Warning: If this post sounds much more sinical than usual, it’s because the lack of attention this particular area of software has received from the OS community is unacceptable and half-arsed attempts make it all the more frustrating.
While I’m intrigued with the possibilities a social network script built on WordPress MU could potentially offer, I find the overall goal and ambition of the BuddyPress project completely underwhelming. A FOSS social network sounds great - since a decent open source solution for social networks simply doesn’t exist yet (note: the one that had the most chance was phpizabi, but the project died over a year ago. Probably because it’s complete crap) - but I’m failing to see the point of BuddyPress. If I’m going to start a social network with even a mediocre feature set, BuddyPress isn’t going go get me there.
I’m going to hold off final judgment until 1.0 ships, but at this point I’m less enthused than I was when I first found I’d be able to make a social network with BuddyPress.
Criticism is no good unless it’s constructive, but there isn’t enough of the project finished for me to go there. I know all to well how much can change between a day before release and release do, so when you’re as far out as they are from a final product there’s conjecture. My advice at this point would simply be “focus on making the site more interactive”.
I’ll check in when they launch along with every other blogger in the world and set up a test site. I’m mostly looking forward to releasing a free buddypress theme (it’ll exist when the theme exists) based on a social network design I’ve had finished for a while now though. I may begin work on it before completion actually, so stay tuned.
Yeah, I had high hopes for BuddyPress and phpizabi too. Now I kind of wonder. One bit of software I’m looking forward to testing is Elgg. I’d played with it before, but it was a little too clunky at the time. They’re coming out with a new version in a few days. Might be worth the wait.
http://elgg.org/
I’m really holding out hope for this project, but if it doesn’t outclass VIRB, then the novelty of “running my own social network” will remain just that.
After trying the new version of Elgg, it appears to offer some great features and decent usability. Maybe not a knockout yet, but it appears that they’re on the right track.
As for BuddyPress, I never understood it to be a standalone social network, rather that the intention was to add social networking features to WPMU.
This is very similar to “Friend Connect’ Google’s pre PR about being able to socialize a website. Promises, Promises, but never released(0nly to a chosen few) Facebook came out with their own “Friend Connect and Google’s still rolling it out with trial versions at just a few sites. I’ve lost interest and I’ve tuned Google out, even if they release it this century I’m no longer interested,Facebook’s “Friend Connect’ does the job, so its six of one and half dozen of the other..
Take a look at http://diso-project.org/ It is not ready yet, but is being actively developed.
I’m underwhelmed too. Seems no script comes close to fulfilling the base requirements of a social network framework. I’m impressed thus far with SocialEngine, but the community is barely alive because they charge for every blasted component. I’d be happy to hear your comments on SE, as well as followups to your post way back when on DZOIC Hand Shakes.
As a novice/new music biz model entrepreneur, I’m still optimistic. Wordpress on it’s own seems like an ideal platform for indie artists to easily establish themselves on the net. On top of that, I’m thinkin WPMU/Buddypress would be an excellent way for artists who chose to use wordpress to establish truly independent networks. When it really comes down to it. How many bells and whistles are really necessary? I’m really hoping to see a stable buddypress with strong premium themes being developed for it. Like I said though I’m a novice and its very possible I’m missing something. Looking forward to seeing your theme Greg!
Definitely worth another look at BuddyPress now. It has come on light years since you took that screen shot.
http://buddypress.org
http://testbp.org
You totally nail it! I agree with you on BuddyPress’s incapable to start the basic social networking site.
The worst of all, it is to over simple, how can we ask people to switch from all that myspace and facebook to this crap, I dont see the point, even it is FREE.