- Forum >
- Topic: Troubleshooting >
- My stream (& those of friends…
My stream (& those of friends) not displaying
This has only started since I turned the computer on this morning (8:30 am July 15, Sydney Australia time). Anyone else having this problem ?
EDIT: It appears to have been fixed (10:15 am AEST)
EDIT2: And it broke again 5 minutes later - going to fill in a Bug Report.
EDIT3: It seems to have been fixed several hours ago - all ok this end (8:20 am AEST, July 16)
190 Comments
It happens sometimes and generally is fixed within few hours.
EDIT: The best to do is probably to fill a "Bug Report" form, those forms being read by staff.
While they will not answer to it, because they can't answer to each one, it'll have them be aware of the bug sooner.
So the more we are to report it like that, the sooner they'll be aware that the bug came back (and thus the sooner it'll be fixed).
1985
There seems to be a troll down-voting everything at the moment. Just ignore it and up-vote.
This morning the Activity Tab is here, streams on profiles are here yet both of those only display the history from the last ~12 hours is shown on my profile, and your profile (jrikhal) ends its activity stream in between 1 and 2 days ago. Maybe the system was just getting too cluttered and Duo did a reset, or maybe it's just another bug. Hope it will be fixed (Saturday 7:50 AEST, Friday 21:50 GMT)
I remember another time when streams glitched and everything disappeared, then it began coming back slowly. That was apparently something going wrong with the data and it being restored from backups. So I would guess that this is something similar, where the bug lost a bunch of data and it hasn't been restored yet.
Nearly 14 hours after I posted this discussion thread (its 10:15 pm AEST now), I'm absolutely knackered and going to bed. If it gets fixed, could you please either reply to this post or post on my stream. Thanks for all your help and support jrikhal ;)
BTW, Are you in my time zone as you have been responding to me within minutes from the get-go (unless you are a night owl)?
when it was first recorded?
This is the first discussion about it
when this bug started
Thus it has started shortly before this discussion has been created.
I hope it is fixed soon
I hope too but, well, it could be worst and be the language learning part that have failed.
Stream and possibility to communicate/chat with others isn't the core of Duolingo, so it's not that bad, IMO, and we can make without it for some times. At least the reason for which Duo exists is still working: learning languages.
That is true, but I want activity because I can compliment others learning which will make them happy, motivating them to do more learning which is the top priority of this site showing that activity is needed. Some people can't comment/post on streams, so you won't be able to applaud others. But then activity is fun because you can chat with others(Which is where your point comes in), possibly making a friendship or helping other with a language you are fluent or native in. Or just simple practicing.
Everything -Musicatrix- wrote below is true but also consider how useful (at least for me) the stream is. It lets you navigate more easily between the threads in which you commented. In fact, this is the way I've noticed it when I tried to edit some of my previous comments but I couldn't find it.
I'd also add the ability just to see the activity of other learners. Most people talk about "chatting" and "complimenting" but it's good just to see how others are doing, what they are learning at the moment etc. Maybe it will be an inspiration or a subject for a completely language-related discussion. It can also be a huge motivator even if you see those "X learned a Y skill" on your stream.
Thank you for your quick reaction to this and getting it somewhat organised. I've already sent a bug report several hours ago. I hope they will change it soon and it will look how it did before.
1849
My apologies in advance for the length of this comment but I was about to file a bug report last night when it seemed to be getting fixed, so I shelved the report and went to bed, waking to find the situation was worse not better ..... I am letting everyone see what I have just written. ...... Here is the text of my Bug Report:
Last night I tried to open my Activity tab and received the "You are all alone Ifphigenia" message, (see screenshot) at the same time my Profile stream was showing all the tabs (see screenshot) but had the "There is an error in retrieving your stream" message .... I was in the middle of filing a bug report and taking screenshots when the bug seemed to be clearing, so I went to bed expecting it to be fixed this morning but instead I have now lost my Activity tab completely (see screenshot) and my Profile stream will not load although I now have no error message (see screenshot). I am hoping that this is a genuine bug and will soon be fixed as I am aware that you have been running A/B tests on the removal of Activity and Immersion. If this is an A/B test, I can give you my results now .... Both of these are important parts of my language learning the Activity to converse and practice in other languages, help and be helped by other users correcting each other's writings in the target language and generally help on small points all of which would clutter the forums if played out there ... the only other option which would be available. Likewise Immersion is a valuable resource for practicing real life language and is an invaluable part of the language learning process, giving, as it does, access to corrections and explanations by native speakers as well as hugely expanding vocabulary. If either or both if these were withdrawn there would be no point in continuing to use Duolingo, the only site which, at present, provides them. The lessons themselves are no better nor worse than many other sites and ending as they do at around B1 are if little or no use to anyone at or above that level. Your avowed aim is to provide free language learning for the World, well the wealthier people will be fine but the poorest, the ones you state you are trying to help most, will not have that option and you will have sabotaged their chances if ever becoming fluent. Without these essential tools, I would have no reason to continue to use Duolingo and would leave. I am hoping against hope that this is a bug as I value my time here and have learnt a huge amount using these tools, so fingers crossed for a bug which is quickly fixed. Many thanks, Gena.
