Hi all,
I just want to gather your honest opinion about creating a social network (community site) + some content (articles writeups) + product stores. Right now, I'm considering if I should develop a social network with features like blogs, activities updates, groups. generic forums, friend / buddylist, privatemsg and other cool modules / plugins that could be added together and fits nicely to fully run as proper social network site. Initially 2 - 3 weeks ago, I was head set to use Drupal (D6) to start constructing and "gluing" the bits and pieces of the site together.
But, only just now did I realized that I was having difficulty especially in future upgrades of modules and the maintainability of some of those modules (if gets left out or no longer supported).
So, let's start from the current Drupal 6 version and beyond.
Some modules needed are:
- Blog
- OG
- PrivateMsg - Not ready
- BuddyList / Friendlist - Not ready
- Activty - Not ready
- CCK
- Views
- Panels
- Forum / Adv. Forum
- Content Profile
- LoginToboggan
Others that is non-related (to social networking), but maybe needed for featured article posting and maybe setting some specific profile page for brands / products:
- Fivestar
- Flag
- Events / Calendar - Not ready
Others not found / ready to be deployed:
- Featured content post / slider. - I know there's one on Drupal, but it seems buggy.
- Easy customization and theming of blocks.. I still having a hard time working on the blocks
Plus, other modules (which you can suggest below) or will be added at a later time.
So just now, before I wrote this thread, I was browsing BuddyPress (Wordpress cousin) http://buddypress.org/about/ - cool standard features... I was impressed or more like happy to see such a progress in terms of the community put together. Some standard stuff are plenty of available themes for blogs and a good editor (TinyMCE) built-in, buddylist , privatemsg , activity stream and groups. Although I haven't actually installed of those yet... but the demo was good enough to give me a second thought. Do it on Drupal or Do it on Buddypress + Wordpress?
Let me know what your thoughts are... and if why you think Drupal is the way forward for building a community site.
Thanks for your time,
yeeloon
Comments
anybody wants to comment on
anybody wants to comment on this... ? good and bad between Drupal and Buddypress+Wordpress?
Buddypress is kind of cool
I m going to test it. Currently I hv a website with drupal 6. I want to turn that into social networking website. But I think, I need to tweak alot for drupal turn it into something like Buddypress.
Drupal looks good as a CMS but for blogging, wordpress is very nice compare to drupal blog.
I think, if u want to build a social networking site focus on blogging, Buddypress is great platform.
I hope if the wp contents can be filter out like view in drupal, that would be so good :P
Nah
Drupal is an excellent CMS, but I feel that the top tier social network scripts (phpFoX / Social Engine) make for better scripts in this regard.
I've worked with phpfox, and
I've worked with phpfox, and while it has a very pretty interface, it really can't handle a heavy load of activity. That may have changed by now, but 3 years ago, it bogged down my server, with 50 users.
Go with buddypress
Having come through a lot of the initial drupal learning curve, I tend to recommend drupal to everyone for most websites (especially corporate websites), but I'm going to suggest using buddypress (wordpress mu) for a social networking site. I'll follow up shortly with reasons.
Reasons
Okay, "everything" can be done with Drupal - but the question is how much effort is needed to get it done. I agree with the philosophy that you should do it yourself if it doesn't exist, but that's not practical for those that don't have coding skills and not always an option for those with an urgent deadline.
Note: this isn't drupal bashing, but pointing out what I see as shortfalls when it comes to social networking sites - criticism is necessary to advance.
Part of the beauty of open source software is that different needs result in new modules, but that's also a major weakness (especially with modules for a social networking site). Private message is an acceptable module, but there is a simple issue for the end user - the high level messages list doesn't display who the message is from. The end user doesn't care about the developers problems - all other sites provide that basic information (it's essential in a social networking site).
User relationships is possible with drupal - but there is way too much choice that overlaps. My concern with making a choice is simply - what module will perpetuate from version to version. This raises the question about whether drupal.org should start a MANAGED module register and (where possible) rather have people collaborate on a project instead of start just another one - also, to provide an indication of which modules are preferred.
