Fursuit maker decides which of their webpages getfursu.it should monitor for updates. To do that, the maker needs to send the inclusion/update form. This must be done every time the address changes (e.g. the maker decided to abandon one social platform and now posts the updates elsewhere).
2. Inclusion/update form gets processed
The address which was selected by the maker to be tracked by getfursu.it gets saved into the database along with all the information included in the inclusion/update form.
3. Periodic updates
With the tracked webpage address in the database, the rest of the process is automated. This is what happens behind the scenes:
3.1. Reading list of addresses
getfursu.it retrieves the list of webpages' addresses which it's supposed to monitor, from the database where they are being kept.
3.2. Fetching webpages
Having the list of addresses, getfursu.it checks all the webpages and tries to figure out commissions' statuses.
3.3. Updating the database
After determining the statuses, getfursu.it updates the makers' data in the database.
3.4. Updates are on-line!
After the database got updated, getfursu.it visitors will see the statuses as determined from the webpages, where makers originally published updates.
Now that you've read this you should understand how this works and why I decided to give up on learning how to draw and instead focused on getfursu.it development. Disclaimer: images below were not drawn by me, obviously. Artist is credited on the info page.
Limitations
Updates are delayed: getfursu.it updates statuses twice a day, so it may even take 12 hours for the updates done by a maker to be reflected here. Take this into account if you are waiting for your beloved maker to open. You'd better follow their social media or other stuff.
getfursu.it is able to track only one, overall status ("we're open/closed"). It's unable to properly handle e.g. websites displaying open for parts; closed for fullsuits.
Some websites are not supported (see below).
The software will not "click" any links, buttons, etc. Please, for tracking provide exact address of where the status is.
Only simple English language is supported.
The software can make mistakes and will use the privilege.
Do's and dont's
Websites: unsupported and supported
Blog entries, posts, journals, tweets, etc. - unpinned. If you post new stuff and the original post/entry/etc. will move to the second page, this will fail. If you unpin the original and pin another post/message/journal/etc. this will fail. This may work if you only edit the pinned item, but not unpin and pin another.
Fur Affinity :( I am sorry to list it here, but as long as the DDoS protection will affect getfursu.it, I cannot recommend this.
Patreon. Unfortunately, getfursu.it is blocked by them (CloudFlare to be precise).
Most of generic websites
Twitter profile info
Instagram profile info
Facebook "about" pages
Trello sometimes works
DeviantArt profile info should work (untested)
Status: what (not) to post
Status on/as an image If you publish your status using cool, fancy font on a pretty image, getfursu.it won't read that. This could work if you named the image specifically, e.g. commissions_open.png, or added the status in the alt attribute.
cOwOmissions open! :) No fancy wording, please. getfursu.it "gets" simple English only.
Partials: open, fullsuits: close Sorry, getfursu.it can track only one "overall" status. You will be listed only if all stuff is open or all stuff is closed.
Commissions open in February! Better solution below.
3 slots left! Better solution below.
Commissions: open / We're open / etc.
Commissions closed, opening in February!
Commissions open, 3 slots left!
How to enroll
To make getfursu.it track and update your status, make sure your website complies with the above recommendations and send the inclusion/update form, providing the website's address in correct field. Make sure the status is visible immediately when you navigate to the address of your choice (no link clicks/actions required; scrolling is OK).