I need a developer to deliver a social networking site.
Even those with no previous RentACoder experience will be considered if they can convince me that they can deliver a top product.
It is also important to note that I am looking for someone who will be here for the long haul, because this is just the beginning, and more work will be done on the site. For this reason, the solution must be built with future expansion in mind.
I have done a bit of research into the field, and have settled on Drupal/Civicspace as the platform to build on, as it already has a lot of the functionality in the way of modules.
**Drupal/CivicSpace**
First choice for a number of reasons, including the existence of many modules
PHP and MySQL/PostgreSQL
[[login to view URL]][1]
[[login to view URL]][2]
I could be tempted to consider something else, but the developer has to convince me that their proposed solution is better. Some of the other systems I considered include
**OpenACS/dotLRN**
TCL and PostgreSQL
I have used it in the past, and it is robust extensible and has been used on some big sites
[[login to view URL]][3]
[[login to view URL]][4]
**Aroundme**
PHP and MySQL
This is a bit of a wildcard. It is a lot younger than the other two, but I like the way they have implemented certain features, including options for multiple profiles I also like the way that they have the social network features already implemented.
<[login to view URL]>
There are a number of customisations that are required though. This is not a simple install and walk away job.
## Deliverables
2) Deliverables must be in ready-to-run condition, as follows (depending on the nature of the deliverables):
a) For web sites or other server-side deliverables intended to only ever exist in one place in the Buyer's environment--Deliverables must be installed by the Seller in ready-to-run condition in the Buyer's environment.
**I would also be happy if the developer used other open source technologies in the implementation, as long as the entire site felt like one unit, and not like a lot of different scripts on one server.
Drupal version to use 4.6.1 + Civicspace additions
More detail available ... don't have zip on this machine :-(
**
Everything below is supported to an extent by current Drupal modules. Some customisation though is required.
**Login
**Administrator should be able to turn off registrations, but allow members to invite friends
This should work like the Gmail invitation process.
[login to view URL]
**Login page
**Should be simple, and admin should have easy way of changing it
See [[login to view URL]][5]
**Groups
**I intend the groups to work like they do with OpenACS. This is extremely important, as the site will mainly consist of groups. Any member of the site should be able to set up a group. When they do, they then become admin of the group. They should also then be able to assign admin status to other members of the group.
Group will then belong to one or more categories, in one or more taxonomies. The group will also have a location (a bit like MySpace groups). The categories could use the taxonomy module in Drupal. For example, a group could belong to the London category in the Location Taxonomy, and also belong to the Men Only category in the Gender Taxonomy.
Although not a must yet, it would be nice if groups could have sub groups.
Each group will have
Wiki
Blog
News
Forum
Events
Chat
Gallery
Surveys
Periodical/Newsletter
**Profiles
**The requirement is that users have a valid email address, and screen name. They should be able to change both at any time.
Gender and Age are the only two mandatory fields.
Users can attach one or more photos
Other things that the profile should allow recording include include Aim/ICQ/Skyper/Mobile number
Location to use three letter airport codes
Users should be able to set which of these fields is public, and which is shown only to their buddies and which is private
++ It is expected that users should be allowed to create more than one profile in the future. This will be different profiles, but one login.
**User’s home
**Each user will be taken to their own individual home/portal when they log in. This should be different from the site home page which contains something different.
The home page for the user should behave like the new Google portal ??" allowing users to customise their portals by dragging and dropping (dhtml). They should also be able to customise the individual portals.
<[login to view URL]>
The global site admin should also be able to add additional ‘portlets’, and also set the default values for these portals. Examples will be Glossary (for sharing new words), and Quotes
**Blogs
**Users should be able to maintain a blog and journals
Users should also be able to add other content such as short stories and poetry
**Buddylist/Friend of a friend
**Users should be able to link up with other users, and build a network.
This list should be available in permissions for other features. e.g. show profile only to my friends
+Note+ it is anticipated that users will be allowed to maintain more than one list/network in the future
Drupal comes with support for FOAF import, and this is a requirement for this
Bonus will be paid for implementation of something like <[login to view URL]>
**Bookmark**
Each user will have individual bookmarks for stuff they like on the site. Every single page on the site must be bookmarkable
Users should also be able to set bookmarks for external sites.
**Contact directory**
Each user should be able to access contact directory
Make it public or private
Contact directory should automatically show contact details for user’s buddies where the user has permissions.
**Private Messaging**
Users will be able to send other users private messages.
++ In the near future, this module will be extended to allow messages to be forwarded via email or sms
**Chat**
Users should be able to set up and access chat facilities
Need to think this one through a bit more though.
**User’s home**
Each user will be taken to their own individual home/portal when they log in. This should be different from the site home page which contains something different.
The home page for the user should behave like the new google portal ??" allowing users to customise their portals by dragging and dropping. They should also be able to customise the individual portals.
<[login to view URL]>
workspace module is a possible start for this.
**Events
**Users should be able to submit events. They should also be able to specify whether events are visible to everyone or to their circle of friends.
Also, users should be able to sign up / confirm attendance at events
+Note+ in the future, we might need to allow event organisers to charge for their events, and collect their money via the site.
++ They should also be able to limit the number of people confirming attendance. This functionality is not required at launch
**Amazon module**
**Font Size**
Use as they use on [[login to view URL]][6]
**Gallery
**
**Internationalisation**
**Legal**
**Opt-in**
**Live discussion**
**
Location**
This needs to be extended to incorporate the UK
**Node moderation**
This again will be important, for users to be rating content on the site, from discussions to articles to blogs. Highly rated content should float to the top
**Notify + Subscriptions
**
**Quotes**
**Nicelinks**
**RSVP**
**Node Type-Categories**
**Sitemap**
**SmartyPants** ??"
**Smileys** ??"
**
Trip search
**
**Survey**
**Summary
**
**Syndication
**
**Taxonomy + Access Control + Block + Browser ??" build your own category view + Taxonomy dhtml
**
**urlFilter**
**Pdfview**
**Print Friendly Pages**
**Volunteer**
**Related links**
**Over text**
**Periodical**
**Remindme**
**Taxonomy on-the-fly**
**Title**
**userposts**
## Platform
I have a dedicated server
Fedora Core 3
Anything else, I am counting on the developer to recommend.
Prefer PostgreSQL over MySQL though, although I am happy using the latter.
email me for more info if you need it.