Picture galleries (per user) was another issue - first too much choice, then second, too much incomplete choice. None of them actually provided a per user picture gallery once installed without the need for tinkering. Acidfree doesn't seem to be maintained and gallery 2 goes beyond just installing a drupal module (and there are several other "options"). I accept that it's somebodies time - which is all the more reason projects should be collaborative (share the task and end up with one strong module as opposed to several almost there modules). Per user picture galleries are also vital to a social networking site.
Drupal themes have improved substantially in the past 2 years (even in just the past 3 to 4 months). But they are better for a corporate look and feel. Social networks are fickle - be cutting edge or lose popularity.
I also had a problem deciding on a buddylist module. There are so many options doing something similar.
Now, to put it in perspective, drupal is the best choice for corporate intranets, corporate websites, etc., but a long way from being the best choice for a social networking site. At this stage, I'll recommend going with BuddyPress.
.
For folks who want to use Drupal, it can do social networking just fine. But I agree that it's not the best choice if you're looking for easy. All the pieces are there but putting them together is a major challange. Drupal is a tool, a lot like a Swiss army knife. It can do just about any website you want to throw at it. But if all you want is to turn a screw, sometimes a screwdriver is a better choice.
I haven't used Buddypress so can't comment on it in specific but I do know there are a lot of apps that are designed to give you social networking sites right out of the box. Drupal isn't. Drupal gives you the tools to build one but then you're on your own. So it all comes down to which tool works best for you.
Me, I'll stick with Drupal. It ain't easy but it sure is fun. :)
Michelle
I think you are right
I think it's a good analyse
with drupal we depend to plugins not all very good for just having basicl of social
and a lot of work to modify it
I hesitate with going to elgg to have all basic, and to more easy modify it in developement (it's more easy than in drupal ! ^^)
in other way, perhaps drupal is acceptable when we need a lot of social content if we create all the social plugins for our specific needs
of course drupal can do everything
but perhaps it's more quick to developp our content in a social motor like elgg than taking a lof of time to change plugins drupal and ckk/view :)
buddy seems cool but it's a lot of plugins unders, not the motor. and if not blogging there is very few content
if you want to create something new, I think it's good to have all the basic motor at begin ^^
this is the first time that i
this is the first time that i heard the name of buddypress
it is a wordpress plugin
ok i will try that
but i think i have a very good networking site using drupal
how about buddypress
my drupal site is
http://www.arafatcse.com
http://last-mission.blogspot.com
BuddyPress IS a Wordpress
BuddyPress IS a Wordpress plugin (only for Wordpress mu). You basically install it with the click of a button through the admin section.
It DOES have a lot of small issues (like getting forums to sync). WPMU favours BBPress, but as a separate application, you need to share users from the WPMU database and sort out cookie integration (first with WPMU then also with BuddyPress). Reason I mention that - the way Drupal manages everything at core is much better (especially since forums and blogs are all part of the same cms).
The way I see it - if you need a quick 80/20 solution, and the scope of the project is limited, BuddyPress will do you fine (it took me less than a day to learn to use the basics of WPMU and BuddyPress). If you want a project that can scale to expanding needs of the future, then work through drupal now and save hassle later (the core of Drupal is far more polished).
Which brings me back to my earlier comment - is it practical to try get multiple module developers to start merging smaller modules (a rationalisation process) and to maybe have joomla's "Editor's Pick" equivolent.
Merging
Merging of modules is unlikely to happen and really isn't practical. What we're moving towards is better ways of automatically packaging modules together so there's less work with individual downloads and you can grab packages of things that are known to work together.
Michelle
look at ELGG ! ^^
hello, I'm asking the same thing
but not looking to buddy, which is less for a true social network, but elgg.org
there is all in the motor for social
but interface is not very good, and not a lot for content...
BuddyPress vs Drupal vs Elgg
Hey guys
This is a FANTASTIC little thread, I have been looking at these tools for a LONG time now.
I have worked on Wordpress - but hated it's default "profile" page system.
I have worked with Drupal - but it's module maintenance community sucks balls (best modules of all cmses but they don't get maintained well and often get left at the wayside and forgotten about - not the case for wordpress/buddypress). HOWEVER, if you're going to incorporate e-commerce facility, Drupal + Ubercart rocks!!! There is Wordpress e-Commerce form www.instinct.co.nz - but I haven't got much experience with that one.
Also Drupal views is way too time-consuming, compared to templating in Wordpress.
