Brainstorm me :-)

[Rolandixor (Christ's Warrior)]

could I simply create a chat/IM widget with opensocial?

[Rolandixor (Christ's Warrior)]

to expand on this, my goal is to turn IM on it's head by freeing the server (mostly).
Does anyone think this could work?

the main fact of planning so much (I'm a minor perfectionist sometimes) has held me back from going further.

[Ernie H.]

Hi Roland - totally possible. The parts are twofold though - you have to create a front end with your OpenSocial widget using Javascript, but you also have to provide a back-end with a database for a way for the application to know the rooms, who's in each chat room, and the previous conversation. The DB can't be off of Ning, since we use a Content Store rather than an SQL based solution.

[Rolandixor (Christ's Warrior)]

Thanks Ernie!
I figured that keeping a database on the Ning side would not work, seeing as, as you said, Ning doesn't use a SQL. I know it's a tough move, but I think I may find a way (someone else already has) to not need the database altogether.

I'll let you know how things come along. If I can find someone (or somewhere, lol) that is willing to freely host a database for this purpose, that will make life really easy :-).

Oh, and of course the whole thing will be open-source. There will be a desktop front end, which will (hopefully) provide integration with Ning through (the widget/gadget of course- and-) data stored in profile questions (if of course this is allowed). Some of that will be easy to implement by using other open source projects as a backend (like libpurple and pidgin (I'm on ubuntu, so it's no suprise that I'll go with GTK+ LOL).

anyway... enough rambling from me :-)
Thanks Ernie :-)!


Anymore ideas?

[Zarzing (Dustin)]

I Have A Better Way http://widgetlaboratory.blogspot.com/

[Rolandixor (Christ's Warrior)]

???

[Zarzing (Dustin)]

Widget Lab Is Offering It Again At There Blogspot Webpage

[Dayne Daniell]

There's one thing about Ning's configuration that might affect having your database remotely hosted - all the php modules to connect to a database are disabled on Ning's platform.

You could do Ajax calls, but I'd definitely see what OpenSocial has to offer before reinventing the wheel.

WidgetLaboratory's IM feature was nice (I personally didn't use it), but you're best to go at it yourself.