"Just because one can do some interesting & technically savvy work with an API, if it's not open-source then how do we validate it?"* * My running assumption is that if something isn't open-source then the action of entering into a contract for a service is you can sue the hide of the provider if it doesn't work.
2009/7/12 Nico Morrison <microni...@gmail.com> > My remarks were supposed to be cautionary rather than negative. Especially > Facebook, which I use a lot as my extended family lives all over the world. > > Also I follow interesting people on Twitter. > > My son's partner (not a techie) discovered a bug whereby pictures of our > grandchildren, supposedly viewable by "Friends Only" could be viewed by at > least "Friends of Friends" - we think they've fixed the loophole but it's > time-consuming to test and she is a busy mother of young kids. Also Friends > & Friends of Friends are needed for testing & it all gets complicated > operationally. > > Just because one can do some interesting & technically savvy work with an > API, if it's not open-source then how do we validate it? > > Regards, > Nico Morrison > > 2009/7/12 Brian Butterworth <briant...@freeview.tv> > > I read people's comments with interest. >> I am rather surprised by the negativity aimed at Facebook. I would point >> out that I do have at least one BBC person as a Facebook friend, that being >> BBC Radio 5 Live's Victoria Derbyshire: >> >> http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=611852937 >> >> <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=611852937>Whilst I understand >> about Facebook being a "closed" platform, it does provide some good >> developer tools. In particular I have seem applications like *Mafia Wars >> *, which is a very simple game in iteself (you can model the gameplay on >> an A4 page), but it makes exceptional use of the Facebook APIs. >> >> Not only does it use the "user login" to provide an environment for the >> game objects to run, but access to the "buddies list" is used to great >> effect, and the programme also uses the "message" and "feed" components of >> the platform to great effect. >> >> As for Twitter (I'm @Briantist, obviously), the APIs are so simple, the >> message format easily understood and the number of clients (I use Twidroid >> on my G1 phone) that integration is very simple. >> >> Aside from "tweeting" you status from time to time, you follow the updates >> of people that interest you. That bit is easy, but the hashtag makes >> everything "fun", because you can search the whole network for live updates >> on a topic you are interested. >> >> I find the latter reason useful for following meatworld events such as >> (#radfest09, the recent radio festival) and also just "Twitter fun" such >> as #1stdraftmovielines >> >> I was just a *little *disappointed that the BBC Radio "Visualization" >> didn't use Twitter, but a closed little feed. I would have preferred to add >> #materialworld to some Tweets, as I can do this from my phone. >> >> >> 2009/7/11 Nico Morrison <microni...@gmail.com> >> >> Good point. Very good point. Both points are good. Took me a long time to >>> get on Facebook and even longer to go on Twitter. With FB the (alleged) >>> privacy and control is one of the best features, PROVIDED you put your faith >>> in them. Twitter is like a flock of gnats you can swat it as it goes past >>> but there's always more. >>> >>> Nico M >>> >>> >>> 2009/7/11 Matthew Wild <mwi...@gmail.com> >>> >>> On Sat, Jul 11, 2009 at 3:02 PM, Nico Morrison<microni...@gmail.com> >>>> wrote: >>>> > On an allied subject, is there a Facebook page or group representing >>>> BBC >>>> > Backstage? It's a good way to disseminate information, regardless of >>>> what >>>> > you think of FB. >>>> > >>>> >>>> I don't like how much the BBC in general advertises and pushes Twitter >>>> (a single commercial entity after all), but I really would have to >>>> draw the line at Facebook, sorry :) >>>> >>>> Unlike Twitter (who provide an RSS feed), Facebook is completely >>>> closed... if you don't have an account you don't have a peek. I would >>>> be very disappointed in seeing any BBC data locked away inside >>>> Facebook and only accessible to Facebook users. If the account is kept >>>> in total sync with another more open means of communication then I >>>> really have no issue with it at all. >>>> >>>> The Twitter issue is a matter for another day :) >>>> >>>> Matthew >>>> - >>>> Sent via the backstage.bbc.co.uk discussion group. To unsubscribe, >>>> please visit >>>> http://backstage.bbc.co.uk/archives/2005/01/mailing_list.html. >>>> Unofficial list archive: >>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/backstage@lists.bbc.co.uk/ >>>> >>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> >> Brian Butterworth >> >> follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/briantist >> web: http://www.ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover >> advice, since 2002 >> > > -- Brian Butterworth follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/briantist web: http://www.ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002