BuddyPress - well, it's new, it's maintained, it's got awesome groups, profiles, messaging etc and the theming in Wordpress is nice and easy. BuddyPress (as with Drupal) is well-scalable too because it's core is Wordpress Mu.
Elgg is cool too, but it has a limited community and contributions (for now, that is). As for e-commerce solutions there and ease of templating - I can't say.
Custom content: many people don't know this but Drupal's real magic is in it's custom content types, but then again wordpress plugin "Pods" and "flutter" does the same for wordpress.
When looking at these solutions, consider the support community:
how many modules/plugins available?
are the modules/plugins that I need available? are they maintained (ie. are they going to be updated with my next core update or will I have to wait 3/6/12 months for it?
Drupal 7 looks very very good, but as with all things drupal, there's absolutely no telling when it's actually going to be finished (nice to see them looking to wordpress for ideas though... maybe a sign of the times?)
Obviously in all cases, you are encouraged to create your own modules and plugins to suit your needs and then contribute those to the community - but if you don't know how, don't have a budget, don't have the time, then do your due diligence. Watch screencasts and videos, buy some books, read some tutorial, try them out for yourself and make a decision.
I always revisit all options before I start a new site - just incase I find some new rad features from one of these brilliant cmses
Goodluck!
Wow, Great thread! I've been
Wow, Great thread!
I've been trying (off and on) for about a year to create a social network site with Drupal and I finally got tired of banging my head against the wall. Yes, it can be done, and someone far more familiar with CSS and .tpl files would do far better than I with it. I can install and configure the modules, but it just doesn't LOOK like a social network site.
The profile page is the biggest issue. You can add Advanced Profile, but it's tricky to set up. If you change the site theme, better be ready to do the whole layout over again and pray that the new theme can handle the changes. I'm not knocking Advanced Profile, which is a great tool, but it's digging into .tpl files and Views, which confuse me. Maybe if I spent some time studying Views and what it does, I'd get a handle on it, but for now, I'd rather not. I've never understood why no one simply wrote a separate module that allows you to create a profile page that's more flexible and just forget Drupal's default page.
Elgg has advanced pretty well since the first time I tried it (version 0.93, I believe). It's currently at version 1.5 and it's improving rapidly. Unfortunately, IMHO, it's not quite ready for prime time. It's just the little things, like being able to turn off personal albums in the Tidypics module and only allow albums in groups, but it just doesn't have the flexibility of Wordpress MU or Drupal yet and its ACL is similar to Joomla, which is to say that it sucks.
Joomla is another choice, and I use Joomla for projects too, especially when I want a website that LOOKS impressive. The themes in Joomla are nothing short of amazing, especially the ones from Rockettheme.com. The ACL issue is easily dealt with these days too, with the SimpleACL module. Unfortunately, Joomla just seems to run so very slow, and the fancy themes may be a contributing factor. It's still a great system, just too slow for me and my dedicated server, at present.
Buddypress, on the other hand, seems to be the tool of choice for my needs. It's fast, looks great, and seems flexible enough. Wordpress is a great tool, and I'm just beginning to learn how flexible it really is. I'm building a test site with it now, and came across this thread while googling to learn more about it.
To be honest, the number of good options available is surprising today. Three years ago, the choices were so limited that I was seriously considering one of those cheesy "myspace clones" that someone was selling for the price of my soul. Limited, top-down written, with no modules and everything built into the core. Thank god for tools like Drupal, Joomla, Elgg, and Wordpress. Long live the GPL!
Eh?
That's exactly what APK does...
I'm sorry you had trouble with it. I wish it were simpler to set up. I keep working at it but I think it's always going to be complex unless you're willing to take what it gives you by default, simply because it glues together so many modules.
Michelle
Does it? I always assumed
Does it? I always assumed that APK was making changes to the existing profile page. My bad.
Again, I think it's a great tool, just too far over my head.
I'd take what it gives me, especially if it gives me the option to chose from 4 or 5 layouts.
Interesting thread indeed.
Interesting thread indeed.
I have tested both buddypress and elgg, and a few others little bit extensively.
I think the best is to download and test on wamp or xampp in your machine - buddypress, elgg and boonex dolphin all have free downloads and installers, so these can be easily tested feature by feature.
