PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor

PHP is a popular scripting language that can be found on many webpages across the web.

The language is entireley open source and so is freely avaliable to developers at no cost. PHP integrates very smoothly into most webpages and provides abilities to create dynamic webages and offers database connectivity.

PHP is an excellent solution to web developers wanting to offer networking or multiple user options on their websites.

More info:
http://www.php.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PHP
http://www.w3schools.com/php/default.asp

Facebook Applications

Facebook applications add extra functionality to the exsisting Facbook API. Extra functions include simple additions like the ability to post images in comments, up to adding chat rooms and embedded multiplayer games.

Facebook allows developers to code in a wide range of popular languages, including ASP.NET and PHP.

http://developers.facebook.com/ - Developer home page
http://wiki.developers.facebook.com/index.php/Main_Page - Developer wiki, showing ways to get started in your language of choice.

RSS feeds

RSS feeds are a form of up-to-date information broadcasting.

The feeds are broadcasted from an updated XML sheet on a web server to clients that have downloaded the address. Popular uses for XML feeds are found on news websites, or websites with a large user base that regularly need to provide news to their users.

Some examples:

http://www.bbc.co.uk

http://www.roosterteeth.com

3rd Post... Forums...

Forums are a common web application found on websites that are used as a form of updating users and letting them communicate with eachother.

Forums allow users to register, have their own profile and create and reply to topics. Forums often allow other abilities like different forum "skins" or have addons such as "shout boxes".

Popular forum solutions include:
http://www.phpbb.com/ (free)
http://www.vbulletin.com/
http://www.invisionpower.com/community/board/index.html

another entry... a bit delayed

Social Networking Sites

Social Networking Sites are websites that incorporate many communication and networking technologies and abilities.

Common services found on these sites are: log in/password system, individual user profiles, profile commenting system, user messaging system, blogging system, picture/video/music upload etc.

These websites have become a huge success amongst a wide range of ages, however the most notable audience are teenagers.

Some of the most recognised sites are:
www.myspace.com
www.facebook.com
www.bebo.com

1st entry... Blogging

Well, a bit of a delay in getting my research notes up and running... but here they are!

So, Blogging (Blog = short for weB LOG)... has become a bit of a phenomenon, infact its so good I'm using it to keep track of my research!

Blogging... popular applications on the web that are generally used as a social "updating" amongst friends or for subjects of interest... (Blog = short for weB LOG) For example:

On a social networking site, a blogger may post that they are having life troubles and they need advice from their friends (blogs usually have a comment function). Or, say on a software development site, the admin may create a blog as more of a news feed, to keep users that are waiting for a new release of software up to date on its progress.

Some examples of successful blogging sites...
http://www.blogger.com/ (the one you're on now...)
http://www.livejournal.com/
http://digg.com/ (a little bit different, has a ranking system for entries)

It should also be noted that Blogger, (this site) makes the API they use for running the site avaliable for users to download and run on their own webservers.