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Facebook Messenger Platform

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Re: Facebook Messenger Platform

#131
post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The real question is can you get in, win, and get out before any of that matters. If you 'rode the facebook apps' wave you probably made decent money unless you stayed in too long. Another strategy is to build an integration to messenger to get exposure for your totally independant app. For example If i made some pizza ordering ai, i could hook it up to messenger as an additional channel.

There's a word for people who only care about their own quality of life, and not that of those around them: "assholes". Don't be an asshole, and don't advocate "fuck you got mine" practices like these. Let's work to dismantle abusive systems like Facebook.

So you agree with https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11482075 but also just felt like calling the parent an asshole?

Re: Facebook Messenger Platform

#132

Am I the only one that keeps some separation between different platforms? For example, there are people I follow on Snapchat, but I have absolutely no interest doing the same on Facebook Messenger. My Facebook is still mostly people I have met in real life and care about, that and groups I am a part of because social life. I don't want to adulterate that with chat bots, and ordering pizza and any other integrations.…

I agree completely. My Snapchat friends are nothing like my Facebook friends (since by definition we keep up in very different ways) and my Twitter feed contains very little from either. And then there is the microscopic overlap between any of those social networks and my Xbox Live account.

Re: Facebook Messenger Platform

#133

Everyone seems to be jumping on the bots bandwagon - Microsoft, Facebook, Slack etc. Do we really think this kind of text-based interaction is the future? Granted, it's an interface practically everyone knows how to use, but I believe it could result in rather long conversations (what are the available commands/questions?) to actually get something a little more complex done. Our messaging startup is heading in the o…

Natural languages are terrible interfaces. They're linear, verbose, inexpressive, ambiguous. Clearly, we need a computer-assisted language to elevate humanity's ability to communicate. Such a platform could be as important as Gutenberg's printing press.

But they're simple. Both for users and developers. Also, bots offer a very familiar UI pattern. And a chat log is suitable (but not ideal) for a lot of things. (See slack integrations)

It's going to be interesting to find out if/when tailored user interfaces can actually beat the log. (And too what degree platforms such as fb messenger will offer extensibility).

Disclaimer: Happening co-founder, we obviously gamble on the tailored interfaces.

Re: Facebook Messenger Platform

#134
post #125

For a while, Messenger supports some partners-only kind of program for bots. For example, if someone posts @dailycute then a random image from imgur aww is posted [0]. I am quite interested whether they have plans to extend this and make it more open (some kind of chat apps so that you can't just reserve a bunch of good keywords with non functioning bots?). [0] http://techcrunch.com/2016/01/05/facebook-messenger-bots…

https://www.fbf8.com/schedule/session/introducing-bots-on-me...

They covered this today at F8, but there doesn't seem to be any text or archived video version just yet.

Re: Facebook Messenger Platform

#135
post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ok, I must be missing something. How is FB Messenger here anything other than a means of connecting to customers? If the concern is that FB will ape your app, then your app isn't sufficiently differentiated from their offerings. I want to write a game server, say for Go (the game, not the language). I want to make one (or the sole) method of connecting to it FB Messenger (hypothetical, not actually doing this, and th…

Google Reader was one of many means of connecting to RSS. It became the de facto means for a lot of people, and it was a serious blow to RSS when it shut down despite the existence of alternatives.

This strikes me as a non sequitur.

No one built a business dependent on RSS except for people in the business of building RSS aggregators. No content provider was effectively shut out of the marketplace (of content providing) by the death of Google Reader.

My point was that anyone building a business on top of Messenger that cannot stand alone is, probably, in trouble. But that's always been the case regardless of the base technology. What apps can be built on Messenger? Content delivery, potentially. Random data connectors like weather updates or where's-my-package. How can those apps stand alone against a behemoth like FB or Google or anyone else? They can't.