Both Elgg and Buddypress offers excellent out-of-the-box social networking features except support for Social Apps or Social Gadgets. These gadgets are now part of any standard social network. Drupal also does not have them and there is no full functioning module to have those in Drupal just now or perhaps even in future. Phpfox ONLY supports those as of now, and phpfox has tightened the code and performance a LOT it seems.
If blogging is the major activity in a social network (as opposed to profile commenting or playing gadgets) buddypress/wordpressmu is the best as it offers multiple blogs to every single user out of the box and various other blogging features very simply and out-of-the-box. Drupal simply does not have those and not even possible by any Contribs also. Long blog posts in Drupal also critically suffers from this visibilty problem while buddypress/wordpressmu has no such issues.
The main problem with Drupal as social network is Drupal's utter lack of concern for privacy in core. Lack of abuse control and blocking in core or out-of-the-box. Contribs are there but buggy and does not solve all problem. Drupal does not let hide your online status or BLOCK an user completely (the modules that do are inefficient or not working the way things happen in a social network). The permissions for Activity are not granular, it is either all on or all off. The Organic groups and Views are resource intensive and needs manipulations to suit your needs and not simply out of the box like buddypress.
The profile page or APK, for example, in Drupal is highly rigid while in Elgg it is superbly "widgety" or user-friendly modular. To know the differences you need to download and see for yourself of course.
The main advantage with buddypress and elgg is that both of them are actively working towards better social networking goals so that sites built out of them can have CURRENT features and useful tidbits for the registered members of your network. They regularly have opinion polls and accepts feature requests and implements those features. The lead developers regularly take out time to directly talk to you in forums or groups apart from issue lists. However they do lack the vast marketing propaganda and support staff that the commercial wing of Drupal has. In the end it all depends what is your team and its financial support and what features ultimately you want your visitors to enjoy.
I agree with a lot of your
I agree with a lot of your comments, kaakuu, and they are certainly researched and well-thought-out.
Drupal, probably more so than any package listed, is capable of being the premier choice for a social network site. It really all depends on what modules are developed, and that depends on those who have the good hearts and the know-how to create those modules.
If I had the time and the php knowledge, I'd be right there with them, building modules. Alas, neither time nor training is mine at the moment. I don't know what the technical limits of Drupal are (and ALL software has limitations), but I'd hazard a guess that most if not all of the modules needed to make such a site could be developed if someone was so inclined.
I don't know about the current state of Dolphin, but last time I was looking at it, it was buggy and lacking some necessary components unless you were willing to pay for them. Sadly, money is also an issue in my case. Otherwise, I'd be tempting Drupal developers with some quick cash. hehehehe...
Drupal and SN
After cheerleading Drupal SN for the last few years, I've come around to the viewpoint that it's just not ready. If what you want is Facebook / MySpace where profiles and walls are dominant to all other content, you're better off with one of those apps that are ready made for that. Where Drupal excels is when you want a full website where social networking is part of it but the whole site doesn't revolve around peoples' profile pages. I think my Coulee Region Online is a good example of that (or will be when it's finished.) Part of it is SN with user profiles and searching users but it also goes beyond the profile with blogs, groups, and forums which is networking but not in the Facebook sense. And, beyond that, there's a whole 'nother side to the site with area information which would be difficult if not impossible to do on an app specifically for social networking.
So it all depends on your needs. Drupal is damn good tool but it's not suitable for every need. I think those of use who live and breathe Drupal think it's the answer for every problem but, sometimes, we just have to say no, it's not. If you want a simple blog, Wordpress is probably better. If you want Facebook, Buddypress is probably better. If you want a full featured website that include social networking but that isn't the whole focus, look at Drupal.
Michelle
We have a difference of
We have a difference of opinion there, but I bow to your superior knowledge, Michelle. You would know far better than I what Drupal is best suited for. I do find it a remarkable tool and I have developed many websites with it, but the needs of my clients are usually small. There are times that I'll use Joomla because it has the right tool and usually a great theme for a project.
I've been to your Coulee website and I'm blown away by what you've done with it. It's nothing short of amazing! Well done!
So far, I'm leaning toward Buddypress, although there are aspects that are not quite ready for my uses. For example, users can have galleries, but groups cannot. The website I want to build will require a lot of picture sharing, and a good gallery module is a must. Until that's developed, I'll have to be content with Drupal 5 and Gallery2.
