Social Web API: OpenSocial Compatibility & Interoperability
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Background
There are two dominant Social API's - the Facebook API and the OpenSocial API. The Ringside Social Application Server implements both API's so that a website or application can run their social application anywhere on the web. Additionally, the Ringside Server provides a way for websites to build their own friend networks that also integrate into the large Social Networks like MySpace, Orkut, hi5 and other OpenSocial-based Social Networks.
The Ringside Server has been built to have both compatibility and interoperability with OpenSocial. This means that any application that runs on OpenSocial can also run on the Ringside Server (compatibility), and that an application can use social information held in OpenSocial as well as on the Ringside Server together (interoperability).
The Ringside Server accomplishes this by integrating the Apache Shindig open source implementation of OpenSocial within our server. For an overview of the OpenSocial 0.7, 0.8, and 0.9 Architectures, visit: http://wiki.ringsidenetworks.org/display/ringside/OpenSocial+Architecture
This enables any OpenSocial application to run on the Ringside Server with only a few simple changes - unlocking two powerful use cases:
- OpenSocial applications can now run on any website using the Ringside Server and are no longer limited to just running on the large OpenSocial networks like MySpace and Orkut.
- New social applications can be developed and deployed on both your website and on OpenSocial networks simultaneously - greatly expanding the reach of a website into a large and vibrant user base on networks like MySpace, hi5, Orkut and LinkedIn.
For a video demonstration of how this works, visit
http://wiki.ringsidenetworks.org/display/ringside/OpenSocial
Example YouTube OpenSocial Application
In this screenshot you can see YouTube running within an OpenSocial context. It is running within a sample Ringside social network where the list of Friends may be a collection of friends across any social network including Facebook, MySpace and a website's own social graph. It also has a button on the bottom to set this video as a Profile video.
The power of this application is that any website can create their own social graph from their existing registered members, allow the members to connect with their friends on any social network, and then easily add and interact with social applications like YouTube.
Conclusion
The OpenSocial API has emerged as the most open way to develop social applications today and is supported by most of the large Social Networks like MySpace, hi5, Orkut and LinkedIn, with the exception of Facebook. As websites create their own social applications, they can use the Ringside Server to help them bridge the gap between OpenSocial and Facebook and create applications that run on their own website, on any OpenSocial site, and on Facebook as well.
At Ringside Networks we have designed the Ringside Social Application Server to:
- Connect your website members to the Social Web
- Connect members to friends on your website, Facebook, or any OpenSocial site
- Connect social applications to your website, Facebook, or any OpenSocial site
- Connect your social applications to your content, data, and systems
References
- This paper based on blog entitled "Ringside Networks Brings the Power of Social Networking to Any Website"
http://bobbickel.blogspot.com/2008/03/ringside-networks-brings-power-of.html - Bill Reichert's "OpenSocial Support for Ringside Social Application Server"
http://wiki.ringsidenetworks.org/display/ringside/OpenSocial - OpenSocial Architecture Overview
http://wiki.ringsidenetworks.org/display/ringside/OpenSocial+Architecture - Trail Map on Creating and Hosting an Open Social application on Ringside
http://wiki.ringsidenetworks.org/display/ringside/OS+Applications
Additional References
- Ringside Networks Social Business website links to a wide range of articles covering the business aspects of the Social Web
http://www.ringsidenetworks.com/socialbusiness/ - Ringside Networks team blogs cover industry, technical, and product related topics
http://www.ringsidenetworks.com/community/blogs/ - Why Build Social Applications into a Website?
http://bobbickel.blogspot.com/2008/02/why-build-social-applications-into-web.html
- Why Develop a Facebook Application?
http://bobbickel.blogspot.com/2008/04/why-develop-facebook-application.html
- Search Advertising vs. Social Applications
http://bobbickel.blogspot.com/2008/03/search-advertising-vs-social.html