A Beginner's Guide to OpenSocial
All my own work by Tom Natt
What problem does it try to solve?
Writing applications specifically for a single API
How about a demo?
Much like this...
Why?
Developers Site Owners • Can reuse apps on new • New site immediately gains social networks many applications • Reduce code maintenance • Pre-existing broad • Increased potential developer base audience for application
I'm a developer - how do I get involved?
Authenticate with OAuth
ask Phil!
Use the API • REST protocol • RPC protocol • Javascript API
Method Summary
• • • • • String getDisplayName() String getField(key, opt_params) String getId() Boolean isOwner() Get Boolean isViewer()
Information!
Including: ABOUT_ME, ADDRESSES, CARS, FASHION and many more
I'm a server and I want to play too
Be a Container • • • • • Adding and removing friends Adding and removing apps Storing activities Retrieving activity streams for self and friends Storing and retrieving per-app and per-app-peruser data
SO • Put your socialness out there for others to use • Shingdig (apache)
What DOESN'T it do?
aka "The SpecialTom slide"
OpenSocial by itself does not solve the problem of migrating your social network from place to place
Photo by mcmrbt http://www.flickr.com/photos/holyhoses/5165664/
Who does it?
OpenSocial (left) Vs Facebook
Cash picture by noahwesley http://www.flickr.com/photos/noahwesley/120499365/
Huh?
Viable option to developing for Facebook
MySpace brings a massive body of users, considered to even the odds somewhat in the battle
So what can we do?
If our group work evolved to become a social network we could become a container An application such as Flat Out could have been developed using OpenSocial It gives us the potential to use existing social networks for our applications And many more (probably)
Questions?
If you must...