What difference?
You said:
And that's exactly right. It depends on modules being developed. Drupal has a lot of potential for being great for social networking but it's just not there yet.
I think it's funny when complement Coulee Region Online... I guess I'm just never satisfied. LOL! But I'm in the process of rebuilding it because I find the current version to be clunky and cumbersome. I've got about 500 hours of fixing left to go, I think. Tons of stuff to do. And it would be a lot easier if I didn't have to custom code so much to get the SN features where I want them to be.
BTW, I use Gallery 2 with Drupal 6 and it works just fine.
Michelle
Well, I think Coulee Region
Well, I think Coulee Region Online looks great. You've done an impressive job adding the SN modules.
I use Drupal 6 and Gallery 2 also. They work great together.
The website I'm talking about is somewhat of a social network, cobbled together from readily-available modules. At the time I built it, Drupal 6 had just come out and didn't have half the modules it does now, so I made it with Drupal 5. I'm not going to upgrade it until I get get it a little closer to what I want, either with Drupal or some other package. If I can get Buddypress to a certain point, I'll go with that. Given my druthers, though, I'd rather run it on Drupal.
When I first started using Drupal, I came from a Mambo/Joomla background. I was amazed that I could, for example, add "terms and conditions" to the user registration by adding the legal module. In Joomla you have to replace the whole registration module to add this feature. Drupal's ability for one module to "hook" into another is very impressive and works seemlessly. THAT'S power under the hood.
Thanks
Just wait until I get the rebuild launched. :)
I'll be sticking with Drupal... Maybe I'm just stubborn but I'm determined to bend it into a proper social networking site whether it likes it or not. I can understand why folks are turning to more ready made solutions, though. :(
The hook system is awesome but doesn't help you any if you aren't a programmer. For Drupal to do SN well, we need a lot of contrib modules to get more mature, my own included.
Michelle
Your modules are already very
Your modules are already very impressive. If I could program, I would. But the last programming I did was in an old database called Paradox. Object-oriented PASCAL language. I've never made a serious attempt at php programming.
I'll still be here too, waiting for Drupal to reach the point I need. In the meantime, I'll have to work with Buddypress.
Thanks Ericinwisconsin
Thanks Ericinwisconsin. Dolphin has improved massively over these years but some parts of it are not free. I forgot to mention Dzoic. You can also look at the commercial Drupal package Acquia which probably advertises as having social networking capability. However, the concerns of privacy as in a social net is unanswered by those who advocate the social net aspect of Drupal and either it is half baked or totally lacking, making it actually unsuitable as a true social network. But Acquia can probably work with you on the features you want. The beauty about buddypress and elgg are that they are not just clones of facebook etc but offer a fresh approach with unique themes, rather than being aggregation of modules around a CMS they are ground-up suited for social networking.
You can have a look at the features that are considered "normal" in a social net these days, quoting from Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_network_service
"Almost all social network have a set of features which are considered essential to qualify as a social networking service, namely: the ability to set up and customize a personal 'profile', an ability for members to comment, fine granular control of who sees what (privacy settings), ability to block an unwanted member, have own page of personal (blog like) entries or notes and individual picture albums, ability to own, form or be member of a Group or Community within the network and increasingly the ability to include "Social Apps" or "Gadgets" which can create 'viral' like online contact and spread of information." What are must-have features will determine the package you will want to go for.
I've never heard of Dzoic.
I've never heard of Dzoic. I'll have to check that out.
I agree about Buddypress and Elgg. They're pretty much the future. Although Elgg has a way to go, it's improved dramatically over the past couple of years. Widgets are the problem with both of them; they're not there yet.
Than's it. to a personal: a
Than's it.
to a personal:
a own space of personal
granular privacy control
one and multi-way relationship,ie,to be friends,following and followed,private msg
blog
gallery
video
to a group:
one customizable space of group:like logo ,banner,even to modify css
event
forum
group gallery
group video
Is Drupal right for me?
I just posted the same question @ http://drupal.org/node/444244#comment-2106216 - but it's very relevant to this discussion as well.
I consider myself a developer - although it's not my current profession. I've recently installed WPMU and so far it's a piece of cake although I haven't done much with it yet. I'm having a difficult time deciding which tool, Drupal or WPMU, is right for the job below.
