Facebook is an incredible site. At the time this tutorial was written, this site
reaches ranking second only to Google in the achievement of visitors. What does
it mean? Facebook could attract so many visitors. This site even has defeated
Friendster friendship site that had been rampant.
But here we are not going to discuss the problem of how to collect friends
through Facebook. We will be concentrated into our problems how to make an
application on Facebook.
In facebook, we know the term Facebook platform. Said about platform is very
common we hear. Yes, many people say about the "platform". The politicians we
like to discuss about the party platform, the coalition must be based on
platforms, and so on. The soccer players also discuss platform play. Techniques
and strategies are part of the platform to win the game.
Figure 1.1 News Feed Application
Facebook Application
How many applications do you get after registering on Facebook. You can check
with the following steps:
- Log in to your Facebook page.
- In the lower left corner, click the Applications button.
You'll get a
menu display as shown in Figure 1.2. The menu displays the applications that you
can use right now.

Figure
1.2 Faceboook Main Menu
- To search for other applications, you can click the link Browse More
Applications. To edit an existing application, you can click the Edit
Applications link.

Figure 1.3 List of applications used by a user
From the explanation above, is can you imagine what is meant with Facebook
Platform? Yes, Facebook Platform's like a house foundation on which to build the
rooms. Fun, home owners can build rooms by knock down model. He can put any part
of the building and unload at any time he likes.
Figure 1.3 shows an example list of applications used by a user. He can
display a list of applications based on the intensity of usage, which has
applications in bookmark it, has been authorized, and so on. Then you can adjust
settings on the application. So, this practically is the central of your
application control.
Figure 1.4 Setting of application
Third Party Application
Well, fun, Facebook does not only display their application himself. Anyone
can create and run applications on Facebook. This is one of the uniqueness of
Facebook. this site is not only friendship site that collects just friends, but
it also could be developed in accordance with user needs.
You can use Facebook when saturated. Even at the time did not want to meet or
greet friends. You can search for game applications on Facebook. One of the
popular game is Farmville. In this game, you're not just playing alone, you can
also neighbors and help your neighbors. Thus, the concept used in applications
is community development.
Figure 1.5 FarmVille game application
So, What is Facebook Platform?
By definition, Facebook platform can be interpreted: framework programming
that enables application developers create applications that can interact and
integrate with Facebook core services. Example, application named Super Wall
application.
Figure 1.6 Supperwall application
Super Wall application is not created by Facebook team but by other
developers. In the application, you can display wall in a different format. You
can display the status of your friends in this application. This means, the
application can interact with your data on Facebook service standards.
Mmm ... you should mention that Facebook is a place to integrate all the
applications you need. You can build financial applications, appointments, and
other business applications. You can use Facebook as a portal of all the data
you need. That is the advantage of the Facebook platform.
Facebook Application Architecture
Well, we'll compare how common web application architecture with applications
on Facebook. Below is a standard web architecture:
Figure
1.7 Standar web architectur
When you want to open a web page, you send an HTTP Request to the server. On
the server there will be a process involving the application and database. The
results of this process, an HTML document will be sent to your browser.
Now we see how the Facebook platform works. When you open an existing
application on Facebook, you send an HTTP Request to the facebook server. Your
request will be forwarded to the owner of the server application. There is some
information (eg user id) that will be requested from the server to the server
application for Facebook. Next, Facebook server will respond and send data to
the server application. After the application is processed on the server, it
sends the document in a format that is sent to the FBML Facebook servers. By
Facebook document is processed and produces an HTML document that is sent to
your page.
Figure
1.8 Facebook architectur
Facebook Framework Components
In the Facebook platform, there are parts where you will incorporate in your
code:
- Facebook API
- FBML (Facebook Markup Language)
- FQL (Facebook Query Language)
- Facebook Javascript
Facebook API
API stands for Application Programming Interface. Facebook API is the heart
of your application. Facebook API is a Web services programming interface to
access the main Facebook services (profile, friends, photo, event) and the
function of Facebook (login, redirect, update the view). API is REST-based
architecture (Representational State Transfer).
Facebook Markup Language
Facebook Markup Language is a language like HTML but versions of Facebook for
display a canvas page in Facebook. Here are three facts about FBML:
- FBML also contains a subset of HTML elements. Common elements such as p, ul,
and h1 is also part of FBML.
- FBML also support for script and style elements. Javascript is not supported
in the usual script. However, some javascript code can be supported on the
Facebook Javascript. Elements of style can not you use to access the external
style sheets. You can only use internal CSS.
- FBML provides some extensions for the user interface (UI) in particular.
Facebook Query Language
Facebook Query Language (FBQL) is a SQL-based interface to the Facebook data.
Through FBQL, you can access many tables in the database such as Facebook users,
friend, group, group_member, event, event_member, photo, albums, and photo_tag.
FBQL is a query language similar to the SQL standard, but there are some
limitations:
- SELECT statement must be one table at a time
- Join query is not allowed
- A query must be indexed
Facebook JavaScript
As mentioned above, Facebook does not support Javascript elements standard in
the script. However, there are some Javascript code (which in a very limited
number) that can be run on Facebook through the Facebook JavaScript. Here's the
difference between the Facebook Javascript and Javascript:
- Facebook provides an alternative implementation of the DOM using JavaScript
DOM standard.
- Many implementations FBJS objects with a standard Javascript, but there are
many differences.
- When processing the code in the script element, he will relate the function
and variable names of the application.
Well, you now understand a little what it Facebook Platform. Now it's time to
begin to know how to use it. Please follow to the next chapter.
Next :-
Facebook Programming: My First Facebook Application