Facebook API

Kemik · 24 Apr 2011 at 16:11

Hi all,

I've recently come across the Facebook API and believe it opens up a range of possibilities for me as a hobby developer. For example, it has features such as a comments system and full authentication system via the OAuth 2.0 protocol. This saves tons of coding time.

My question is, would you as a user be happy to use your Facebook account to interact with other websites or do you prefer to have separate logins for each site?

You could apply that question specifically to:
1. A blog
2. A much larger interaction site, e.g. a video upload website or forums.

My theory is the user would be happy to use their facebook login for small sites such as a blog where you would leave a comment or 'like' articles, with no real worry about privacy and saves having multiple logins. However, for larger sites they would prefer a dedicated login for that site so they can use a username and have a better understanding of the amount of information the site receives (fb doesn't make it very clear to users how much/little information is shared with the third party site when they allow the use of the OAuth plugin).

Edward01 · 24 Apr 2011 at 17:00

We use FB login on our site as an option to speed up the registration process and then to login. People seem to love it, roughly 30 - 40% of our users created an account this way rather than doing it manually.

Don't forget to load the API asynchronously, especially if you're having a 'Like' box or something similar on your page as well.

Kemik · 24 Apr 2011 at 17:04

Edward01 said:
We use FB login on our site as an option to speed up the registration process and then to login. People seem to love it, roughly 30 - 40% of our users created an account this way rather than doing it manually.

Don't forget to load the API asynchronously, especially if you're having a 'Like' box or something similar on your page as well.

Do you think I'd still need to create a separate login system then for something like a blog? I.e. some people will flat out refuse to use fb (assuming everyone has a fb account). I was hoping to keep it simple and therefore avoid the whole separate login system.

Edward01 · 24 Apr 2011 at 18:40

I wouldn't just rely on FB to be honest, as you said, some people will just flat out refuse.

If it's just for a comment system for a blog have you looked at disqus and intense debate?

robotSocks · 24 Apr 2011 at 20:41

OAuth 2.0 is a secure protocol. Stop being a wuss.

zetec452 · 25 Apr 2011 at 15:13

robotCocks said:
OAuth 2.0 is a secure protocol. Stop being a wuss.

And does Joe Bloggs know this?

I hate websites that want to link / use my facebook stuff.

robotSocks · 25 Apr 2011 at 15:42

do you think "Joe Bloggs" even cares about security? NO

if you don't like it, then don't use it. Simple. Move over grandad.

zetec452 · 25 Apr 2011 at 16:17

That's a great attitude to have o simple one.

Will Joe blogs care about security? That depends on the target audience. Either way, there is no definitive answer.

To the OP. I think it would be best to support both login types as you can't guarantee that everyone has a facebook account (or would like to associate with a blog). There will be users that would like to tie accounts into facebook and that feature may attract them to the site.

The better you accommodate your website to a target audience the greater success your blog may have. A site for OAP's and grandparents

D) is less likely to use of a facebook login. Whereas a site geared for college students will etc etc.

To limit a blog / website / whatever to just a facebook logon is not a good idea. As I said previously it would put me off. And no, I'm not a grandad.

Xenoxide · 25 Apr 2011 at 21:17

I use the Facebook API in quite a few of my projects, but I'm very selective about what I personally put on Facebook.

I dislike it intensely when sites mandate that I use Facebook for using simple tasks such as posting comments on a blog post. There is such a thing as different audiences. When I post on Facebook, the content is different than what I would put on a blog comment. I don't want those two worlds mixing.

I don't mind the option being there for those that want to use it, I just don't want to be forced to use it.

Kemik · 25 Apr 2011 at 22:52

Xenoxide said:
I use the Facebook API in quite a few of my projects, but I'm very selective about what I personally put on Facebook.

I dislike it intensely when sites mandate that I use Facebook for using simple tasks such as posting comments on a blog post. There is such a thing as different audiences. When I post on Facebook, the content is different than what I would put on a blog comment. I don't want those two worlds mixing.

I don't mind the option being there for those that want to use it, I just don't want to be forced to use it.

There is an option not to link your comment with your facebook account. I.e. it doesn't appear on the news wall.