I'd like to build a multi-site blogging platform with the following features/functionality.
* ad-network integration
* ad revenue-sharing
* pay-for premium services
* paypal integration
* social ntwrking features to enable greater user/subscriber interaction
* facebook, twitter activity feed integration
* iphone and facebook app integration
It seems like, in theory, I should be able to do all of the above w/ WPMU and tons of plugins / core modifications / etc. Is Drupal a better tool for the job? If so, can you provide examples why WPMU is not?
Appreciate all the replies in advance. I'd love to choose Drupal for this project - just need to understand why WPMU won't cut it. Thanks again.
WPMU and Buddypress nay be
WPMU and Buddypress nay be your best bet, flashins. It really is flexible and if you can help develop some of the plugins to include tge features you want, that would be great.
As Michelle said, and I agree, Drupal can probably do it, but you have to really have a handle on it, including some developer abilities. Since you have that, you could probably create some modules to make things easier. If you want to do that and share, we'd all be grateful. :)
I think it's funny how drupal
I think it's funny how drupal will openly tell users they should use wordpress, wordpress mu or buddypress, yet wordpress will never tell their users to use drupal. All it does is promote wordpress, probably why drupal can never seem to get ahead of wordpress because its too busy telling users to use wordpress instead. It really speaks volumes of which is the inferior cms when it comes to to using it day to day. Having all the power in the world doesn't mean much if 95% of the users simply can't make use of it. It's great that wordpress is getting all the referrals on drupal.org. Keep it up people, I'm sure it will only make wordpress even more popular in the long run.lol
_
It pretty obvious that no one product is the perfect answer for every use case-- anyone claiming so is clearing full of it. I'll take honesty over a bs agenda any day. Anyone who prefers otherwise is welcome to hang out where they'll hear what they want to hear as opposed to the facts.
Drupal for Market place/social networking websites
I've been trying to create a market place type of website where users can log on and exchange with others. I've been using Drupal 6 and am not sure if it's the right thing. I looked at buddypress but do not want it to be centered around blogging. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
That's my only real problem
That's my only real problem with Buddypress, taji. I'm not interested in the site being blog-centric.
Look at Elgg. It's gaining ground rapidly.
I'm a pretty stubborn person about this issue and I keep coming back to Drupal. It's just so flexible, it really should shine in this area.
I'm JasonG or Jason_jm over
I'm JasonG or Jason_jm over at Buddypress. I'm a dedicated contributor to Mu, BBpress, and BuddyPress.
Buddypress I believe takes the focus off blogging and shifts it toward social content.
This comes redily apparent as we've integrated bbpess directly into core BP.
I would be glad to help answer any questions you may have on our forums.
To set the record straight, Drupal is a powerful platform. When I see new apps developed on drupal, it fills me with lots of excitment. Many of the things being done by the largely funded groups are amazing.
If you need CMS, I don't think there is any serious Wordpress developer who would not themselves recommend Drupal.
Both platforms are open source, and there is no reason why we can't all get along. We struggle for the same things.
I have more to say but I'm on an iPhone. I'll try to chime back in. Forgive my spelling and grammer, it's quite difficult getting around with the iPhone when trying to do some serious messaging.
Some months ago i tried ELGG
Some months ago i tried ELGG (which has powerful core options)... but gave up as their support, community & plugins docu is very very poor.
Then i decided to go with Drupal "Community plumbing".. why not? > i was thinking.
Great modules to choose from & a big big community.
Well, after 6 weeks of trying to learn Drupal, install modules, fixing bugs, "guessing" how any of the module functions can be visible at the user profiles etc etc..... i gave up having just manage to install a single theme
Drupal is indeed powerful, but for a beginner like me, useless... totally useless.
No detailed documentation for the modules, no instractions for dummies, plenty of modules needed to run each module...
it is just not worth to list all the pain Drupal caused to me.
Today i installed Wordpress MU & Buddypress .... just 30 min ago.
Already have set up 5 profiles, 2 groups, some blogs ... and now i can rest with a cup of coffee
Drupal has a long way to go in building a social network with their modules.
And.... a long way in how they are "treating" newcomers in support, documentation, easy dizzy find what you are looking for.
