In my opinion we need to invest some more time to integration with Facebook and Myspace etc as this is now the future.
Is anyone out there willing to take this project on? I have been looking but it is quite complicated and beyond my skills.
Facebook connect is now pretty much a standard feature in many CMS's and Forum software.
It allows allows your guests and existing users to login with their Facebook account through Facebook Connect. If they havent previously registered on your site, then a new account is automatically created using details from their Facebook profile.
vBulletin has this as an add-on, here is what they say:
Benefits of Facebook Connect
* Users can simply login with their Facebook account without going through the registration process.
* Increase user interaction and your traffic through Facebook notifications and news-feeds!
Features
Facebook users will be able to receive Facebook notifications when:
* There is a reply to their thread or a thread that they're subscribing to
* They receive a new PM
News-Feed will be published on to the user's wall when the user:
* Logs in for the first time
* Replies to a thread
* Creates a new thread
Fetch user data from Facebook
Fetch data like name, location, profile picture and use it on your forums! (NOTE: Some data may not be available for some users)
Automatically befriend user's friends
If any of the user's friends are also registered on the forum, they will automatically be friends!
Forwards Ever, Backwards Never!
Server specs (Server OS / Apache / MySQL / PHP / DragonflyCMS):
Linux-CentOS 5. Apache 2.2.3. SQL 5.0.87. PHP 5.2.11. DF9.2.1
The first is a new tool called the Facebook Connect Wizard, which takes developers through a three step process to get the basic Connect plumbing setup on your website. After entering your site’s URL, you’re given an HTML file to upload to your server, and then you land in a “Social Markup” tutorial (what Facebook is calling XFBML), in what is called the Facebook Connect Playground.
The Facebook Connect Playground contains makes it easy for webmasters and developers to grab code snippets to implement building block elements of Facebook Connect on their sites. For example, the page makes it easy to grab code to implement a login button, profile pictures, names, and friends.
Finally, Facebook has updated the documentation on the main Connect site in order to make Connect’s three value propositions (more traffic, better engagement, higher registration rates) clearer, and to explain the difference between “simple” and “advanced” Facebook Connect implementations.
On the simple side, for example, Facebook says developers can expect the following results:
Share Button
* 2-4% users share
* 3-10 clicks/share
Fan Box Widget
* 5-10% fans click through per post
Live Stream Widget
* +15-20% time on site for users who engage
* +5-15% traffic
Social Comments Widget
* +15-20% comments
* +15-20% registered users
Single Sign On
* 15% increase in registrations
Forwards Ever, Backwards Never!
Server specs (Server OS / Apache / MySQL / PHP / DragonflyCMS):
Linux-CentOS 5. Apache 2.2.3. SQL 5.0.87. PHP 5.2.11. DF9.2.1
Mike great work. I would like to see this happen so I contacted someone and asked would they code it. They replied back with a very detailed response listed below.
As I don't know or use FB I'm not certain if some of the functions you want will be simple or not - it depends on how their API works. I have had a quick look and this is how I see it:
- Logging in (with first time registration) is possible and should be simple to do.
- Notifications is possible but would need hacks to core code for PM and forums. Not a great way to develop but possible. If DF 10 ever gets released might be able to do this with hooks. Also with a big DF site you might need to limit notifications somehow.
- News feed publication possible if supported by API this it wasn't clear how this would be done. It would work differently depending on which News module you use so either you'd have to use the standard one or it will be more work. Again you might need to limit the amount you push up to FB.
- Data fetch is possible but might become out of sync over time. Also might open yourself to DoS and SPAM attacks and if the user deletes their FB account it won't clean up their DF account. It will still be possible to log in using FB username / password direct on DF. Need to think about the full implications of this.
- Friends difficult as DF does not have friends functions so it isn't clear how this would work. Also not clear how this happens with the API. This part would increase the work a lot I expect since it will need to include friends display and management.
