Comments on: Social Networking Goes Open Source With Insoshi http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/ Startup and Technology News Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:36:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Insoshi social networking platform update « Insoshi Ruby on Rails blog http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2322895 Insoshi social networking platform update « Insoshi Ruby on Rails blog Fri, 23 May 2008 23:37:01 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2322895 [...] first milestone was the launch of our open-source project. We pulled out all the stops preparing for it: installing and [...] [...] first milestone was the launch of our open-source project. We pulled out all the stops preparing for it: installing and [...]

]]> By: Vos Virtual Network » Rails Roundup - New Relic and Insoshi - Good Dogfood http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2249210 Vos Virtual Network » Rails Roundup - New Relic and Insoshi - Good Dogfood Fri, 02 May 2008 11:19:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2249210 [...] 2: TechCrunch posts an article telling the world about your cool RoR Open Source Social Networking stuff. This is great free publicity, but can your application handle the TechCrunch effect? Will your RoR [...] [...] 2: TechCrunch posts an article telling the world about your cool RoR Open Source Social Networking stuff. This is great free publicity, but can your application handle the TechCrunch effect? Will your RoR [...]

]]> By: Ben Strackany http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2244191 Ben Strackany Thu, 01 May 2008 16:01:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2244191 I'm not sure how this turned into a PHP vs Rails debate -- Rails is a viable platform with enough reliable & affordable hosting options. If you're already running a LAMP stack then you can always stick with a PHP solution, just like it you're runing Windows I guess you'll be looking at DNN or Community Server. Part of what we do when offering SNS consulting is try to work with clients' platform preferences (if any), so it's always nice to know about alternatives IMO. I’m not sure how this turned into a PHP vs Rails debate — Rails is a viable platform with enough reliable & affordable hosting options. If you’re already running a LAMP stack then you can always stick with a PHP solution, just like it you’re runing Windows I guess you’ll be looking at DNN or Community Server.

Part of what we do when offering SNS consulting is try to work with clients’ platform preferences (if any), so it’s always nice to know about alternatives IMO.

]]> By: gman http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2242282 gman Thu, 01 May 2008 08:54:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2242282 Anything written in Ruby seems very unlikely to take off like Wordpress because the net is L.A.M.P not L.A.M.R The number of ISPs that support Ruby are effectively almost zero where as pretty much all ISPs support PHP. That doesn't seem likely to change anytime soon. Anything written in Ruby seems very unlikely to take off like Wordpress because the net is L.A.M.P not L.A.M.R The number of ISPs that support Ruby are effectively almost zero where as pretty much all ISPs support PHP. That doesn’t seem likely to change anytime soon.

]]> By: Dave http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2241874 Dave Thu, 01 May 2008 07:15:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2241874 #14, are you kidding? I have in fact gone through the code and #16 is dead on. Good code or not it's more of a glorified forum at this point. I'm sure people need more than a forum with a profile and the ability to add friends to build a SN app. This may have been enough 4 years ago, but let's be realistic. I hope to see good things from the developers and the community, but until then it's just a (well written) toy. #14, are you kidding? I have in fact gone through the code and #16 is dead on. Good code or not it’s more of a glorified forum at this point. I’m sure people need more than a forum with a profile and the ability to add friends to build a SN app. This may have been enough 4 years ago, but let’s be realistic. I hope to see good things from the developers and the community, but until then it’s just a (well written) toy.

]]> By: Insoshi, Meet Heroku http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2240760 Insoshi, Meet Heroku Thu, 01 May 2008 01:38:00 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2240760 [...] I read about insoshi on Mashable and TechCrunch this morning, it got my mind buzzing… and immediately my thoughts turned to another Y [...] [...] I read about insoshi on Mashable and TechCrunch this morning, it got my mind buzzing… and immediately my thoughts turned to another Y [...]