Drupal was my worst expirience ever
_
It's too bad you had should a poor experience-- in all of 4 days no less, lol. But it's really all about the right tool for the job-- you wouldn't buy a formula one racecar to drive the kids to school or a compressor with 10 different impact hammers to drive a nail into a board (or expect to be able to use them without a serious amount of instruction, training, and practice). If wordpress/buddypress works for your use case and skillset great. But the fact remains, for a large majority of complex sites wordpress doesn't scale. You won't find sites like whitehouse.gov, mattel.com, myplay.com, or any of the other high profile sites on dries' blog built with wordpress-- there's a reason for that.
We are talking about creating
We are talking about creating social network here.
You see? Your comment reflects exactly what i was talking about... even now, the only comment is about the "mercedes" for the few.
Sorry that i can not affort a specialist to build my tiny, little community site.
And yes... why not support people without coding skills?
And yes... i signed up 4 days ago, it doesen't mean that i am using drupal for 4 days
Sorry... no professional aproach here
_
You missed the point entirely-- again, it's about the right tool for the job and depends on what you are building as well as your skillset. You have a solution that meets your needs-- so what's the problem? What's with all the out of place hostility? I'll never understand why people feel the need to post solely for the purpose of complaining that they met their needs with another tool. Use whatever works.
See forum header -> Drupal vs
See forum header -> Drupal vs BuddyPress as a Social Networking site
Only took me a few days to
Only took me a few days to figure out drupal, no coding experience. That's one of the main distinctions between it and wordpress, you have to study it as you go to learn it. I think this could be improved upon, so that out of the box, drupal is ready for most basic sites without a steep learning curve. Still less than a week is doable to learn a great CMS.
My main beef and I'm sure many others is that drupal doesn't do blogging very well out of the box, it should at least do that without having to add several modules or take a calculus course in taxonomy. Now though there are cool modules that take care of most things to make it function like wordpress.
I agree about the attitude towards beginners, I think drupal.org should have a forum just for beginners so they can hang out and learn together. Drupal won't do this, nobody knows why, there's no reason not to. How hard can it be to open up a forum just for beginners ?
And while were at it, how about a lounge for drupalers to socialize, this is community/social networking software is it not ? One of the first thing a noob notices on drupal is that they are not very social, some might even refer to them as pricks lol
It's time drupal become more friendly...
_
The drupal.org forums already are beginner forums-- virtually none of the experienced developers frequent the forums. They all hang out in IRC.
Not my experience at all-- and the 'lounge' as you put it is IRC.
Oh and way to go insulting the entire community-- i'm sure that will really engender a desire to assist you. I know how helpful being called a prick makes me feel-- nice work, lol.
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disclaimer: not directed at any one person however if the shoe fits .....
Ah, how I love these types of assertions. Though I admit that I admire them so much more when they are posted by someone who offers little to no guidance to those same new users they claim to be speaking for as if elected to do so.
Before those of us who are considered pricks came along and started answering 20 - 30 (or more) threads a day in concerted effort to minimize the amount of questions that were going unanswered. The drupal community was labeled unhelpful based on the amount of 0 reply threads. Users bitched and moaned out of frustration then and they do so now. New users don't tend to help other new users for a multitude of reasons and not because they have a special place to do so. These reasons usually include their own self interest WRT getting their own site up and getting their own questions answered. There is nothing that stops new users from helping other new users that a new user only forum would help nor solve. In fact, I believe it would make it more difficult for those who are actually taking the time to support drual via the fourms as those users would have another forum to check on.
That said it doesn't make sense to me to create yet another forum. Where new users can post their questions and those questions can take much longer to be answered or left unanswered until the more experienced users have to hop in and answer those questions too. (and then be judged and/or called names because there isn't enough sugar or handholding in the answers given.) This is a drupal support site not a social networking site. Some of us who are here are not here to be "social" or to "socialize". We're here to help "guide" the question askers to the answers or possible answers. Usually in as few words as possible (which may seem terse or unprofessional) because there are a ton of others who are also asking for help. Those who support drupal via the forums are not customer service representatives who are paid to smile and communicate nicey nice regardless of how they are being treated or talked to.