I was suggestng that If you agreed you would say so but following jrikhal's advice I am no longer doing so. Thanks.
- If it's a bug, what I think, then it'll be fixed and having one more report been sent to staff about it is good since it'll give more visibility
- if it's an A/B test, then writing a "bug report" about will change nothing and, worst, will take time to staff to read it and thus delay the reading, and thus the fix of real bugs.
If you agree, please say so.
So I agree with filling a bug report but I would have stopped it at "will not load although I now have no error message (see screenshot)".
I disagree with putting all the rest in a "bug report". Should be a post in the "Duolingo" general forum (if anywhere).
what would be the point of that in an A/B test
To test if users aren't too much distracted from learning languages by "chatting in streams" and/or by "being fed with too much activity stream"?
Duo already tested accounts with no stream in the past.
Note: But I don't think it's that, for 3 reasons:
- At first only the streams were buggy and if it had been an A/B test it wouldn't be buggy, the page would just load. Then it seemed fixed for 1-2 minutes before crashing back and "Activity stream" going down too. So it looks more like a bug propagating to me.
- They already A/B tested "no stream", so I don't think they'd test it again.
- Up to know nobody has said they have it working normally which would be the case if it were an A/B test.
1849
@jrikhal. Your point about nobody reporting here that they have no problem doesn't really work because, if thre had no problem they might not even be aware that one existed.
I must just say, that although all our comments to each other have been from opposite points if view I am not trying to be argumentative and have a great deal of respect for both you and your opinions.
Gena.:-))
Yep, it's not a proof, just a "clue" in that direction.
But from my experience on Duo forums, when not everybody is impacted you generally have one of the non-impacted that end up in the discussion and leave a comment. Especially when the discussion is on top of the "Popular" tab and when multiple links to the discussion have been left in the multiple recent other discussions created about the same issue.
Just to see that the more the minutes pass, the more I'm confident about it. ;) But will for sure never be 100% confident about it. ;)
Let cross-fingers.
1849
@ripcurlgirl If they are intending to remove these facilities permanently then the mods would also lose them. I hope you are both right .... I would love to be proved wrong and get my full facilities back ... Fingers crossed that it happens soon.
how would a user report another user that is abusing the rules to the mods if they can't post on their stream/s?
By following step \4. of How do I report abuse?" support pages' article. ;)
It would just make the mods pretty pointless in a way
Personally 99% of my activity as mod comes from reading directly the forums and 1% from notifications by users on my stream. So not sure it'd change a lot on that side.
1849
@ripcurlgirl, I believe they get email notifications also but without our streams we can't report anything to a mod anyway. .... I am still hoping that you and jrikhal are right but time will tell .... it would be really helpful if someone from Staff made a comment but they may have their hands full if this is a bug and therefore, not have time to write here. :-)
Edit: I wrote this simultaneously with jrikhal .... obviously his/her answer is the one to listen to. :-)
1849
@ jrikhal ... Thanks for your reply .... My reason for including the comments with the bug report is that I imagined, maybe wrongly from your comments, that if it was not a bug then Bug Report or not the staff would know that it was unnaceptable and would have some internal mechanism for coordinating with their colleagues. I would post the balance in the general forum but reasoned that starting a new stream there would result in being asked to move it to Troubleshooting, or maybe being redirected to post it here. My apologies, if you feel I have acted out if turn but I fear that I do not share your optimism about a bug .... I only wish I did but in the past this type of bug has been fixed in fairly short order .... this time, there are stranger things than usual happening and it is showing no signs if being fixed anytime soon. ..... I hope I am wrong.
However, taking account if your comments I will remove the encouragement for others to follow suit.
but in the past this type of bug has been fixed in fairly short order ...
I think to remember at least once where it took hours to be fixed.
it is showing no signs if being fixed anytime soon
As always. ;)
staff would know that it was unnaceptable
I disagree: I can "accept" bugs, they happened (maybe even more on free things) and if it's an A/B test, then I don't find A/B tests unacceptable (whatever is tested) and I'm not sure if we are even "qualified" (sorry, I don't find the exact word to match my thinking, not a native speaker ;)) to decide what is acceptable or not on a free website.
1849
@jrikhal. I understand exactly what you are saying and although you are a non-native speaker your English is always very clear.
