PeopleAggregator - An Open Source Social Network

prostoalex writes "When Orkut, LinkedIn, Friendster, Zaibatsu and Tribe.net just don't cut it, meet PeopleAggregator, an open-source, PHP-written, FOAF-based social network. There's the site and there's the source in case you decide to launch your own. I found out about PeopleAggregator reading this interview with Mark Canter on Read/Write Web today." I wish such sites would provide profile-conversion tools to encourage jumping ship from one to another.

Comments

Wow

[panxerox]

Another (better?) method to avoid coming in physical contact with other people.

Re:Wow

[l1_wulf]

Social networks are only as useful as your own perceptions. While not a proponent myself, I've seen valid declarations for and against them (in general), open or closed (to the public), etc. It seems that those that look to them for substitutions for an actual social life are typically disappointed since male to female ratios are nominal at best. On the other hand those that look to these networks as opportunities to meet people (or keep in contact with people) from varied backgrounds and locations who share interests or needs (programming help, contractors, games, etc.) generally have much better luck than say randomly talking to someone in a bar.

If these networks were to try and cater to the lonely hearts out there, they would be no better than dating services, except they would likely prove to be disappointing in that regard, little better than just jumping into any of the myriad chat rooms out there. Perhaps this is validating invitation only networks (ala Orkut), who's to say?

A drawback to social networks is end user propagation and activity. Maintaining, checking, browsing and so on seems, to me at least, like a time consuming activity. One which I lack the desire and the time to follow. I tend to be a bit of a hermit, often times putting my IMs as away just to concentrate on the task at hand while I sit at my computer. I suppose when the "killer" social network comes along, I'll sign up and stay, until then they remain little more than academic interests in a field that is reaching oversaturation and little innovation.

Looks like

[xSquaredAdmin]

it aggregated too many people.

Re:Looks like

[frenetic3]

Looks like a sausagefest too. Marc? Ben? Roland? Sean?

I need Charlenes here people. Claires. Colettes. Tortured twentysomething souls who lean forward in sleazy web cam shots just to show a little cleavage.

Work with me here! :)

-fren

Reminds me of a joke...

[alan_dershowitz]

hearing about technical people writing "social networking" software.

How do you tell if an engineer is an extrovert?

He looks at YOUR shoes when he's talking.

Note to everyone:

[Neil Blender]

You don't need a program, website, or even a computer to make friends.
You just open the door, go outside and...OH MY GOD, the SUN, it BURNS&..&}=20 ]} } } }&..}=3Dr}'}"}[NO CARRIER]

Friendster and open source

[Anonymous Coward]

A bit OT, but while the friendster code may not be open, sure looks like they love it on the backend

http://www.friendster.com/jobs/

They even use an acronymn, LAMP, to refer to Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP/PERL/Python

Re:This passes for news?

[pavon]

Okay... So this is yet another social network. Except it open sourced. Hell, the blurb tells you how many social networks there already are. Why does this pass as news?

Because, since the source is open, we geeks can modify it work in ways the original author never dreamed. Like implementing a social network of one, or creating a network of AI friends. It would also be perfect for modeling the intricate relationships of the cast of ST:TNG. The possibilities are endless!

Could you do any of that with your proprietary invitation only network? I didn't think so.

Re:Nerdy friend connection?

[Anonymous Coward]

What ever happened to people meeting at the mall, bars, concerts, school, etc...??

You don't belong here.

In case it gets slashdotted

[bluenirve]

In case the site gets taken down:

Damn.

Oh hell. We got slashdotted. And the main site wasn't even running the current code revision. Back in a bit. 19:14CST

oops..

Yes making funny comments on /.

[SmallFurryCreature]

Sad bastards who get marked funny on slashdot are well known to have no contact with people let alone physical contact with either sex.

Thank god I am not one of those.

Re:What is FOAF

[Gorilla with a Priap]

Friend of a Friend

Re:the wonders of PHP:

[TardisX]

Errr, surely rule #1 is to make sure you allow more mysql processes than maximum apache children?

Is it a common php 'admin' mindset to just hide errors rather than make sure they don't happen in the first place?

Missing the point...

[kiwioddBall]

The success of a social networking tool depends on the people that use it - it doesn't depend on whether it is open source or not... If you are wanting to meet different beautiful people I suggest you stay away from a social network where the only people who are going to join are your existing group of friends!!

Re:Learn to Dance

[Angry Pixie]

Women go for that stuff, trust me on this one. I can validate this comment. We do love men who know how to dance, and it doesn't have to be a trendy hip-hop or house style. You can waltz, tango, or practically anything else because it shows you have a cultural side.

But if you really want to earn points:

1. Know something about wine. All men. ALL MEN should know about wine. At least understand the types of wine and how to evaluate a wine's flavor/

2. Ditch the false bravado. Machismo is attractive initially, but it quickly wears.

3. Take an interest in your date. Don't let her walk all over you, but show her you appreciate the time you're spending with her.

4. Be clean. Shave. Use cologne sparingly. Make sure you shoes and your belt match.

5. Be passionate about something. Have a social cause. Love poetry or literature.

6. Open doors for ladies, but don't order our dinners without our permission.

7. It's okay to be a geek. Geeks are sexy. They think about things, but don't brag or act superior because you know more about a subject than your date. Let her know that your geekness includes aspirations.

8. Pay attention to our non-verbal signals. Women average about 150 non-verbal signals every minute.

9. Don't be late, but be forgiving if we are.

10. Above all else, do not end the date with a heart-felt, "Gawd, I'd like to finger you" while escorting your date to her door.

And as a bonus for you college guys: don't do her homework for her, do offer to help tutor her if you'd like to help. And when you take her out on a date, don't take her to see a movie. 2 hours of silence in a theater isn't going to help her get to know you. Take her to dinner - it doesn't have to be a fancy restaurant, but it should be better than a fast food restaurant. If all you can afford is a corner dive, well, tell her. And tell her that you would (and will someday) take her to someplace much better. At least she'll know you're not just cheap, but that you are hoping for future dates. If she is worth her weight in RAM, she'll appreciate the honesty and be understanding without being judgemental. Go for a walk around town. Sit at an outside cafe and have coffee or ice cream. Go browsing through a department store 45 minutes before it closes. Buy her flowers. These are all good things.