Open Social APIs

Usually I avoid signing up for these infinitely available Social-networking websites - orkut, facebook, linkedin, Hi5 and blah-blah... But a month back I saw someone integrated "orkut" inside facebook.... and hell..., I started wondering - "How would you do that"?!

(The above mentioned magic was done by - Jeetu Mirchandani, who happens to be Suhas's friend.
http://www.watblog.com/2007/10/05/now-access-orkut-from-facebook-indian-techie-creat/
)

For those who are frequent Facebook users, this may not be a big deal, as you must have seen 100s of web applications embedded inside this website. But do you know how it works? What is this all about?

I did some RnD and then came across some really COOL stuff that Google™ is doing.
They call it open-social.
(Have a look at this in your freetime - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KOEbAZJTTk... a must watch)

OpenSocial is a kind of standards that google expects from social networking websites. Whosoever agrees to these standards exposes some APIs to users so that geeks and developers like us can come up with application that can give rich and custom-made user experience to the website.

What you need to know for using it: HTML, JavaScript and CSS. (or worlds coolest technology - copy and paste :P )

Here is the funda:
Social networking websites expose following services (these are not exactly the names of exposed APIs, for more info: -http://code.google.com/apis/opensocial/docs/)
-people: info about person, in whatever context
-friends: friends of the person
-activities: activities of the person or related people on the website
-persistence: a way to store the user created data.

Orkut has not exposed its network to all the users yet and they are still using a limited sandbox for open social access.

(ah... Writing is tiring than making programs...)

A comment: It seems facebook isn't a part of this OpenSocial system, though it uses a similar philosophy to make it so much interactive.
I'll post more on this in upcoming posts.. real soon..

Sounds interesting... Kick ass...
Try building one by yourself. I am planning to make one by weekend. Let me know if you want to clear some fundas about web applications and above stuff...

People, please add to this if you feel like. Will keep you upgraded. We are "Only humans".

God bless you all, and elite war elephant.

~Q
"Storm Earth and Fire... Heed my call"