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David Warren
1,803 PointsHow do I build a Facebook App?
Let's say I wanted to design or build a facebook app. How would I get started? Is there a good website to learn how to do that? Is there a DiveDeep for it?
2 Answers
Andrew Pritykin
6,574 PointsTake a look into one of the Ruby on Rails application that makes a social media application.
http://teamtreehouse.com/library/programming/building-social-features-in-ruby-on-rails
David Warren
1,803 PointsOk! I haven't taken the time to learn Ruby on Rails yet (since I've been building my wordpress site.) But at least now I have an idea of what it is, and what I can us it for.
Andrew Pritykin
6,574 PointsRuby on Rails is a very powerful language to learn. I have some basics but myself have yet to take the training here. That is next on my list ^_^
Nathan F.
30,773 PointsDo you mean you want to build an application to be used on or interfaced with Facebook? (Like a Facebook game, or the Goodreads widget) Or do you mean you want to build an alternative social networking app similar to Facebook?
If it's the former, look at the Developer Documentation on Facebook. If it's the latter, then I'd suggest the Ruby on Rails tutorials mentioned above.
David Warren
1,803 PointsActually, it is the former. I've read a little bit now, and it looks like what I have to do is create an application (probably using Ruby on Rails,) and then intigrate it into facebook. Am I right about this?
Nathan F.
30,773 PointsFrom my understanding: basically, yes. Though there are more technologies than Ruby, if you are more comfortable with Javascript or some other language. (Ruby is delightful, though).
If you're going to build say, a web app to be hosted on Facebook, then you'd build your app in your preferred language and use the Facebook SDK and APIs to grab data from Facebook (like profiles, likes, etc). There's some how-tos for the specifics here.
If I may ask, what sort of application are you looking to make?
David Warren
1,803 PointsThanks for the help Nathan.
I am basically looking to do two things. I want to learn how to work with facebook apps, (and Ruby) by building a Dungeons and Dragons facebook game (in the play-by-post style, if your familiar with that.) Hopefully the game would have an automatic diceroller, text fields, an updatable map of some kind (no idea how to do this yet *fingerscrossed), and a way of giving some users more power than the other users, in order to facilitate dungeon mastering.
The second thing I would like to do, is integrate facebook login's into my current business's site, and possibly create some sort of facebook app for the business, once the D&D app is done, and I know what I am doing.
Nathan F.
30,773 PointsAs a semi-casual D&D enthusiast, I salute you! Sounds like a fun idea, so I wish you luck.
David Warren
1,803 PointsI was hoping I'd find an ally. Wouldn't it be cool if people could play legit games of D&D on facebook?
Andrew Pritykin
6,574 PointsD&D on facebook, lets make it happen
Justin Thorson
1,595 PointsJustin Thorson
1,595 PointsAgreed the Ruby on Rails option would probably be the best option to learn on here, however you will need to apply that knowledge into a mobile application which can be much more tricky.