]]> By: Marc’s Voice » Blog Archive » final April '08 blog post http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2240390 Marc’s Voice » Blog Archive » final April '08 blog post Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:51:00 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2240390 [...] Thank you to Mark Hendrickson for remembering us…… (though I was surprised to hear that one could get Ning’s source code - I’ll have to try and get a copy.) Maybe Marc will bring that up in our open conversation. [...] [...] Thank you to Mark Hendrickson for remembering us…… (though I was surprised to hear that one could get Ning’s source code - I’ll have to try and get a copy.) Maybe Marc will bring that up in our open conversation. [...]

]]> By: Ben Werdmuller http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2238633 Ben Werdmuller Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:52:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2238633 Someone's already mentioned <a href="http://elgg.org/" rel="nofollow">Elgg</a> (Crunchbase <a href="http://www.crunchbase.com/product/elgg" rel="nofollow">here</a>), but I thought I'd say a little more here. It's based on LAMP rather than RoR, and has been around for four years. The University of Brighton became the world's first <a href="http://community.brighton.ac.uk/" rel="nofollow">university to run a campus-wide social network</a> last year, and they did it on our platform. Elgg 1.0 is out this summer, and will be released at <a href="http://elggjam.com/" rel="nofollow">the Elgg Jam</a>. The new version will support <a href="http://dataportability.org/" rel="nofollow">widely-used data portability formats</a> and includes extensible API and mobile functionality. Someone’s already mentioned Elgg (Crunchbase here), but I thought I’d say a little more here. It’s based on LAMP rather than RoR, and has been around for four years. The University of Brighton became the world’s first university to run a campus-wide social network last year, and they did it on our platform.

Elgg 1.0 is out this summer, and will be released at the Elgg Jam. The new version will support widely-used data portability formats and includes extensible API and mobile functionality.

]]> By: court3nay http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2238140 court3nay Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:25:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2238140 #23 - most open-source rails applications are intended to be the framework, rather than a finished app. You're supposed to write those features yourself :) #23 - most open-source rails applications are intended to be the framework, rather than a finished app. You’re supposed to write those features yourself :)

]]> By: Pope http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2237616 Pope Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:52:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2237616 You know, social network software isn't the problem. The problem is getting people to that network and the fact that there are 1000+ social networks and no platform to link them all. Do I really want to re-make all of my friends and whatnot YET AGAIN! You know, social network software isn’t the problem. The problem is getting people to that network and the fact that there are 1000+ social networks and no platform to link them all.

Do I really want to re-make all of my friends and whatnot YET AGAIN!

]]> By: Benjamin Curtis http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2237564 Benjamin Curtis Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:44:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2237564 @Phil, Comparing the most expensive Rails hosting option to GoDaddy is a bit of stretch... you can get into decent Rails hosting starting at $20 / mo. at quantact.com or slicehost.com. @Phil,

Comparing the most expensive Rails hosting option to GoDaddy is a bit of stretch… you can get into decent Rails hosting starting at $20 / mo. at quantact.com or slicehost.com.

]]> By: Trevor Turk http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2237414 Trevor Turk Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:18:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2237414 I'm the author of an MIT licensed Rails app that may be of interest to this crowd, although I'd prefer it not be called a "social networking site" if at all possible. El Dorado is a full-stack community web application written in Ruby/Rails. It features a forum, event calendar, group chat, file sharing, random headers, avatars, themes, timezone support, and privacy settings. Homepage: http://almosteffortless.com/eldorado Demo and support site: http://eldorado.almosteffortless.com Open source git repository: http://github.com/trevorturk/el-dorado/tree/master I’m the author of an MIT licensed Rails app that may be of interest to this crowd, although I’d prefer it not be called a “social networking site” if at all possible.

El Dorado is a full-stack community web application written in Ruby/Rails. It features a forum, event calendar, group chat, file sharing, random headers, avatars, themes, timezone support, and privacy settings.

Homepage: http://almosteffortless.com/eldorado
Demo and support site: http://eldorado.almosteffortless.com
Open source git repository: http://github.com/trevorturk/el-dorado/tree/master

]]> By: Phil McThomas http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2236902 Phil McThomas Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:34:06 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2236902 @MadMax: The only reason I make the comparison between RoR and PHP is cost of hosting. EngineYard seems to suggest the minimum outlay for a Production Rails app is $600 per month. I can run WordPress on GoDaddy for $12 a month or something. I get that RoR and PHP are different, but that difference isn't important to (a) the user or (b) the site owner who wants to run an app (economically). @MadMax: The only reason I make the comparison between RoR and PHP is cost of hosting. EngineYard seems to suggest the minimum outlay for a Production Rails app is $600 per month. I can run WordPress on GoDaddy for $12 a month or something.

