How do I get the MeTa software? July 19, 2006 8:24 PM   Subscribe

Is there a way to get the software metatalk is based on? I'd like to create such a site for a unique project... or something similar? or should I just go with a wiki or phpbb type site?

this would be for a small group of people to ask each other questions (no question limit or fee.) for a large extended family...
posted by Izzmeister to MetaFilter-Related at 8:24 PM (13 comments total)

Three years ago, Matt wrote "I'm considering GPLing the mefi code." Then a few months ago, blue_beetle asked "Whatever happened to open sourcing the MeFi codebase?" No response from Matt, so I think it's safe to say the answer is: no, you can't have the source code. As for similar software, check out some of the links on that three years ago MeTa thread, or ask in AskMe.
posted by scottreynen at 8:42 PM on July 19, 2006


no, you can't have the source code

I have a strong feeling it's more like:

You don't want this source code.


Not only would one want to clean up embarassingly pathetic legacy crap before opening up the souce code, they'd want to feel they could make some commitment to the GPL relationship going forward. This is a pretty huge step for a one-man shop who hasn't even done much fruitful collaboration with peers behind the scenes. It's also a factor that MeFi is built on a couple of technologies that aren't very popular now or toward the future, so again the incentive is less.

Not trying to give Matt a hard time here. But I think the strength of MeFi is in the design, participation of Howie himself, and the social network that built the membership. Not the code.
posted by scarabic at 8:51 PM on July 19, 2006


You can basically tweak free-as-in-beer Wordpress to act like mefi. Metachat runs on a variant and it looks/acts the same way pretty much. You give people accounts, require them to login to post new stuff or comment on other stuff, etc.

Check out Wordpress and b2, they're both free and would fit nicely.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 9:04 PM on July 19, 2006 [1 favorite]


I believe that MoFi is opensource.
posted by klangklangston at 9:05 PM on July 19, 2006


From holloways profile:

Reason #234 Why Metafilter should use Phpilfer: Because it's based on time-tested architectures like Apache Cocoon but it's optimised for speed and extensibility.

Reason #235 Why Metafilter should use Phpilfer: It provides a coherent mapping between URLs and plugins, and even frees you to design the url as parameters to your function calls. It's pretty sweet.

Reason #236: There's no future in Coldfusion. Bite the bullet and plan to get out.
posted by bob sarabia at 9:31 PM on July 19, 2006


Phpilfer would be the duck's guts if it were ever to be finished. MetaChat runs on b2evolution and seems to work pretty well. I have used Metaphilter to develop a site before and found it stupidly easy and effective (but it's more or less gone now). FreeFilter was quite popular for a while (but it's also pretty much gone).
posted by dg at 9:59 PM on July 19, 2006


I believe that MoFi is opensource.

MoFi uses Metaphilter and is run by all-around swell person tracicle.

I'd suggest joining and posting a Curious, George (MoFi's AskMe counterpart). It's fun, it's free, and I get a free banana for every referral I make!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:04 PM on July 19, 2006


FWIW, tracicle and her husband are rewriting the MoFi codebase.
posted by Gyan at 11:22 PM on July 19, 2006


I'm sorry, a JRun error occurred processing this question. Please try again.
posted by spiderwire at 12:11 AM on July 20, 2006


You could try askeet. It not only gives out the source for free, but there is a 24-day tutorial walking you through creating the application from scratch.
posted by purephase at 9:10 AM on July 20, 2006


Mad props to traciicle!
posted by ooga_booga at 1:42 PM on July 20, 2006


I put together a community site earlier this year (that I never really launched for a variety of reasons) using freefilter as it exists in the package at dg's link. It was pretty easy to do and I'm not excessively techie. [self-link: NewYorkerfilter.com]
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 4:02 PM on July 20, 2006


Obligatory WebGUI plug.
posted by baylink at 8:08 PM on July 20, 2006


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