OpenSocial
OpenSocial is a public specification that outlines a set of common application programming interfaces (APIs) for web applications. Initially designed for social network applications, it was developed collaboratively by Google, MySpace and other social networks. It has since evolved into a runtime environment that allows third-party components, regardless of their trust level, to operate within an existing web application.
| Initial release | November 1, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 2.5.1
/ August 30, 2013 |
| Written in | Java, PHP, C#, JavaScript, HTML |
| Type | Web application framework |
| License | Apache License 2.0 |
| Website | opensocial |
The OpenSocial Foundation has integrated or supported various Open Web technologies, including OAuth and OAuth 2.0, Activity Streams, and Portable Contacts. Since its inception on November 1, 2007, applications that implement the OpenSocial APIs can interoperate with any social network system that supports them.
OpenSocial initially adopted a universal approach to development. As the platform matured and the user base expanded, it was modularized, allowing developers to include only necessary components of the platform. Orkut, a Google client, was the first to support OpenSocial.
On December 16, 2014, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) announced that the OpenSocial Foundation would transition its standards work to the W3C Social Web Activity. This effectively integrated OpenSocial into the W3C’s Social Web Working Group and Social Interest Group, thereby dissolving OpenSocial as a separate entity.