Andrew Sellick

download the facebook client library 

Once you have download the Facebook Client Library and extracted the contents you will be presented with a facebook-platform folder and within this a client folder (The PHP 5 client and the code base we will be using for this tutorial), footprints (A Facebook demo application) and a php4client folder (The PHP 4 client). 

To start off with we will create a folder called “tutorial” within the root “facebook-platform” folder.

Next we need to create to PHP files; index.php and config.inc.php. The contents of these files are displayed below: 

The index.php provides the foundation for the entire application. This is where the initial add page is created along with the embedded application.

1. First of all we need to include the facebook client library and the config.inc.php.

2. Next we instantiate an instance of the facebook class and force the user authentication before logging in.

3. Now we create an add application screen to be initially displayed when a user clicks to see your applications hompage. This code includes two simple facebook variables to display the users facebook username and to add the facebook add url for the application.

4. Finally we create the FBML code. This is the code that will be displayed for the embedded application. The code is very simple and is added using a Facebook Client API call $facebook->api_client->profile_setFBML(); This set the FBML when the Facebook application is added.

In this tutorial the config.inc.php will remain very simple and only includes two variables for the Facebook API key and a secret key. These are provided when you create your Facebook application in within the Facebook developer area (Detailed later in this tutorial).

download the tutorial code 

Download the facebook application development tutorial code.

integrating the application with facebook 

To actually add the application to Facebook you will need to go through the follwing procedures.

1. Upload the code within the facebook-platform folder to a PHP5 hosting environment.
2. Log in to Facebook and navigate to the Facebook developer page (http://www.facebook.com/developers/).
3. Click the “Set Up a New Application” button on the top right of the page.
4. Insert your desired application name and submit.
5. On setting up the application you will presented with an overview which displays basic application information including the API key and Secret required in your config.inc.php. Copy these two keys and insert them in your config file and then re-upload the file.
6. Next on the overview page click to edit your newly created application.
7. Next we need to insert the application details as follows:
   • The Callback Url – Add the URL to the root of the tutorial application folder you created and uploaded as above. I.E. http://www.yourdomain.com/facebook-platfom/tutorial/
   • The Canvas Page URL – Add your desired canvas page URL. This has to be unique to Facebook, although there is automatic validation to prompt you if it is not, so choose wisely. An example could be “andrewsellicktutorial” making the URL http://apps.facebook.com/andrewsellicktutorial/
   • Select the option to allow your application be added on Facebook.
   • The select users to be able to add your application on all pages.
   • Add your Canvas Page URL to the Side Nav URL. I.e. http://apps.facebook.com/andrewsellicktutorial/
   • Now save the application and that’s it.

To test it out navigate to the Canvas Page URL in your browser. You should then be able to go through the process of adding the application and finally seeing it displayed on your profile page.

This is a very basic example so I wouldn’t recommend users start to advertise their applications off the back of this tutorial. There will be more tutorials to come introducing more features and discussions on the Facebook Cache, its potential pitfalls and how to overcome them.

Feel free to play with the code and adapt it for your requirements and let me know how you get on…

I hope this has helped.

In light of my inpending article on how to create a simple Facebook application I thought I would point you all to a link which you may find helpful now if you already have some experience in developing facebook applications, or if not, you will 100% find it useful after my next article.

The code basically provides the "invite your friends" functionality to your application.  It was developed by dustinfisher.com and is a really handy piece of code when it comes to devloping Facebook applications as it can greatly increase the amount of people who add your application. The more the better huh

Anyway have a look for yourself at the Facebook Invite Friends Code or simply download the Facebook Invite Friends Code.

I was recently asked to research the possibility of developing Facebook applications and potential timescales in which they could be developed, so I decided the only way I could properly answer that question was to develop a simple application myself to get to grips with what’s required.

Therefore I give you the AndrewSellick .com Facebook app. Woooo

It’s a simple application literally just providing news directly from my web site feed into Facebook (Well I did say it was simple). However I thought it was as good a place as any to get started.

Have a look for yourself at the AndrewSellick.com Advert Facebook application.

I am planning on releasing a tutorial over the next few days documenting how to create a simple app such as this so check back soon if you’re interested in Facebook. Better still add the app to your Facebook profile and wait for the article to come through the feed

Anyway if anybody experiences any difficulties or has any comments please leave them at the bottom of this post.