Diaspora (software)
Encyclopedia
Diaspora is a free personal web server
that implements a distributed social network
ing service. Installations of the software form nodes (termed "pods") which make up the distributed Diaspora social network
.
The project was founded by Dan Grippi, Maxwell Salzberg, Raphael Sofaer and Ilya Zhitomirskiy
, students at New York University's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences
. The group received donations in excess of $200,000 via Kickstarter
. A consumer alpha version was released on November 23, 2010.
by allowing users set up their own server (or "pod") to host content; pods can then interact to share status updates, photographs, and other social data. It allows its users to host their data with a traditional web host, a cloud-based host, an ISP, or a friend. The framework, which is being built on Ruby on Rails
, is free software
and can be experimented with by external developers.
website the group began working on the software. A developer preview with a number of security holes was released on September 15, 2010. On November 23, a redesigned website was released in preparation for the alpha, with the old site still available as a blog section. The early security holes were fixed with the alpha release.
After its foundation is completed, Diaspora's developers intend to concentrate on creating a "battery of add-on modules" in order to "facilitate any type of communication," and plan to offer a paid hosting service for Diaspora seeds.
Personal web server
A personal web server is an appliance that allows users to store and access private files remotely from any device connected to the web. A personal web server might just be an occasional user's computer loaded with the requisite software for remote management or a dedicated high-end computer with...
that implements a distributed social network
Distributed social network
A distributed social network is an Internet social network service that is decentralized and distributed across different providers. The emphasis of the distribution is on portability, interoperability and federation capability...
ing service. Installations of the software form nodes (termed "pods") which make up the distributed Diaspora social network
Diaspora (social network)
Diaspora is a non-profit, user-owned, distributed social network that is based upon the free Diaspora software. As of November 2011, there are more than 200 thousand users connected to the biggest server...
.
The project was founded by Dan Grippi, Maxwell Salzberg, Raphael Sofaer and Ilya Zhitomirskiy
Ilya Zhitomirskiy
Ilya Zhitomirskiy was a Russian-American software developer and entrepreneur. Zhitomirskiy was a co-founder and developer of the open-source social network DIASPORA* and software service Diaspora.-Early life:...
, students at New York University's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences
Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences
The Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences is an independent division of New York University under the Faculty of Arts & Science that serves as a center for research and advanced training in computer science and mathematics...
. The group received donations in excess of $200,000 via Kickstarter
Kickstarter
Kickstarter is an online threshold pledge system for funding creative projects. Kickstarter has funded a diverse array of endeavors, ranging from indie film and music to journalism, solar energy technology and food-related projects.-Model:...
. A consumer alpha version was released on November 23, 2010.
Concept
Diaspora is intended to address privacy concerns related to centralized social networksSocial network service
A social networking service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people, who, for example, share interests and/or activities. A social network service consists of a representation of each user , his/her social...
by allowing users set up their own server (or "pod") to host content; pods can then interact to share status updates, photographs, and other social data. It allows its users to host their data with a traditional web host, a cloud-based host, an ISP, or a friend. The framework, which is being built on Ruby on Rails
Ruby on Rails
Ruby on Rails, often shortened to Rails or RoR, is an open source web application framework for the Ruby programming language.-History:...
, is free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
and can be experimented with by external developers.
Development
After the project raised over $200,000 in funding via the KickstarterKickstarter
Kickstarter is an online threshold pledge system for funding creative projects. Kickstarter has funded a diverse array of endeavors, ranging from indie film and music to journalism, solar energy technology and food-related projects.-Model:...
website the group began working on the software. A developer preview with a number of security holes was released on September 15, 2010. On November 23, a redesigned website was released in preparation for the alpha, with the old site still available as a blog section. The early security holes were fixed with the alpha release.
After its foundation is completed, Diaspora's developers intend to concentrate on creating a "battery of add-on modules" in order to "facilitate any type of communication," and plan to offer a paid hosting service for Diaspora seeds.
Reception
The program was recommended by the Chronicle of Higher Education in July 2011 as an alternative to corporately produced software.See also
- List of social networking websites
- Social mediaSocial mediaThe term Social Media refers to the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into an interactive dialogue. Andreas Kaplan and Michael Haenlein define social media as "a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0,...
- Freedom Box