November 16, 2009 at 11:55Overview of CMS for organizing a microblogging service
Currently, microblogging has evolved from a new Western chip into an almost everyday thing, an integral part of people’s communication in modern society. And here, as in the case of social networks, there is a single leader - twitter . But as always there is a place for niche sites: narrowly thematic, professional, corporate, etc. In this case, a logical question arises: where to get a suitable platform for organizing a microblogging service? In this topic I want to consider various solutions that seemed decent to me.
(Was known as Laconica until August 28, 2009)
Issued by the Canadian company of the same name, which founded identi.ca, which in turn is one of the competitors on Twitter. This engine is written in PHP and requires version 5.2.3 and higher. MySQL is selected as the database, although there is an opportunity to use PostgreSQL.
The engine itself, in my opinion, is written very competently both in terms of code and in terms of performance. There is a built-in ability to use Memcache for caching data and Sphinx for organizing full-text site searches. The interface is available in many languages, including Russian (made using the gettext extension, which must also be installed on the hosting). It is possible to quickly change the design. There are 9 themes available as standard.
User support is organized at a high level. There is a wiki and a developer blog , and there are many how-tos on the network to install this platform on various systems.
The functionality is very extensive, we note the main features:
Initially, it was just a service. It was founded in 2006 and a year later acquired by Google. In 2009, the source code was opened . The project is written in Python using the Django framework and is designed to work only on Google's AppEngine platform.
At its core, the engine implements Twitter functionality and is not much different from it. It has its own API for integration.
This is the only CMS of all that is written in ASP.NET.
Yonkly can be used in many ways. As a platform for microblogging and as a standalone CMS. Moreover, in the second case, two options are possible: opensource solution or paid with additional functionality.
Powered by PHP and MySQL. I liked a large selection of designs and the ability to easily change them. In addition, there is integration with Jabber, as well as various services for shortening links. Multilingualism is supported, but there is no Russian translation.
Project on GoogleCode
According to the developers, one of the main functions of this engine is the ability to publish external RSS and Atom feeds in the microblog.
It is written in PHP and MySQL as a database. There is support for Russian and English.
There is a separation of content by type: texts, pictures, videos, quotes, links, loot (tumblore functionality).
The project is also written in PHP. But PostgreSQL and MySQL are provided as a choice of databases. CMS is actively developing and currently has 5,000 downloads, which certainly indicates its popularity.
In addition to the basic functions of microblogging, the engine provides such an exotic built-in function, such as storing downloaded files in the cloud, using the well-known web service from Amazon.
The author definitely made a big emphasis on architecture (which will positively affect the future development of the engine). He himself highlights such advantages as RESTful organization of URLs and controllers, his own ORM, Rails-like implementation of MVC, etc.
Also written in PHP / MySQL. Actively used by AJAX. There is a convenient graphical installer and admin panel.
The following basic message types are supported:
The functionality of the engine can be easily expanded using plugins.
www.tux-planet.fr/bilboblog-a-free-micro-blogging-php-application
Another small CMS. It contains only basic functions for organizing microblogging.
microblog.bakmil.com
Not a very functional platform, but I will mention it because it is from domestic developers.
I would also like to note an engine called Reactor, which was previously mentioned on Habré (http://habrahabr.ru/blogs/open_source/59330/). My huge request to the developers is to make the official website of the engine at their leisure. I think it will be in demand.
PS. The free CMS market certainly offers a good selection of standalone engines. And each of them can be used to solve a particular problem (depending on its scale and complexity). When the article was almost ready, I came across a microblogging module for LiveStreet ( example ) and realized that for my task it would be more relevant to combine the functionality of microblogging and social networks. I will try to write an analysis of such solutions in the next article.
StatusNet
(Was known as Laconica until August 28, 2009)
Issued by the Canadian company of the same name, which founded identi.ca, which in turn is one of the competitors on Twitter. This engine is written in PHP and requires version 5.2.3 and higher. MySQL is selected as the database, although there is an opportunity to use PostgreSQL.