Seems to me that new users can help out new users right now without the use and maintenance of another forum. All it takes is for people to put forth the effort rather then point out the things they don't like or don't agree with. It doesn't take someone special to point out where something may be broken or lacking. It takes someone special to actually get their hands dirty in trying to change/fix that something they view as broken or lacking.
Lastly, I agree with Worldfallz. A user at any level that bites the hands that feed them usually wind up starving.
I'm sorry too that you had a
I'm sorry too that you had a poor experience with Drupal. Drupal is one of those things that I fought with initially, but at some point, something "clicked" in my head and I understood it. Your mileage may vary.
Drupal is extremely powerful, but if you're setting up a "here's a picture of my kids and dog" website, it's like trying to kill a fly with a sledgehammer... overkill.
We've all been debating the merits of Drupal as a social network site, and most of it can be done. The problem is that, if you look at a social network site and say "I want my site to have that feature", Drupal may not be able to do it without doing some coding. Personally, I need to learn some php/Drupal coding myself, but I don't have the time right now.
Social networking sites, I'm learning, are a dime a dozen. There are even sites that will let you build your own social website with their software, if you don't mind a little advertising popping up. Maybe that will work for you.
I've been working on and developing a site that's a social network but centers around a particular interest. I had a clear vision of what I wanted from the beginning and that helped me to tweak Drupal with a number of modules. The end result is, if I may be so bold, very impressive. It LOOKS as I envisioned it, and it's been growing rapidly in membership, so I'm a happy camper.
My advice is to post in the forums here. Ask questions. If no one answers, ask it a different way. Find someone here who would like to help you build the site and teach you along the way. Heck, I'd do it for the sheer fun of building sites. I'm sure that someone else would too.
i have no experiences with sn
i have no experiences with sn sites - so i can't write something about it ...
thanks to all for the very informative thread ...
Thinking about Drupal to be the tool for me
Hey there,
I'm now following Drupal for some months and watched some screencasts. I tried out several modules to see the interaction beyond each other. It looks fantastic at the first glance but always has some downsides. As I know php but not yet understood the Drupal API I did not try to modify or even create modules as I like the close-to-standard approach instead of doing evth on my own (knowing clever people already created great contribs). I found this thread really interesting and now would like to get some input:
The idea of my site is the have kind of a event planner (like e.g. http://www.eventful.com) on personal level:
- Standard SN functionality like privmsgs, chat, buddy lists, groups, privacy control (network, friends, all), activity flow
- Events/Dates with RVSP
- Location database in the background to support searchability of venues and "near-by"-events of a user
- Clever categorization by use of tags
- Basic discussion functionality on events to support event planning
- Facebook integration to publish events and support viral marketing
- Basic ad-management
Should I shoot for Drupal by enhancing/creating modules or is there a better option out there?
I looked at elgg and buddypress but they seem to hard to expand for my needs.
Thanks for any replies here.
Yep
"I looked at elgg and buddypress but they seem to hard to expand for my needs."
That's why I build with Drupal- The sky is the limit. Sure, you can throw together a social network in one sitting using Buddypress. But how long would it take to build a site that does something different from the hundreds of thousands of other sites built with the same software as yours?
Wordpress products= fast development/deployment, then brick wall. Great cookie cutters, though. Period.
any new thinking on this front?
I'm a php developer and prefer Drupal to Wordpress for most sites due to its flexibility.
The only major class of website I haven't built yet is a Social Networking site.
Based upon the discussion in this thread...Michelle's post from 2009 weighing heavily...I'm planning to move forward with BuddyPress.
Wondering if opinions have changed in the last couple of years? Is BuddyPress still the better fit for a SN site, even for someone who doesn't mind doing a lot of custom coding?
.
Not really... And many of the SN modules aren't ported to D7, yet. :(
Michelle
Thanks
Thanks Michelle
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if you are into coding and already familiar with Drupal. it may be of benefit to aid in porting the missing modules to D7.
just a thought.
Drupal vs BuddyPress as a Social Networking site
I found that Nodemaker works best for me in Drupal 7 . one problem in general I have WordPress 3.51 when it comes to social networking is security and scalability. Tried the network install with WP and it was a mess to administer by comparison to Drupal. I think that many of the plugins with WP are better integrated especially when it comes to rss feeds in blog posts, but overhead is a different issue. Also, I tried the Commons modules and everything was fine except for the flip array error that is persistent.