[Characters]

I'm working on a project and are currently doing extensive research on social network platforms. There are a zillion networks out there, but only a handfull good ones.
I'm doing research on which platform these social networks are built on and what features they've programmed themselves. Many good social network have been built on 'standard' social platforms.
The big one propably built it from scratch, but others are built on available platforms that offer these functions and plugins. Hey, you don't need to invent the wheel new.

I'm looking for a certain quality level. These fine social networks are my reference point:
Behance.com
Xing.com
Linkedin.com
Facebook.com
Technorati.com
Flickr.com
Forget all the others, I'm looking for this level of quality and better.

The platforms I've found are:
Socialengine.net
Xceog.net/aboutmeproduct.php
Barnraiser.org/index.php
Dzoic.com/features.php
Alstrasoft.com/efriends.htm

I'm looking for platforms that offer client accounts, blogging, portfolio pages, network connections, addressbook listings, forum, wiki, etc.

It's very hard to find what good platforms are out there, so I'm hoping for your expert help.
Please let me know what platforms are out there that one could build an extensive social network on.

Thnx,
®ené

[pgo]

Originally Posted by Characters

Many good social network have been built on 'standard' social platforms.

All the ones you mentioned are almost certainly built from scratch.

The only way you're going to build a site on par with the ones you mention is:

• If you are a professional-level programmer...
  • Build it yourself.
• If you are NOT a professional-level programmer...
  • Get millions in investments and hire a team of developers to build it for you.

[Characters]

I've talked to some of these people and, yes, most of the stuff is built from scratch.
I'm doing research about the 'other possibilities' out there. I refuse to believe that you can only do something like that if you build it from scratch. I admit that the level of customization is limited if you descide to use something off the shelf, but one should certainly not have to invent the wheel completely new.

Seeing the limited reactions on this post, I guess there really is not that much out there. ;-)

Regards,
®ené

[haku]

As you say, you don't have to build it from scratch. But its just like working from a template - your site is likely to be similar to someone elses who used the same template. And your ability to customize will be somewhat limited.

[venturewise]

Just don't buy anything from Astrasoft - there's loads of terrible reviews about their bad code and no service.

[seen.to]

You'd best have a unique angle as well as a unique delivery or you're just going to be another facebook in the crowd.

[HaXXor's]

I thing the only way to build something solide and NEW is to build from the scrath. There no point in building a social network platform with some one else library, because the only way your web network will work is if you bring something new that give advantage to user. I tell you, you must work hard, because Crackbook offer some very clean application and most important think is that they have now the hardware to support it. good luck

- sorry for my poor english