Frequently Asked Questions and General Help
Please send any suggestions, questions and comments to mdp-faq (at) myspace.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Use Q & A
Known Issues and Limitations
Library Support
Who can develop a MySpace Application?
Anyone over the age of 18 can develop applications for MySpace. Kids between the ages of 14 and 17 need their parents consent before they can sign up.
What can I do with the application I’m building?
Currently, all applications are for testing purposes only. A developer may add the application to a maximum of three MySpace profiles for testing. Once the Developer Platform is ready for prime time, you will be able to release your application to the MySpace community, and showcase it in the Application Gallery.
Where is the OpenSocial Activity Feed?
The API set that is currently documented on this site is not intended to be complete. The Activity Feed API is just one example of additional APIs that will be added in the near future.
Who hosts my application?
You application is hosted by MySpace servers. This may change in the future.
When can I release my application?
We cannot give an exact release date, as the release of this platform depends largely on the results of this initial beta test. We hope to release the platform in the earlier part of 2008.
Can I use advertising?
You may only add advertising to your application and developer profile pages, and your application canvas pages. You may not place advertisements on members’ profiles or homepage.
Where can I learn more about OpenSocial?
For information about OpenSocial see http://code.google.com/apis/opensocial/ .
You can also ask questions and find answers in our Forums.
Why am I asked to provide a unique email address for each application I create?
Every application is given a MySpace profile, which requires a unique email address for creation. All application profiles will remain private during this beta phase.
How can I contact someone at MySpace?
Developers who work on the Platform and other MySpace employees are always available in the forums, and posting in the blog. However, if you can't find an answer there, you can email us at: developerrelations(at)myspace.com. You can reach the sales department at MDP-Sales(at)myspace.com. You can reach the Internation Division at MDP-International(at)myspace.com. Finally, you can reach the Business Development folks at
MDP-BusinessDevelopment(at)myspace.com
How do I give my Application its own URL?
Applications are just like any other profile on MySpace, thus you can set their vanity name just like you would set your own profile's vanity name. To give your Application its own URL:
- Sign in to the application's account using the email address and password you used when you created the application on the Create App/App Builder.
- Set your vanity name. The name must be unique and it cannot be changed once set.
Note: If you change your vanity name, you may lose development access. Please see known issues and limitations for more information. Should this happen, please let us know in the forums, and we will get your access restored right away.
How do I sign up as a developer?
Go to http://developer.myspace.com/modules/apps/pages/ApplyDevSandbox.aspx and fill in the form completely. Please be aware that most applications which are rejected, is because of false, missing, or inaccurate data. You will receive an email once your application has been reviewed.
How long does it take to be approved?
This typically takes from 1-5 days.
How do I get information from my site into the application?
The only way to get information into your application is to use the makeRequest call from the OpenSocial JS library. Read more about it in the documentation (OpenSocial JS docs) or on this thread (Make Request)
Is there a good starter document available?
A great starter document was written to help you get ramped up, find it here.
What version of OpenSocial do you support?
We support bouth versions 0.6 and 0.7: opensocial.makeRequest
Which port do I use to send requests back to my server?
At the present time, only port 80 is available.
Are MySpace employees answering questions in the fourms? How can I tell who is a MySpace employee?
MySpace employees are recognized in the forums by having the MySpace Developer Platform icon under their forum IDs.
How do I figure out which books the viewer likes? How do I retrieve additional data?
Use the code below to get the data you need:
var container = opensocial.Container.get();
var request = container.newDataRequest();
var personFields = [opensocial.Person.Field.ID,MyOpenSpace.Person.Field.ABOUT,MyOpenSpace.Person.Field.BOOKS];
var param = {};
param[opensocial.DataRequest.PeopleRequestFields.PROFILE_DETAILS] = personFields;
var newReq = request.newFetchPersonRequest(opensocial.DataRequest.PersonId.VIEWER, param);
request.add(newReq);
request.send(callback);
And then in the callback:
response.get(opensocial.DataRequest.PersonId.VIEWER).getData().getField(MyOpenSpace.Person.Field.BOOKS);
You can replace the fields inside personFields with any of those defined in MyOpenSpace.Person.Field or opensocial.Person.Field.
How do I get extra data on viewer and owner friends’ right?
We don’t support that at this time.
How do I access some of the extended entities, like videos?