I can't give a sensible quote at this point since your requirements aren't well defined. It would be 100's of dollars (more for the friends bit depending on how it worked).
I am willing to pay for this module and I now have one other person on the team. We need more volunteers. Anyway, there are some questions that need to be answered.
1. What specific information do we want the module to post to FB? Do we want the friend’s component? This will increase the cost of development.
2. What module do we want this information to come from, forms, blogs, ect, ect.
3. What information do we want to limit going to FB?
Me personally I am okay with it just pulling in their information and creating an account if they do not have one on my site. I also would like it to post forum comments to FB. My 2 cents.
Please post your wish list so I can firm up the requirements and get back with the programmer
Server specs (Server OS / Apache / MySQL / PHP / DragonflyCMS):
linux,apache,5.0.11.,5.6.30,9.3.4.1
Most FB functions like "friends" are provided by FB API it self .. I have the APIs already and reading them slowly slowly to try to figure out who you may use your own website, installed on your own server, within FB ... thats my aim which it goes lot more far then anyone expectations and needs.
In other words you'll have your own users + all your FB friends using your site. Never been written something similar so don't expect its easy to do.
I know already that my project will need a dedicated (DNS?) server to redirect all requests from your FB to your DF so it will also need monthly $$$.
In FB search for DragonflyCMS app ... its there already but as usual no release date available and DON'T EVEN ASK for one.
I believe it going to be a separate version, upgrade/downgrade will also be possible.
However priorities are driving me to code other stuffs then FB.
.:: I met php the 03 December 2003 :: Unforgettable day! ::.
Server specs (Server OS / Apache / MySQL / PHP / DragonflyCMS):
CloudLinux / Apache 2.4 LSAPI / MySQLi 5.6 / PHP 5.6 / DCVS
radiogetswildOffline
Joined: Apr 22, 2004
Posts: 717
Location: UK
I am sending a message to a developer who is in a tight spot due to sadly loosing his mum and needs some $$$ to help..... who can put up what ? at present I have tried to help with $75 anyone else please say .. as this he would be most grateful for any extra help .. I will phone him today and place this offer to him... for facebook connect
He has been a great friend to me, we have been working together on a solo project for the last 18 months and has helped many in the DF community..
best wishes and kindest regards
Tim Station Founder
Server specs (Server OS / Apache / MySQL / PHP / DragonflyCMS):
MySQL Version 5.0.45 PHP Version 5.2.6 apache is 1.3.41 Dragonfly 9.2.1 Windows 7
radiogetswildOffline
Joined: Apr 22, 2004
Posts: 717
Location: UK
Tom has said he will code it but he really needs some dollars to help him... I will pony up a few more... anybody if you can please do and Tom could have this done in a few days....
DF USERNAME IS bulldog500 He is not online at present due to where he is living he has to go to libray... I will keep everyone up-to-date as I Tel call him from the UK
Please make a payment to paypal account brendap405 @ yahoo.com and place a message in here how much you have paid so we can keep track of it...
This will be a massive help for Tom and has said he would be most thankfull for any help
cheers Tim Station Founder Radio Gets Wild
Server specs (Server OS / Apache / MySQL / PHP / DragonflyCMS):
MySQL Version 5.0.45 PHP Version 5.2.6 apache is 1.3.41 Dragonfly 9.2.1 Windows 7
Tim is this Tom who used to code on DFbounty and done modules such as PK_Ads?
I'd love to help him with an offer of money, however i'm not in a position to offer much - $20 at the most for now. But then again, if several people also offer a similar amount then it soon adds up.
If this is the same Tom, then I know he is more than capable of coding this for us. I think the key will be support too.
I've had a go at messing about with the FB API, you can see a basic connection that I've done on one of my site.
If you press the "I agree" without being signed in then you dont get anything, but if you click the "Connect with Facebook" then you will get your pic and username. But this is as far as I've taken it for now. I just wanted to test the API and how it communicates with FB.