Want to build Facebook applications that truly stand out among the thousands already available? In addition to providing easy-to-follow recipes that offer practical ways to design and build scalable applications using the Facebook Platform and its new profile design, this Cookbook also explains proven strategies for attracting users in this highly competitive environment. With plenty of examples and practical solutions, Facebook Cookbook answers some of the hardest questions Facebook application developers contend with -- including how and where to get started. This Cookbook will help you:

• Learn to build an application that scales to accommodate a sudden influx of users

• Explore changes from Facebook's old profile design to the new look and feel

• Take advantage of new integration points in the new profile design

• Get tips for designing applications with hosting and deployment costs in mind

• Discover which widgets and controls to use for building the most attractive user interface design

• Learn the differences between standard HTML, JavaScript, and SQL, and the versions used on the Facebook Platform

• Target large, defined groups on Facebook, including those who want to find jobs, hire employees, market a business, advertise, and more

If you can build simple web applications with HTML, Facebook Cookbook will help you build applications with the potential to reach millions of users around the globe. Learn what it takes to design applications that stand above the rest.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 13 Ratings

Totally obsolete - 2009-10-29
Reviewer Rating:
Today (October 28, 2009) I have received from Amazon this book and the book FBML Essentials by Jesse Stay.
These two books might have been perfect in an earlier time but today they are utterly useless. The facebook interface has totally changed from what is described in those two books. I am a very experienced programmer (Java, C, C++, Objective C, HTML,PHP, Javascript , CSS and more) but here I am totally lost!

Lots of filler, still looking for the meat - 2009-10-06
Reviewer Rating:
This book suffers from two weaknesses: 1) a wordy style written at a very low level, and 2) an inappropriate organizational format.

Here's just a random example of the wordy style that I find annoying, one paragraph of 3 introducing Chapter 4, "Architecture and Design":

'Building an app is a lot like building a house: poor architecture and foundations will only lead to a rickety structure that falls over the first time the big bad wolf blows on it (and by "big bad wolf", I mean 100,000 users). Knowledge is power, so arm yourself with a thorough understanding of the way Facebook applications are structured, as well as some practical techniques for optimizing your app's underpinnings.'

I bought this book to learn how to write Facebook apps quickly and well. Thank you for telling me that knowledge is power, but does that really move me closer to my Facebook app? I don't think so. To me, it's underbrush that I have to hack through to get to any useful information that I need. I'm still hacking. Writing can be simple without being juvenile.

The second weakness is the formatting trope used throughout the book. Every topic is introduced as a "Problem", followed by a "Solution", and a "Discussion". Every topic, no matter what it is, this is the format. For some, it may be appropriate but it's not used for some, it's used for all. It's like having to play Jeopardy just to get to the answer. Another random example, this one for "Adding Profile Boxes". In this case, the "Problem" paragraph does nothing more than restate the chapter's title, but instead of asking, "How do I add a profile box?", why use seven words when you can do the same thing with eighteen? "How can I give my users the opportunity to add a Profile Box if they don't have one?"

I'm optimistic that there will be useful information in this book. There's just quite a bit more wading through cuteness than I prefer.

EXCELLENT BOOK! - 2009-08-10
Reviewer Rating:
I read this book from cover to cover I learn a lot about Facebook. I became sorta addicted to Facebook. After four weeks I had to find a way to block facebook. Right now I downloaded this program [...] to help me with my addiction ;-(

Knowing what's out there - 2009-07-24
Reviewer Rating:
This is certainly the best book on this topic that I have read so far.

I am not technical at all but got it. Jay is able to explain in plain english what certain functionality is about.

The book gives a good summary of the viral viral integration points and how to leverage them. It is a theme through the book... and let's face it... that quite often makes the difference between successful or unsuccessful apps.

In addition it gave a comprehensive summary of what's out there on Facebook in terms of user interface elements that have been prebuilt already.

Oh yes, and the odd bit of humor is always welcome!

The "must-have" book for Facebook application development - 2009-04-12
Reviewer Rating:
This is the "must-have" book for Facebook application development. Other books I've seen on the subject are essentially primitive step-by-step tutorials that rarely, if ever, go beyond the simplest levels.

"Facebook Cookbook", on the other hand, gets into the real nitty-gritty. It goes into areas that other books don't, such as the use of Amazon Web Services for hosting your Facebook related storage needs, Facebook policies such as how many invitations you can send out a day and the criteria for their acceptibility to the Facebook "police" and so on.

The Problem/Solution approach taken is especially appropriate for a subject like Facebook application development. The Problem is posed, the Solution is suggested and then a Discussion may ensue that provides additional details. It is a very effective approach here.

The author has deliberately limited the range of tools he discusses in order to simplify matters, which is a wise move.

The range of subjects is broad. You can read this book straight through or dip into it as time and needs dictate.

I don't think this should be your only book on Facebook application development, though. One of the other "step-by-step" books should be considered, but you might want to wait a couple of months until new editions have been released to cover the new Facebook user interface.

Jerry

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