[Damilis]

Well I surely hope nothing I have said has been interpreted as a complaint because I just recently finished reading all the 0.6.2 source code and, man, talk about ingenious.
As for the DB schema changes and why they happen, no explanation needed. As a software developer, I fully understand the evolution of software from planning stages, thru alpha and beta, to release. But, and this is what I have been talking about, as a project reaches closer and closer to release v1.0, aka exits beta stage, the size and quantity of changed drops exponentially. Any form of standardization has to be implemented in the very beginning (which by nature of the EQEmu project and with all reverse engineering endeavors, is impossible) or near the end of beta. This is where I see the State of EQEmu currently.
I have been following the evolution of this project pretty closely for several years now (Since Dec '02) and I have seen the pain and anguish caused by major code and db changes. Wonderful tools laid to waste by the change, entire DBs of custom content now rendered nearly useless, etc, etc. And such is the way of change, not just with EQEmu but with life in general. </Philosophy> As a result, however, I have noticed an increase in reluctance to create new tools/content, especially with the ever present fear of antiquation looming overhead.
Since the devs are soooooo close to having a real release version, I was just 'sticking the feelers out' to see if others think its time to start tossing around standardizations in db format for the purposes of minimizing the impact of change on a server with a custom db and smoothing out data exchange between people. I think that the Emu can benefit greatly from this, and as my knowledge of the deep workings of the Emu grows, so does my desire to spearhead this project.
I do understand that major changes are still on the horizon, I am not that naive, but I had a Chief (yes I am a 10 year squid/bubblehead) who once said: "Revolutionary changes demand an evolution in a Standard." Granted the use was drastically different, he was complaining about Reactor Plant Startup Procedures, but I see it as applicable here.

BUT, if no one gives a squat, ill just standardize myself and shaddap

Thanks for reading anyways.