PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Appleseed Project is an effort to create open source Social Networking software that is based on a distributed model. For instance, a profile on one Appleseed website could "friend" a profile on another Appleseed website, and the two profiles could interact with each other.

Apart from being distributed, Appleseed will also have a strong focus on privacy and security, as well as a commitment to seeing the user as an online citizen, as opposed to a consumer to be targetted. This is in stark contrast to current social networking websites, who rely heavily on ad placement and data mining of their users.

The first goal is to create a codebase for basic interaction, such as creating profiles, creating and participating in message groups, journals and comments, etc.

Eventually, Appleseed will encompass many different aspects, from mail to messaging to journals/blogs to photo uploads and management. A module architecture is also in the works for even greater extensibility.

Development currently uses Object Oriented PHP4, MySQL (InnoDB), XHTML, Javascript, and CSS2. Mozilla/Firefox will be the target platform.

PROGRESS - 80% + + + + + + + + + + + + + . . .

Feb 21, 2008 (version 0.7.3 beta)

In an attempt to spread the word about Appleseed, I have written a short essay called The Future Of Social Networking. Please spread the word, and hopefully we can restart this project.

PROGRESS - 80% + + + + + + + + + + + + + . . .

Jan 02, 2008 (version 0.7.3 beta)

Development has currently stalled. Real life has a way of making a volunteer project increasingly difficult to maintain. Right now, I'm looking for funding to work on the project full time, or figuring out some way to involve more programmers in the project.

PROGRESS - 78% + + + + + + + + + + + + + . . .

Jun 30, 2007 (version 0.7.3 beta)

Continued progress! Tagging, better photo albums, node management, and increased security.

PROGRESS - 72% + + + + + + + + + + + + . . . .

May 15, 2007 (version 0.7.0 beta)

Things are moving fast towards a 1.0 release. Lots of architectural changes, an install script, the beginngings of an AJAX framework, and lots of security additions.

PROGRESS - 65% + + + + + + + + + + + . . . . .

December 19, 2006 (version 0.6.0 beta)

With this release, much of the distributed code has been completed. Messaging now uses a sender-stores system, distributed remote logins are working, and much of the hard stuff has been completed.

Right now, discussion group functionality is being worked on. After that, all the major sections have been added, it's then just a matter of testing, refining, and completing all their functionality.

PROGRESS - 40% + + + + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

April 09, 2006 (unreleased)

I've completed the bulk of the Journaling and Messaging subsystems. A new release is coming very soon. The test site (www.appleseedproject.org) has been updated with the new features.

Next comes a huge code clean, and then the fun part: Adding friends to your friends list.

PROGRESS - 21% + + + + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

January 13, 2006 (version 0.2.1 beta)

Appleseed 0.2.1 Beta has been released. You can download the source from the Appleseed Sourceforge Project Page.

You can also download the file directly here:

appleseed-0.2.1-beta.tar.gz

This version includes a lot of cleanups, and invites and registering an account. Version 0.3 is soon to come.

A test site has also been set up at www.appleseedproject.org. If you would like to help test, please send an email to michael.chisari@gmail.com

PROGRESS - 20% + + + + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

October 03, 2005 (initial source release)

Appleseed 0.2.0 Beta has been released. You can download the source from the Appleseed Sourceforge Project Page.

You can also download the file directly here:

appleseed-0.2.0.beta.tar.gz

PROGRESS - 18% + + + + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

September 21, 2005 (source unreleased)

Photo management has been added. You can now create and manage photo albums, and upload and manage photos. A privacy system (for restricting access to photo albums, and later, journals and other areas) has been implemented as well, and, while still in it's infancy, is looking pretty good. The commenting subsystem is also working.

We're looking at a source release very soon now. I'll be finishing up the commenting subsystem, cleaning up the code, and giving it a good once-over so as not to completely embarrass myself. And then the fun begins. I'm also going to be setting up an invite-only site for beta testers.

Stay tuned...

PROGRESS - 15% + + + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

July 20, 2005 (source unreleased)

Work has resumed. I've added the beginnings of an invite system, and you can upload a new profile photo and icons. The foundation for photo management is slowly being built as well.

Due to the recent acquisition of MySpace by Rupert Murdoch, a lot of interest in Appleseed has been sparked. Given that, I'm doing my best to stop myself from adding features and do a code review so that I can release the source much sooner than anticipated. Stay tuned.

PROGRESS - 10% + + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

May 15, 2005 (source unreleased)

This is just an estimate, definitely nothing scientific. A good amount of the foundation has been built and tested, so development is going a lot faster now. The security system has been completed, "themes" are in place, user logins are working, and profiles can be configured.

Work right now is focused on going through and commenting and cleaning up code before moving on to the next step, which will be adding and managing friends. At first, only local friends will be able to be added, but the hooks are there to add friends from a remote Appleseed site.