What is connectr?
Connectr is a distributed social network. The eventual plan is to supplant Facebook; currently, it's roughly got the functionality of Twitter and about three or four regular users.
Why am I writing it?
Hosted social networks are really quite unhealthy. For an example, see the current and continuing privacy brouhaha about Facebook. However, the problem is more general — the incentives for the host are all wrong as far as the users are concerned. The business model of hosted social networks is to sell eyeballs to advertisers; this is not really in the users' interest...
How to get involved?
Join in! A social network is all about the users! See below for details. Currently it's set up so it's easy to install in Ubuntu and similar systems. The code is up on Launchpad, if you want to join in with the development (or install it on other Linux systems).
What's needed to use it?
- Ubuntu Karmic Koala (9.10) or Lucid Lynx (10.04) or Maverick Meerkat (10.10)
- Empathy (IM Client), and at least one GTalk, Jabber or XMPP account
- Willingness to run bleeding-edge network-facing code
How to install and start to use it?
- In Synaptic, add ppa:sabik/connectr to your Software Sources, Reload, then install connectr
- Note: this may also upgrade your telepathy-gabble and python-telepathy packages; connectr won't work with the version of telepathy-gabble that's in Ubuntu Karmic or Lucid
- Connectr should now be in your Applications / Internet menu
- To friend someone, add them as a buddy in Empathy
- Feel free to friend me on sabik.eta@gmail.com
Where's the code? More information?
- The code is kept in bzr, hosted on Launchpad at https://launchpad.net/connectr
- I've made some blog entries about connectr, though most of the info is already here.
- E-mail me, or comment below! My e-mail address is jiri@baum.com.au
