Press releases

Developing Facebook Platform Applications with Rails--New from Pragmatic Bookshelf: Discover how to use the popular Ruby on Rails framework to develop amazing Facebook Platform applications

Press release: November 3, 2008

Developing Facebook Platform Applications with Rails Raleigh, NC—The introduction of Facebook changed the internet landscape forever. More than 12,000 Facebook applications have been launched so far, with over 60 million captive users. Now you can develop your own application for Facebook using the explosively popular Rails framework.

In Developing Facebook Platform Applications with Rails (Pragmatic Bookshelf, $32.95), you’ll see how to develop Facebook Platform applications quickly, using the Ruby on Rails web framework. You’ll learn to use Facebook technologies such as FBML and FQL, and you’ll see how to leverage Rails and the Facebook Platform to make your application a success.

But Facebook is more than just a way of delivering applications.

Author Michael J. Mangino explains, “It’s this network effect that gives Facebook its power. The more of your friends that use an application, the more benefit you get from that application. Facebook gives you a number of ways to take advantage of the connections between users. Your application has access to not only information about its users, but also their friends. You can send messages to your users’ friends, and even publish information to them. In fact, you have access to all of the tools that Facebook uses in their applications.”

In this book, you’ll do more than just study the Facebook API—you’ll get practical tips from an experienced Facebook developer. You’ll learn advanced techniques such as AJAX and asynchronous messaging, and you’ll see how to slash development time with facebooker, the leading Ruby library for Facebook Platform development.

You’ll build a real Facebook Platform application, "Karate Poke," from configuration all the way to deployment. You’ll get deep into Facebook requests right off the bat. From there, you’ll build the core of "Karate Poke" and then get a detailed look at the Facebook canvas and social features. You’ll also see how to use advanced features and tips for handling millions of users.

Developing for the Facebook Platform can seem like a different world at first. Developing Facebook Platform Applications with Rails is your tour guide.

For a review copy or more information please email pragprogpr@oreilly.com. Please include your delivery address and contact information.

Michael J. Mangino is the founder of Elevated Rails. He has been building applications for the Web since 1995. He has been developing for the Facebook Platform since its launch and has contributed to several of the most popular Facebook applications. In his spare time, Mike is an avid runner. He has completed several marathons and hopes to eventually qualify for the Boston Marathon.

Additional Resources
For more information about the book, including code, errata, discussions, excerpts, a full table of contents, and more, see the catalog page for Developing Facebook Platform Applications with Rails.

Developing Facebook Platform Applications with Rails
Publisher: Pragmatic Bookshelf
Michael J. Mangino
ISBN: 9781934356128, 196 pages, $32.95 USD, £23.99 GBP
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938
1-707-827-7000


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