My point was that as it has already taken several hours, it did not seem to be clearing as quickly as in the past but I'm sure you know more about this than I do, given that you are a mod and therefore privy to more information.
I was not meaning that the situation was unacceptable per se, as I agree with you that a free website has no obligations to its users in that sense. I am saying that it would not be acceptable to me as a user and that I would vote with my feet (leave). This would undoubtedly have no effect on Duo and I would be sad to go but there would, for me, be very little point in staying.
If you feel that my original post is unhelpful or counterproductive, then please let me know. I will happily remove it if you want me to do so.
Thanks.
therefore privy to more information.
Unfortunately, not about bugs and, in fact, not really about anything: mods almost always discover changes as everyone, Duo never annunciates things first to them.
If you feel that my original post is unhelpful or counterproductive,
Not at all. You shared your opinion and what you have sent to staff (which is by the way the helping since it shows the good example to do: fill a bug report ;) ) and asked for opinion on it. Nothing wrong or counterproductive about it! ;)
Note: I hope I'm not guessing wrongly and that it's indeed a similar bug as in the past. ;)
1849
@jrikhal ... Thanks for your comments, I will leave the comment as it stands then :-)
It is a shame that Duo don't at least give you some feedback, it would make your job a whole lot easier if you weren't floundering in the same fog as the rest of us.
Yes, lets all hope it is a bug :-))
Gena, I can't reply to your last comment so I'm replying here. I agree - how long would it take to shoot a quick answer off to jrikhal to say they are working on the problem (or not)? I've come across DL bugs during Australian daytime in the past and they took only a matter of hours to clean up - regardless of the time in the US. Why is this one such so "elusive". It is starting to take on a distinctly unpleasant odour.
It might be a nastier bug than in the past this time. I don't remember the Activity tab disappearing before, but when Immersion did this a while ago it took a good few hours. But Luis did comment and tell us it was just a glitch and not them removing it....
Edit: @jrikhal Great minds think alike. :-)
I noticed that just now, with my stream and activity tab. So I typed in www.duolingo.com/activity in the search bar, and I see 'Error 404' with Duo holding a crutch and being bandaged greeting me. I hope it's just a bug.
1299
The standard message on the internet that is shown in any browser to say that a web page does not exist.
1849
Mine isn't even doing that it just goes straight to 404
@ jrikhal .... I'm having to reply here .... I will try what you suggest.
Well, I tried it but still no luck .... I can't stop it loading quickly enough .... I tried clearing the browser cache but it made no difference .... I only have ordinary internet, nothing superfast like cable or fibre .... so I shall just have to carry on keeping my fingers crossed ....... Maybe I would have been able to click stop loading faster if they weren't crossed :-)))
So, it says that I should add a screenshot to the report, but is that really required? I don't have any application that can do it, so that's why.
I would advise that you look up online "ways to take pictures on my........" If not windows has a way...I will tell you the way if you are on a windows computer.
So, it says that I should add a screenshot to the report, but is that really required?
It says
(fields marked with * are required)
and the Attachment field has no *.
So, no, it's not required. ;) But Duo asks to do so (event if not required) since it generally helps them a lot to get what is the exact issue.
Mine too. This morning I just changed my language to Arabic. After that, I changed it back to English approximately at 8:30 am (GMT +8), I realized something is odd on the blue bar. After I realized Activity Stream was missing I immediately came to the troubleshooting discussion. Luckily I'm the only one facing this problem.
I'm looking at the currrent A/B test in progress now (see here for how to do it). here is some interesting ones I have found:
There are currently four different no_op_experiment tests running. 1 and 2 are false for me, 3 and 4 are true. (There is also a no_tips_and_notes test running. False :) )
Those are the only ones that stood out to me in that list as potentially being related to this.
The duo.user.attributes.ab_options request in the javaconsole isn't working anymore for me for hours. In fact the duo.user doesn't exist anymore for me.
I was suspecting it to be the reason (and said it in my report to staff), but if you have access to it but experience the same bug, then it's not the reason obviously.
EDIT:
The 4 no_op_experiment A/B tests are here for months, so very unlikely they are A/B tests provoking our bug.
EDIT2:
FYI: I see two A/B tests with mysterious names: sg_is_testing_user and sg_nbs. The former is here since at least 2016/05/25 while the other one wasn't there at this date. Now, did this sg_nbs started at the moment the bug started: impossible to know.
That makes sense.
Some of the things they have tests for are...concerning...but that's a discussion for another time.
Would it be appropriate to have a Troubleshooting discussion asking users who do have Activity to let us know here? Or not?
EDIT: Got it. my guess is then, is that it is not a test. I didn't see anything else really suspicious.
