Transition: Community Platform Options
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Community Platform Options
| UPDATE: | Here's a new workspace that offers the chance for members to indicate which online community they plan to join - Where We're Going. |
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Overview
This is a place to list and review options for online community platforms where collaboration can continue - and grow - after omidyar.net is archived.
- These are initial suggestions. Please feel free to add your own information and start a discussion for any option that seems promising.
- The suggestions are clustered in three types of platforms: wikis, forums, and social networks - in addition to the omidyar.net source code. Of course a community could use a couple of different types of platforms.
Here's a workspace where you can contribute to a needs assessment.
After reviewing this workspace, please join the related discussion.
omidyar.net source code
The source code for omidyar.net is available to anyone for free. This would offer the functionality of omidyar.net without the content. There are two significant costs associated with running that platform: the server hosting and paying someone to maintain the system.
Here's a discussion of NED's plans to use the omidyar.net source code.
please join the related discussions about using the omidyar.net source code (and/or) whether there should be any modifications to the source code (and if so, which ones?)
Wiki-centric platforms
Wiki-centric platforms are like the workspaces in omidyar.net - they offer the ability for multiple people to edit the same document. They are appropriate for communities that are focused on collaborative work like creating resource lists or coordinating meetings, etc. Here's a great introduction: Exploring the World of Wikis. And here's a tool to compare the features and costs of a wide variety of wiki platforms.
Unless otherwise noted, the first four in the table below offer:
- easy set up and maintainance
- easy-to-use WISIWYG editing
- hosting so that you don’t have to worry about making arrangements to set up your own servers
- option to set up areas that aren’t open to public
- some comment functionality although not as robust as the pure forum-centric platforms below
| Community type | Strengths | Weaknesses | Cost & Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wetpaint could work well for a small community whose members don’t want to worry about technical or financial costs and don’t mind advertisements. | Includes profiles and groups. Especially good for group blogging. Tagging and rating comments. Takes only a few minutes to create test community. | No way to get rid of ads. There doesn’t appear to be many communities similar to omidyar.net using the platform so not much chance for synergy. | Free with advertising. No paid option. Link to site: Wetpaint |
| Socialtext seems appropriate for a limited number of very active collaborators who are willing to pay. Disclosure: Omidyar Network is an investor in SocialText. | No ads. Has many advanced features like file management, RSS, and email integration. Includes wikis, blogs, and groups. | Cost is based on number of users. Expensive to scale. Not part of a wider community of people with similar interests. | Non-profit rate - based on the number of users. Link to site: Socialtext |
| Wikispaces could work for many types of communities, especially those who want a low-cost option with no ads. | The wider network includes groups with similar interests. No limits on numbers of pages, spaces, or members. Full RSS support. Easy space backups in zip and tgz. | Less features than Socialtext. Limited profile functionality. | Free with ads or $5/month without - for up to 2GB of file storage. Link to site: Wikispaces |
| AboutUs might work best for a community that is interested in connecting with other groups and doesn't require a totally autonomous group. | Created by and used by some omidyar.net members. Offers opportunities to connect with similar communities already there. | Does not have true WISIWYG editing so some may find it tedious to edit links, etc. No option to create a private area. | Free with no ads. Link to site: AboutUs - Here's a omidyar.net discussion on AboutUs |
Forum-centric platforms - aka bulletin board systems
Forums are like the discussions in omidyar.net and make sense if dialog is central to your community. You can set up a forum that is for members only but opportunities for connecting with other communities are limited. Here's a site where you can compare the features and cost of many forum platforms.
| Community type | Strengths | Weaknesses | Cost & Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| vBulletin would be good for a larger community who can afford and make use of the strong set of tools. | WYSIWYG editing. Admin tools for threads,Post rating, User reputation, Polls, Post Reporting to moderators, Private Messaging, Buddy list, Calendar, Who's online, Shared Project Management option. | Cost and time to arrange hosting | $85/year plus hosting. Link to site: vBulletin |
| MyBB would work for a community or cluster of communities who want a simple free platform and don’t need all the features of a paid option. | Free, no ad hosting alternative. Multiple groups. Security features like IP Blocking. Karma/Rating system. Shows users online. Options for threaded or flat comments. | No WYSIWYG editing so some may find it tedious to add links, etc. Only around since February 2007. Free service but charges for upgrades. | Free options. Link to site: MyBB Free hosting at FreeForums |
| Yahoo or Google groups would work well for a community that wants a free platform and doesn’t mind ads, and doesn’t need lots of flexibility. | Free. WYSIWYG. Some group functionality including membership, forums, mailing lists, and file hosting. WYSIWYG editing. Easy to set up and test for free. Widespread and so familiar to many. | Advertising. Lack of flexibility. | Free with advertising. Link to site: Yahoo Groups. Link to site: Google Groups. |
Other
| Community type | Strengths | Weaknesses | Cost & Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wagn.org | deep knowledge management tool that works much like a wiki and has tagging and real database abilities, the developers are onet members, tool also in use for consumer empowerment at hooze.org | Ask for an invitation | Discussion Wagn |
We encourage you to offer other possibilities, test them out and add your findings on this page.
Page name: Community Platform Options
Last editor: Haney Armstrong (CCAL30) (1784)
Date: Tue, 02 Oct 2007 14:57:54 PDT
Tags: options platform sites transition
Feedback score: 0
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Social Network-centric platforms
These platforms make it easy to connect with others. It may be difficult to translate a social network into an effective community. All three are really easy for anyone to test out quickly by forming an instant community for free.