The engine itself, in my opinion, is written very competently both in terms of code and in terms of performance. There is a built-in ability to use Memcache for caching data and Sphinx for organizing full-text site searches. The interface is available in many languages, including Russian (made using the gettext extension, which must also be installed on the hosting). It is possible to quickly change the design. There are 9 themes available as standard.
User support is organized at a high level. There is a wiki and a developer blog , and there are many how-tos on the network to install this platform on various systems.
The functionality is very extensive, we note the main features:
- Registration on OpenID and account on FaceBook
- Posting messages via Jabber, SMS and email
- Automatically shorten long URLs if its length exceeds 140 characters for writing a message
- The "Context" function is an opportunity to see a full discussion with all branches on one page
- Attachments to messages.
- Desktop clients for different operating systems support sites on this engine.
- Jabber - bots for posting, searching, shortening long URLs, etc.
- Remote subscription to messages from another server.
- Support for various posting tags.
- Friends, grouping friends, black sheet, etc.
- Ability to change the theme for your profile.
Website: status.net
Demo: identi.ca
Jaikuengine
Initially, it was just a service. It was founded in 2006 and a year later acquired by Google. In 2009, the source code was opened . The project is written in Python using the Django framework and is designed to work only on Google's AppEngine platform.
At its core, the engine implements Twitter functionality and is not much different from it. It has its own API for integration.
Website: code.google.com/p/jaikuengine
Demo: www.jaiku.com
Yonkly
This is the only CMS of all that is written in ASP.NET.
Yonkly can be used in many ways. As a platform for microblogging and as a standalone CMS. Moreover, in the second case, two options are possible: opensource solution or paid with additional functionality.
Website : www.yonkly.com
Demo: www.yonkly.net
Jisko
Powered by PHP and MySQL. I liked a large selection of designs and the ability to easily change them. In addition, there is integration with Jabber, as well as various services for shortening links. Multilingualism is supported, but there is no Russian translation.
Website : jisko.org
Demo: jisko.net
Nanograbbr
Project on GoogleCode
According to the developers, one of the main functions of this engine is the ability to publish external RSS and Atom feeds in the microblog.
It is written in PHP and MySQL as a database. There is support for Russian and English.
There is a separation of content by type: texts, pictures, videos, quotes, links, loot (tumblore functionality).
Website: nanograbbr.com
Demo: demo.nanograbbr.com
Openmicroblogger
The project is also written in PHP. But PostgreSQL and MySQL are provided as a choice of databases. CMS is actively developing and currently has 5,000 downloads, which certainly indicates its popularity.
In addition to the basic functions of microblogging, the engine provides such an exotic built-in function, such as storing downloaded files in the cloud, using the well-known web service from Amazon.
The author definitely made a big emphasis on architecture (which will positively affect the future development of the engine). He himself highlights such advantages as RESTful organization of URLs and controllers, his own ORM, Rails-like implementation of MVC, etc.
Website: openmicroblogger.org
Demo: openmicroblogger.com
GelatoCMS
Also written in PHP / MySQL. Actively used by AJAX. There is a convenient graphical installer and admin panel.
The following basic message types are supported:
- Chat
- Link
- Audio
- Video
- Picture
- Regular message
The functionality of the engine can be easily expanded using plugins.
Website: www.gelatocms.com
Unfortunately, the demo site could not be found, so I give a screenshot of the admin panel:
Bilboblog
www.tux-planet.fr/bilboblog-a-free-micro-blogging-php-application
Another small CMS. It contains only basic functions for organizing microblogging.
Microblog
microblog.bakmil.com
Not a very functional platform, but I will mention it because it is from domestic developers.
Reactor
I would also like to note an engine called Reactor, which was previously mentioned on Habré (http://habrahabr.ru/blogs/open_source/59330/). My huge request to the developers is to make the official website of the engine at their leisure. I think it will be in demand.
Demo: joyreactor.ru
PS. The free CMS market certainly offers a good selection of standalone engines. And each of them can be used to solve a particular problem (depending on its scale and complexity). When the article was almost ready, I came across a microblogging module for LiveStreet ( example ) and realized that for my task it would be more relevant to combine the functionality of microblogging and social networks. I will try to write an analysis of such solutions in the next article.