The point, then, is to build applications that make use of Messenger, but are not replicable by FB. Facebook isn't going to replace my FLGS. So how about I connect my inventory to an chat app so people can ask me if I have something they want? It cuts into my spur-of-the-moment sales when people come in, can't find Settlers of Catan, but see Dominion and buy it instead. But it also gives customers a better experience, and me a better understanding of what customers want (I got 20 queries for Catan this week, I should order a few copies).

Now, if I build a business which connects shop inventories to FB chat, I might be in trouble. FB can tear me apart in a heartbeat by building a small-business-inventory-chat-bot. And that's the way the world goes.

Don't build a company on Messenger that FB can replicate. Build connections to other businesses. FB won't be a bank. FB won't be a restaurant. FB won't be an Amazon. FB won't be a local small business. FB won't be a caterer. FB won't be a plumber.

EDIT: I'm tired, and this came out poorly formed. I may write another response later that's clearer once I've rested and reread this.

Re: Facebook Messenger Platform

#136
post #104

It is now time to take all the innovations that have been happening in china around WeChat/WeiXin and to implement them into messenger. This time it's the other way around, we are actually going to copy the Chinese (they have had an API addressable messaging platform way before us and are ahead of us in the exploration of what work / is possible) : - this may disrupt Local business/shop relation to client. (see how w…

> - this may disrupt paypal, as soon as you can send 'money' over a messaging app. American banking is so backwards and this will only make it worse. In Australia and New Zealand, no bank offers you checks. Do I own you $50? Well give me your BSB and account number. I type it into my phone app or web browser, type $50 and click send. It shows up tomorrow morning. Works on weekends, holidays, ANZAC day, New Years Day…

I don't think the average kiwi has seen a cheque in decades. After 10 years of living in the US I have started to rejoice in how despite being one of the most technologically advanced nations on earth the US still clings to things like paper cheques, $0.01/$0.05/$0.10 coins, US customary units, and a plumbing system that requires most houses to own a plunger. Perhaps it's a sign of assimilation?

Re: Facebook Messenger Platform

#138
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The 'real' question is how can we build an alternative platform that doesn't require you to try to 'win' by effectively screwing the people who actually use the stuff you build.

After someone comes up with an answer to that let's backport it to the very concept of the cloud.

sandstorm.io has some very interesting ideas, and have already implemented a usable base:

* click-to-provision web apps

* small fees on hosted version, full open source version available

* developer friendly

* open also for commercial software

Re: Facebook Messenger Platform

#139

I'm crying. Remember when messaging was built on open platforms and standards like XMPP and IRC? The golden year(s?) when Google Talk worked with AIM and anyone could choose whatever client they preferred? Welcome to the future friends when we must pay to battle the keymasters and gatekeepers on their terms to do what we used to do ourselves, for free. First they took my RSS, then they took my XMPP... Who can guess w…

We can take back the internet. We've been at a disadvantage for so long because centralized services are easier to build great experiences with than federated services. Messaging protocols require identities, and federated identities are user-hostile. They worked once: email. Never again.

Luckily, we're in the middle of a decentralization renaissance. Instead of managing your identity on a server controlled by Facebook or your XMPP host, you can manage your identity on a blockchain controlled by no one. We can build identities that any app can use. When it comes to network effects, federation loses to centralization, but centralization loses to decentralization.

Pick up the tools—Ethereum and IPFS—and start building systems without gatekeepers. We will win.

Re: Facebook Messenger Platform

#140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Clearly this isn't for you then. I, however, use messenger frequently - too frequently. And I welcome all these changes, as they are really maturing the platform and making it a delight to use. I have a group chat on messenger of all my friends, and when they added the simple options to change the group colours, add nicknames, and even change the default emoji to something other than a thumbs up, messenger became a w…

Honestly curious: Why is this your first and only comment on HN?

Honestly, because I needed karma so I could confirm this account on keybase. So I jumped on the homepage and commented on something I thought relevant to me.
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