Building a Social Networking Site with Open Source ToolsGreg SvitakManager of Product Development

Creators of PlayawayLocated in Solon100+ employeesInc 500Top 25 for Consumer Electronics#1 in ClevelandOver 2 million units shipped

What is Playaway?

ObjectiveTo provide enough information to each member of the group to be fired up to build their own social network site

To provide enough information to each member of the group to be fired up to build their own social network site

List of Required FunctionalityProfilesStatus UpdatesWallBlogsOrganic GroupsFriendsActivity StreamsNewsfeedPrivate MessagingUpload Pics/VideoGranular securityNotificationsFOAFIntegration with existing networksEventsTrack User ActivityTagging

Why create a social network site instead of joining an existing one?

Why create a social network site instead of joining an existing one?Niche based communities provide a specific serviceOften require specific requirementsAbility to control your own destinyMust play in the platform’s sandboxInnovate new use cases for social mediaCreate and brand your own social presenceDevelop closer relationship between membersProvide greater ownership of social network dataDevelop new business models for social dataIntegrate with generic platforms to share data across networks

THE CIVIC “MARKET PLACE” IS COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT TO ACCESSFundersGovern-mentToday’s Civic Agenda Setters“Customers”Broader CommunityFor-Profit SectorNGOsQualified Talent PoolIdeas & Champions

PURPOSE CREATE A VIRTUAL MARKET PLACE THAT IS OPEN AND ACCESSIBLEQualified Talent PoolIdeas & ChampionsVirtual Civic MarketplaceCustomers & Traditional Agenda Setters

What open source platforms exist?

What Open Source Tools ExistSet of JoomlapluginsGreat for basic social sitesExpansive list of available themesSet of WordPressplugins and themesGeared toward blogsMissing status updates and wall functionality

What Open Source Tools ExistVery mature platform with very active open source communityGeared towards a developerSecurity is very granularExisting modules provide all functionality required

Drupal ThemesA "theme" is a collection of files that define the presentation layer or "look and feel" of a Drupal site.Allow the presentation layer to be extracted

Drupal ModulesModules allow administrator to add or extend functionality of your siteTo install module, just download and place in specific directory 1000+ modules available for download

ReachCleveland Module Listing

Organic GroupsLet your user’s have a say and interact the way they want to on the site. Great module for your users to create fan clubs, communities, a school (Google Groups, communities on orkut, groups on fb)Access control is the topping on the cakeAs a SN developer most of your work would be to extend your modules to interact with organic groups, like a blog for a group, album for a group etc

Let your user’s have a say and interact the way they want to on the site. Great module for your users to create fan clubs, communities, a school (Google Groups, communities on orkut, groups on fb)

Access control is the topping on the cake

As a SN developer most of your work would be to extend your modules to interact with organic groups, like a blog for a group, album for a group etc

Facebook appsFacebook apps is a way to drive traffic to your content via Facebook UIDrupalforfacebookdesigned to launch your drupal site within FacebookTakes care of fbml and integrates Facebook API and application access control.Can configure the Drupal site to show latest idea submissions/request for help on Facebook

Facebook apps is a way to drive traffic to your content via Facebook UI

Drupalforfacebookdesigned to launch your drupal site within Facebook

Takes care of fbml and integrates Facebook API and application access control.

Can configure the Drupal site to show latest idea submissions/request for help on Facebook

Example #1

Example #2

Example #3

Thank Yougsvitak@playaway.com @gsvitak