I get that RoR and PHP are different, but that difference isn’t important to (a) the user or (b) the site owner who wants to run an app (economically).

]]> By: Hernan Garcia http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2236705 Hernan Garcia Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:51:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2236705 Come on!!!, why are you still supporting these kind of projects. How is it possible to run a social network platform relaying on RoR? It is just not feasible to medium and long term neither cost effective. Come on!!!, why are you still supporting these kind of projects. How is it possible to run a social network platform relaying on RoR?

It is just not feasible to medium and long term neither cost effective.

]]> By: Daiko http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235923 Daiko Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:46:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235923 I must say I'm very impressed with the look and feel of Insoshi. After strugling to get it up and running on my Mac (a path error resulted in MacPort not installing, thus FreeImage install having problems), I started to play around with the default users and Lorem postings. As with all new systems you spend some time wondering whether things are bugs or features. These are some of my initial questions: 1 Too open information when not logged in Being used to Facebooks closed environment you soon wonder whether it is intentional to show all people and blog/forum posts to non-members. At least that could be controlled by Admin. 2 What do you gain by being connected!? You get a limited feed, but you still get to see the full profile of people ++ (as I understand it). You can also send messages to people you are not connected to. 3 How about an invitation only option? If Insoshi could be used as a closed social network that was open by invitation only, it would be the perfect tool for larger networks of professionals. I guess that could be an Admin option to configure that. 4 No upload function The blog feature is very limited. I miss the oportunity to upload files and photos, +++. I'm not that concerned with text formatting tools. Again the size limits for uploads must be possible to control by Admin. All in all I really think Insoshi have something going here and a long awaited Open Source Social Network has a bright future. I must say I’m very impressed with the look and feel of Insoshi. After strugling to get it up and running on my Mac (a path error resulted in MacPort not installing, thus FreeImage install having problems), I started to play around with the default users and Lorem postings. As with all new systems you spend some time wondering whether things are bugs or features. These are some of my initial questions:

1 Too open information when not logged in

Being used to Facebooks closed environment you soon wonder whether it is intentional to show all people and blog/forum posts to non-members. At least that could be controlled by Admin.

2 What do you gain by being connected!?

You get a limited feed, but you still get to see the full profile of people ++ (as I understand it). You can also send messages to people you are not connected to.

3 How about an invitation only option?

If Insoshi could be used as a closed social network that was open by invitation only, it would be the perfect tool for larger networks of professionals. I guess that could be an Admin option to configure that.

4 No upload function

The blog feature is very limited. I miss the oportunity to upload files and photos, +++. I’m not that concerned with text formatting tools. Again the size limits for uploads must be possible to control by Admin.

All in all I really think Insoshi have something going here and a long awaited Open Source Social Network has a bright future.

]]> By: Peter Armstrong http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235746 Peter Armstrong Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:42:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235746 @Michael: There's a big difference between GPL v3 and AGPL... With GPL v3 you don't have to provide the source to someone who just uses the hosted app, so third party commercial developers at least have some avenues to make money. (This is a delicate balance -- obviously you want to build a business too. However, the AGPL doesn't give enough away to build a community, imho... The LGPL gives more away, so it's easier to build a community, but it's harder to monetize... But you know all this, obviously.) Unfortunately, as it stands now, I can't even look at Insoshi--since I can't touch anything AGPL'd... @Michael: There’s a big difference between GPL v3 and AGPL… With GPL v3 you don’t have to provide the source to someone who just uses the hosted app, so third party commercial developers at least have some avenues to make money. (This is a delicate balance — obviously you want to build a business too. However, the AGPL doesn’t give enough away to build a community, imho… The LGPL gives more away, so it’s easier to build a community, but it’s harder to monetize… But you know all this, obviously.) Unfortunately, as it stands now, I can’t even look at Insoshi–since I can’t touch anything AGPL’d…

]]> By: MadMax3000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235482 MadMax3000 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:46:59 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235482 Without PHP community, a project may not grow fast. However I may take what I say back because Ruby on Rails is pretty hot right now, and they have the momentum to become something big. And, please stop comparing/associating Ruby on Rails (framework) with PHP (language). Without PHP community, a project may not grow fast. However I may take what I say back because Ruby on Rails is pretty hot right now, and they have the momentum to become something big.

