The web is more interesting when you can build your applications that easily interact with your friends and colleagues. But with the trend towards more social applications also comes a growing list of website specific APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that developers must learn.While your do this you should also know if you really need that interface on your website. OpenSocial defines a common API for social applications across multiple websites. With standard JavaScript and HTML, developers can create apps that access a social network's friends and update feeds.
Many sites, one API
A common API means you have less to learn to build for multiple websites. OpenSocial is currently being developed by a broad set of members of the web community.
A common API means you have less to learn to build for multiple websites. OpenSocial is currently being developed by a broad set of members of the web community.
Metrics:
The ultimate goal is for any social website to be able to implement the API and host 3rd party social applications. Like your website Goals - highest level is before you plan your business model make sure you have a pleasure model. There are many websites implementing OpenSocial, including Engage.com, Friendster, hi5, Hyves, imeem, LinkedIn, MySpace, Ning, Oracle, orkut, Plaxo, Salesforce.com, Six Apart, Tianji, Viadeo, and XING. Set your targets carefully. We should know whom we are targeting, based on number of active users, contact rates, invitation conversion rate and User Retention rate.
Learn more about this Opensocial directly from Google code.