This works similar to the code sample above, just replace newFetchPersonRequest with newFetchAlbumsRequest or newFetchVideoRequest, etc. However, very soon this won’t work, please see the code below for how to fetch video, album and photo data in the near future.
var container = opensocial.Container.get();
var request = container.newDataRequest();
var albumReq = MyOpenSpace.DataRequest.newFetchAlbumsRequest(opensocial.DataRequest.PersonId.VIEWER);
var photoReq = MyOpenSpace.DataRequest.newFetchPhotosRequest(opensocial.DataRequest.PersonId.VIEWER);
var videoReq = MyOpenSpace.DataRequest.newFetchVideosRequest(opensocial.DataRequest.PersonId.VIEWER);
request.add(albumReq);
request.add(photoReq);
request.add(videoReq);
request.send(callback);
What is loaded into my .swf and how is it loaded?
We currently use FlashVars to pass in the following parameters: opensocial_token, opensocial_surface and opensocial_consumer_key.
Why can't I sign in as a developer anymore or see my applications?
There is a known bug once you set your vanity name after being approved as a developer. We are currently working to get this bug fixed. Please let us know in the forums, so we can restore your access.
Why can’t I create an application? I keep getting an error. What's wrong?
There are some bugs we are working to fix for the application creation process. At the moment, the problem people are getting can be fixed by using the following workaround:
- In your account/profile as a developer, go to your profile page at:
http://profileedit.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=profile.basic
- Set your zip code
- Make sure that when you create the application, the email address is valid and not being used by another myspace.com account.
- Enter a combination of lowercase, uppercase, numbers, and symbols for your password of the application
Oh no! Duplication of profile surface or other surfaces! What's going on?
This is a serious bug we are aware of at the moment and one of our most important to fix. We are working on this and there is no work around at the moment. There will be an ability to delete on the MyApps page being added soon that you may use to recreate your application.
How can I delete an Application?
- Click on the “MyApps” link on the MySpace Developer Platform
- Click the delete link next to the app you wish to permanently remove
Can I use the contact button?
No. The contact button is disabled at this time and there are no plans to make this work anytime soon. If you need to contact a user, click on their name and go to their profile page and use the Send Message or Add to Friends.
What types of feeds are supported?
We don’t support feeds at the moment. However, feed support is currently being worked on. We expect to support RSS2 and Atom1.
Why is my application loading two or more times onto my home page?
This is a known bug, and we’re currently working on a fix.
Do you plan on opening ports in a higher range area in the future?
It is possible, but this decision has not been finalized.
How do I navigate and pass data between surfaces?
The ability to navigate between surfaces is not yet functional, but when it is, you’ll be able to call this:
opensocial.Container.get().requestNavigateTo(surface, params);
Where "params" are some optional parameters that you can pass between surfaces.
To collect the parameters on the other side of the call, you’ll do this:
opensocial.getEnvironment().getParams();
This will return the object map back to you.
Do I have to store all my data on my servers using the makeRequest call? Isn’t there anything better?
We are working on a generic data store that will allow you to save and retrieve global application data as well as data for specific users. Details of this are to follow.
I am unable to upload a modified .swf file to my application. Initially it uploaded fine, but after modification, I am unable to upload and overwrite the existing .swf file.
This is a known bug that is being worked on. In the meantime, you’ll have to create a new application with the updated .swf file.
I'm a non U.S. resident, why can't I log into the MySpace Developer Platform?
This is a known issue that we are aware of. Our international developers are extremely important to us, and we're working hard to get this fixed ASAP.
What are some of the JavaScript libraries that will be supported?
We haven't finalized how we will support third party JavaScript libraries. Some of the popular JavaScript libraries such as prototype, script.aculo.us, jquery, and ms ajax will be supported through the application creation page. This white-list of libraries will allow the developer to import a library we support into the project.
Is there a Python Library?
Not yet. Python will be supported in the near future. Here is a discussion on that topic: http://developer.myspace.com/Community/forums/t/226.aspx
Is there a PHP Library?
Not yet. PHP will be supported in the near future. A PHP library is currently in the works. Here is a discussion on: http://developer.myspace.com/Community/forums/t/157.aspx
Is there a Ruby Library?
Not yet. Ruby will be supported in the near future. You can find discussion on someone starting their own ruby library here: http://developer.myspace.com/Community/forums/t/240.aspx
Is there a .Net Library?
http://developer.myspace.com/Community/forums/t/144.aspx
http://codeplex.com/OpenSocial