And, please stop comparing/associating Ruby on Rails (framework) with PHP (language).

]]> By: Victor http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235322 Victor Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:36:04 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235322 Very nice work, thanks for sharing. Best wishes. However, I would be more excited if this was in Python and ran on Google App Engine.... I'd really like to see some beyond basic example code for something. Very nice work, thanks for sharing. Best wishes.

However,

I would be more excited if this was in Python and ran on Google App Engine…. I’d really like to see some beyond basic example code for something.

]]> By: Ex http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235286 Ex Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:22:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235286 The bubble is about to burst. The bubble is about to burst.

]]> By: Andre Vitorio http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235282 Andre Vitorio Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:20:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235282 Didn't it seem obvious someone was going to launch that? Didn’t it seem obvious someone was going to launch that?

]]> By: Michael Hartl http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235269 Michael Hartl Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:14:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235269 @court3nay: We went with the AGPL to prevent anyone from co-opting the Insoshi platform and making it closed-source (the way they would be able to under, say, the MIT License). The MIT License makes sense for Rails (what would a 'closed-source' version of Rails even look like?), but for an open-source web application the AGPL provides stronger assurances that the product will always be open source. As far as building on Insoshi is concerned, we plan to make commercial licenses available to those who don't want to be bound by the AGPL. (This is the same basic dual-license structure used by MySQL.) @court3nay: We went with the AGPL to prevent anyone from co-opting the Insoshi platform and making it closed-source (the way they would be able to under, say, the MIT License). The MIT License makes sense for Rails (what would a ‘closed-source’ version of Rails even look like?), but for an open-source web application the AGPL provides stronger assurances that the product will always be open source.

As far as building on Insoshi is concerned, we plan to make commercial licenses available to those who don’t want to be bound by the AGPL. (This is the same basic dual-license structure used by MySQL.)

]]> By: Miles (SEM iCluck) http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235249 Miles (SEM iCluck) Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:07:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235249 There definitely needs to be more implementations added for this to work nicely - it just seems like another forum script with user profiles and on RoR... There definitely needs to be more implementations added for this to work nicely - it just seems like another forum script with user profiles and on RoR…

]]> By: nobosh.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235245 nobosh.com Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:05:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235245 insoshi would make a great Tutorial/Example for those in the process of learning Ruby on Rails insoshi would make a great Tutorial/Example for those in the process of learning Ruby on Rails

]]> By: court3nay http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235221 court3nay Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:54:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235221 It's worth mentioning that the license is Affero GPL, which means you have to provide the source to your site if anyone requests it. This is probably a deal-breaker for most companies looking to build on this platform. Also, elegant, powerful code always looks simple on the surface. In fact, that's the mark of good code. It doesn't look like #5 has spent much time looking at the code at all. (re-post, it ate my comment previously) It’s worth mentioning that the license is Affero GPL, which means you have to provide the source to your site if anyone requests it. This is probably a deal-breaker for most companies looking to build on this platform.

Also, elegant, powerful code always looks simple on the surface. In fact, that’s the mark of good code. It doesn’t look like #5 has spent much time looking at the code at all.

(re-post, it ate my comment previously)

]]> By: dave http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235219 dave Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:54:23 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/29/social-networking-goes-open-source-with-insoshi/#comment-2235219 hello? hellooooo? ELGG???? elgg???? www.elgg.org - older than all of these...and so is barnraiser... hello? hellooooo? ELGG???? elgg???? http://www.elgg.org - older than all of these…and so is barnraiser…

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