Gotcha. Thanks for helping the community solve this mystery/glitch ;)
Another way to look at the AB tests is to go to www.duolingo.com/users/[YourName]. It's at the bottom for me but you may also search ab_options. And looking through those, I agree with TP, unless they have given it a completely random name (highly unlikely), this isn't an AB test.
Also to be kept in mind is the fact that it is just early morning in PA, where Duo headquarters is. if it is a glitch, staff might not even know about it yet.
Then I'll explain our findings. :-) We looked at what A/B tests are going on (that method worked for me too, btw) and the only ones that looked like they might possibly be responsible for removing Activity were four different ones labeled as no_op_experiment. Those have been around for months, so it's very unlikely that they are the cause. None of the others look at all related (though some of them are slightly worrying for other reasons...) In case anybody was wondering, all four of the no_op_experiments are true for me.
1985
....again (they've already tried removing activity/feed as an A/B test; I think it's been shelved now, however—but it, like many A/B tests, only applied to new users).
Hi lauren.eliza.le,
is staff currently looking on completely fixing it? Or the "fix" will stay like it is currently?
"completely" in the sense that streams don't display anything older than yesterday (nothing older than 2016-07-14 11:49:06 GMT, on my case), so the fix seems to have only partially recovered streams.
I can confirm that the past activity file communications do still exist, yet they just do not show up on our Activity thread tab.
As to if they will spend resources to correct the issue that you can not see further back through your activity thread, so that once again we can see them and access them through our activity thread tab - the answer to that question I do not know.
I am thankful that they have been able to have activity re-instated. It is a useful tool in communications, and community building and sharing. Which for some is also a motivating force for their language learning.
However I feel it doubtful that they will be spending their limited labor hours on fixing this issue. In my research I was aware of something similar that happened almost 2 years ago. They did not then re-instate access to the old history via the Activity thread tab. I do feel this might also be the case this time around.
What is important to our actual language learning are:
- The language trees - including their tips and notes
- the informative posts and the good questions people ask about language , and are answered, in our language forums
- the "Words" tab for those that have that tab.
- Immersion - for those that have that
- and now TinyCards.
Things such as:
- lingots
- streaks
- activity communications
These items are all motivators to engage us.
Saying that - I do feel the loss also of the history of Activity. But I am prepared to wear it and continue on with my language learning.
As we are about to test this yet again, I feel a comment is in order. Stream histories have a value very useful, if not essential, in moderating, both for forum mods and for course mods. Yes, those benefits would be visible to regular users only indirectly. Like if the forums fill up with heaps of useless or abusive junk, or the new courses develop more slowly because the "hiring" process grinds to a halt.
2189
Thanks for your answer.
I think they will not fix this issue. A few months ago I told them about a bug, allowing to block any post in the discussion, using some simple character set. It does not have correction until now. I think the same thing happens with the stream: someone wrote something wrong.
This is sadly.
1849
@lauren.eliza.le Thank you! I see from your profile page that you are a Duolingo tester, so please could you confirm whether this last episode was a bug or a test. Many thanks. :-))
As said above, yes, your stream started to display something again because you had a recent (=after 2016-07-14 11:49:06 GMT) activity: the first one recent "activity" of your account being your comment " don't know about anyone else" above.
Prior to that comment, your account had no existing activity after the fix of the bug (that this discussion is about) and thus your stream didn't display anything (which is a remaining of said bug).
2615
I can't see my own stream, but I can see everyone else's. Anyone else with this problem?
Now that you posted this comment, can you see your stream?
Normally, you should be able to see it now, see this comment here in this discussion.
Firstly my English is not good, sorry. When I click on "Your profile", I can just see events of yesterday and the day before.I have had this problem for a long time. Last three week i could not see anything. Then something happened and i started to see just what i did yesterday and the day before. But they can be deleted anytime just like others. When i click on "discussion" and then "followed" the same thing happens. I can not see all discussions that i contribute. One of our moderators said your writings can come back but they have not so far. It is very important to read comments again and again to remember somethigs for me. What do you recommend? Thx so much.
Then something happened and i started to see just what i did yesterday and the day before.
Yes, it's the bug described in this discussion that happened.
So you only see things you did after 2016-07-14. You apparently had no activity on Duo between 2016-07-14 and 2016-07-22, therefore your stream display only things since 2016-07-22.
I can not see all discussions that i contribute.
"where"?
Where you don't see those discussions? They aren't supposed to "appear" on your profile.
What do you recommend?
In this case, you cannot do anything on your side to have your stream displaying things older than 2016-07-22: if Duo repair the database then we will all see all our activity again, otherwise none of us will.
Now if you want to "follow" actively discussions: I recommend to activate the mail notification.
1299
The activity stream has been switched off permanently. It will not come back. See here: https://www.duolingo.com/comment/22226909