From 6148c7a1519e1d18e8eb72612bb19d0f080367c4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Evan Prodromou Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:53:23 -0400 Subject: [PATCH] update faq --- doc-src/faq | 52 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++------------------------ 1 file changed, 28 insertions(+), 24 deletions(-) diff --git a/doc-src/faq b/doc-src/faq index 589b18b8d8..ee7cd506a8 100644 --- a/doc-src/faq +++ b/doc-src/faq @@ -8,39 +8,43 @@ some answers. What is %%site.name%%? ---------------------- -%%site.name%% is a [micro-blogging](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro-blogging) service. +%%site.name%% is a stream oriented social network service. + You can use it to write short notices about yourself, where you are, and what you're doing, and those notices will be sent to all your friends and fans. -How is %%site.name%% different from Twitter, Jaiku, Pownce, Plurk, others? --------------------------------------------------------------------------- +You can also post event invitations, bookmarks, polls, and questions or +other kinds of social broadcasts. -%%site.name%% is an [Open Network Service](http://opendefinition.org/ossd). Our main -goal is to provide a fair and transparent service that preserves users' autonomy. In -particular, all the software used for %%site.name%% is [Free Software](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Software), and all the data is available -under the [%%license.title%%](%%license.url%%) license, making it Open Data. +How is %%site.name%% different from Twitter? +-------------------------------------------- -The software also implements the [OpenMicroBlogging](http://openmicroblogging.org/) protocol, meaning that you can have friends on other microblogging services -that can receive your notices. +Like [Twitter](http://twitter.com/), %%site.name%% is a light service +with a stream-oriented interface. It uses @-replies, hashtags, +provides search, and has private messages. It provides an API, and can +be integrated with SMS systems. You can create lists. -The goal here is *autonomy* -- you deserve the right to manage your own on-line -presence. If you don't like how %%site.name%% works, you can take your data and the source code and set up your own server (or move your account to another one). +Unlike Twitter, %%site.name%% allows more data than just plain text +and links to travel across the network. You can install the StatusNet +software that runs %%site.name%% on your own servers, since it's Free +and Open Source software. You can make groups, and share privately +with those groups. -Where is feature X? -------------------- +You can make your site available only to people you choose. You can +customize it with your own themes and plugins, or download plugins +from the StatusNet site. -The software we run, [StatusNet](http://status.net/), is still in its early stages, -and many features people expect from microblogging sites are not yet implemented. Some important ones that are expected "soon": +How is %%site.name%% different from Yammer, SocialCast, or Salesforce Chatter? +------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -* More [AJAX](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AJAX)-y interface -* Maps -* Cross-post to Pownce, Jaiku, etc. -* Pull messages from Twitter, Pownce, Jaiku, etc. -* [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/) integration -* Image, video, audio notices - -There is [a list of bugs and features](http://status.net/bugs/) that you may find -interesting. New ideas or complaints are very welcome. +Like some enterprise social software services, StatusNet lets you +share privately with other people in your company. You can use +microapps to post richer kinds of data, use public and private groups +to share with team members, use extended profiles to show more about +yourself and your company, and review groups and users in a directory. +Unlike those other services, StatusNet is free and open source +software. You can install it on your own servers. You can customize +the theme and add plugins.