facedesk - a stand-alone Facebook application

Published on Saturday, June 7th, 2008

With the advanced level of sophistication when it comes to web sites and web applications, there are a number which would suit better as stand-alone applications. Therefore, I’ve created facedesk.

What is facedesk?

Since most people who are addicted to Facebook use it constantly throughout the day (and evenings, and nights… :-) ), I thought it would be better to use it as a stand-alone and cross-platform application, and to avoid cluttering the web browser with an extra tab and the risk of showing of your Facebook surfing, when you probably should have been doing, theoretically at least, something completely different.

A picture of the Facebook web site

For now, facedesk offers you the possibility to do this, and to have it side-by-side with all your other installed applications. Just alt-tab (on Windows or Linux) or Cmd-tab (on Mac) to shift between this application and the other ones you are running.

Future plans

To begin with, this application is pretty simple and just there to tend to a need you might have; I sure know I have that need. This was also to get the infrastructure of the application in place, with automatic updates, install methods and so on.

If it gains popularity and people appreciate it, I have a plan to continuously add some small nice features to make your life easier. So, please try facedesk out and let me know what you think!

6 comments

  • Fredrik Frodlund
    June 7th, 2008 at 20:11

    I feel quite content with the deletion of my Facebook account. This looks like interesting stuff, nonetheless. Won’t make me re-register though. ;)

  • Neovov
    June 7th, 2008 at 23:45

    Nice !

    I’d like to see the source code too :P !

  • micke
    June 9th, 2008 at 8:48

    What’s the difference between this and Prism? Facebook for Prism is available for installation directly from Ubuntu’s repository.

  • links for 2008-06-09 at Ip’s.
    June 9th, 2008 at 18:28

    [...] facedesk - a stand-alone Facebook application - Robert’s talk - Web development and Internet trend… “With the advanced level of sophistication when it comes to web sites and web applications, there are a number which would suit better as stand-alone applications. Therefore, I’ve created facedesk.” (tags: facebook standalone article software social) [...]

  • Robert Nyman - author
    June 9th, 2008 at 22:05

    Fredrik,

    Ha ha, I can understand that! :-)

    Neovov,

    Actually, the code is always available in the installed package (at least on macs, haven’t tried delving into it in Windows or Linux).

    Either way, this is open source, so the code offered for anyone to take a look at in the facedesk project page.

    micke,

    I’m glad that you ask! There are several options to create applications directly from URLs, such as Prism. However, building it with Adobe AIR means complete application possibilities for me as a developer, and for you as a potential installer of facedesk (e.g. local file integration, pushing automatic updates etc).

    As of right now, there’s basically no difference to a Prism package with Facebook, but if I develop this further, according to the plans I have and depending on its popularity, I will be able to offer things prism can’t match.

  • GMDesk - run Gmail as a stand-alone application - Robert’s talk - Web development and Internet trends
    June 10th, 2008 at 13:20

    [...] as the need I saw to for running Facebook stand-alone with facedesk, the turn has come to Gmail. Let me present GMDesk - run Gmail as a stand-alone [...]

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