you can imagine.
Warmly to you all,
Zachary
Future of HiO
Thank you Zach 
@Zachary Winslow
I have a question, and it might sound like.. strange but.. what does phpbb4 bring to us that phpbb3 doesn't? It's fine if you don't know, I'm just a little curious what makes this update different!
In my mind and in my car, we can't rewind, we've gone too far. (Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles)
Clark
@Zachary Winslow
I have a question, and it might sound like.. strange but.. what does phpbb4 bring to us that phpbb3 doesn't? It's fine if you don't know, I'm just a little curious what makes this update different!
In my mind and in my car, we can't rewind, we've gone too far. (Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles)
Clark
Future of HiO
Wait so @Zachary Winslow We can't play unless we pay?
Someone told me I run like a girl. I said that if they ran faster they could to.
Someone told me I run like a girl. I said that if they ran faster they could to.
Future of HiO
No, it is optional, but it would help the site if people did give donations. It is optional.
Cinder Blaze Mirada Johnson
Je suis comme un dragon : dangereuse, fougueuse et magnifique.
Moonlight Dreams!
Future of HiO
Thanks! It said subscribe monthly so I wasn't sure...Cinder Blaze wrote: 10 Apr 2026, 15:20No, it is optional, but it would help the site if people did give donations. It is optional.
Someone told me I run like a girl. I said that if they ran faster they could to.
Future of HiO
Yeah, that’s just subscribing to donate, not to the site! I appreciate you, Zach, for all that you’re doing! This sit has brought me so much joy in a rather stressful and difficult time in my life, and I thank you again for making this possible for all of us!!!Flame Afterglow wrote: 10 Apr 2026, 15:21Thanks! It said subscribe monthly so I wasn't sure...Cinder Blaze wrote: 10 Apr 2026, 15:20No, it is optional, but it would help the site if people did give donations. It is optional.
Future of HiO
Thank you for making this site so amazing! It has honestly meant so much to me that i don't know what i would've done without it! >3
"Damaged in our own right, powerful in our own time, we have spent far too long at the whims of other people." Hudson Vega, Vega, Crave series by Tracy Wolff
Lily McCoire/ Alicia Matthews
"Damaged in our own right, powerful in our own time, we have spent far too long at the whims of other people." Hudson Vega, Vega, Crave series by Tracy Wolff
Lily McCoire/ Alicia Matthews
Future of HiO
Woo!! Thank you!!
| Angelace ©
Sta: 8 | Eva: 6 | Stre: 5 | Wis: 7 | Arc: 3 | Acc: 1
| Angelace ©
Sta: 8 | Eva: 6 | Stre: 5 | Wis: 7 | Arc: 3 | Acc: 1
Future of HiO
Thank you!! It's such a great website!!
"To our victory at any cost. If you cry for this victory, raise your wand to me"
"To our victory at any cost. If you cry for this victory, raise your wand to me"