OpenSocial network programming

OpenSocial is not really simple, even somewhat confusing due to its technology heritage as it kind of got re-purposed from gadgets API to play catch-up with other social application containers. For that reason any book on the subject is welcome. Although to be fair there are only few examples in the book and even less working ones, it took significant changes to get most of the code examples running on just one of the many available OpenSocial containers. If you want to write apps that do more than sending a HelloWorld to a friend you are probably interested in the REST API and server side code with a DB. Unfortunately not much is covered in this book on that subject. It feels like the authors have rushed to get the book out to be the first ones to cover the OpenSocial techno. Don't count on updates of the code from the site, I have downloaded it a few times just to see if they would updated the files. The answer is no, it still has all the same many syntax errors as the printed code. I am clearly disappointed by the book compared to other API related books but at the time of this review it is the only one available on the topic so for that reason I still gave it 2 stars! ## Summary: ## Too Many Words, Not Enough Code, Too Many Errors... but 1st Book Available on OpenSocial to be fair... OpenSocial Network Programming -1 Cover 1 About the Author 8 Credits 9 Acknowledgments 10 Contents 11 Introduction 19 Who This Book Is For 19 What This Book Covers 19 How This Book Is Structured 20 What You Need to Use This Book 20 Conventions 20 Source Code 21 Errata 21 p2p.wrox.com 22 Chapter 1: Social Network Programming 23 Social Network Platforms 24 Social Network Applications 36 Making Applications Social and Viral 51 Application Goals 51 Application Trends 55 Viral Channels and Features 68 Social Network Identity 70 Marketing — The Next Step 72 Retention 75 Tips for Good Application Development 75 Summary 76 Chapter 2: Introduction to OpenSocial 77 OpenSocial History 77 OpenSocial Architecture 79 Application Architecture 85 Sample Application 86 OpenSocial Data Formats 87 Application Deployment 89 What You Need to Get Started 105 Summary 108 Chapter 3: Gadget XML and Gadget API 109 Gadget XML 109 Gadget API 117 Multiple Views 129 Lifecycle Support 131 Summary 132 Chapter 4: JavaScript API 133 A Simple Application in OpenSocial 133 OpenSocial API Features 137 People 138 Activities 152 Persistence 161 Detail of OpenSocial JavaScript API 166 Summary 190 Chapter 5: OpenSocial RESTful API 191 Getting to Know REST 191 OpenSocial RESTful Server-Side Programming 195 OpenSocial RESTful Application Architecture 197 OpenSocial REST Authorization and Authentication (OAuth) 198 OpenSocial RESTful API Details 220 OpenSocial REST Application Deployment 234 HTTP Status Codes 235 OpenSocial REST Support Discovery 235 OpenSocial Security with the REST API 238 OpenSocial REST API Future 238 OpenSocial RPC Protocol 238 Summary 241 Chapter 6: Programming Fundamentals 243 Application Testing 243 Front-End GUI Design Tips 244 External Resources 248 Capabilities Inquiry 254 Action Requests and Permissions 254 Summary 255 Chapter 7 :Sample Applications 257 Person/People Applications 257 Communications Applications 268 Clearing AppData 280 Understanding Environment — Support and Domain 281 Handling Errors 284 Checking and Asking for Permissions 285 Working with Container-Specific Extensions 286 Using Internationalization, Localization, and Globalization 289 Using Flash Media 293 JavaScript Tools for Applications 296 Summary 297 Chapter 8: Performance, Scalability, and Monetization 299 Understanding Scalability and Performance 300 Understanding Architecture 302 Understanding Subsystems 304 Understanding Hosting Solutions 312 Case Studies 321 Understanding Database Issues 322 Understanding Redundancy 324 Using Monitoring 324 Understanding Software Design 325 OpenSocial Performance Tuning 328 Using Analytics 334 Using Scalable User Interface Design 338 Making the Most of User/System Support 339 Monetization 340 Summary 345 Chapter 9: OpenSocial Templates, Markup, and Emerging Technologies 347 OpenSocial Templates Standard 347 OpenSocial Proxied Content 374 OpenSocial Client Libraries 375 Yahoo! Open Strategy 375 iWidgets 389 Zembly 390 Summary 396 Index 397 Opensocial Is A Set Of Common Application Programming Interfaces For Web-based Social Network Applications. As The First Book On Opensocial, This Valuable Resource Discusses The Unique Area Of Social Networking And The Needs And Different Attributes Of Social Network Applications. You?ll Get Step-by-step Instructions For Creating Opensocial Applications For Multiple Platforms And Explore Application Development And Deployment Using Integration Technologies Like The New Sun Zembly Platform. Plus, You?ll Examine Newer Technologies Like The Sun Platform That Allows Even Non-programmers The Ability To ?mash Up? Applications. This book will cover new platforms used in social networks featuring OpenSocial, and new emerging platforms and technologies. A discussion of what social network programming is brings both the advanced programmer and beginner up to speed on what are needs and goals of social network applications