About this project
The Deliverables
- Build a top notch photo sharing service that stores photos, tags and comments into a users cloud service account (i.e. Amazon S3, Rackspace Cloudfiles or Dropbox)
- Provide two versions of the service, both free - installable and hosted
- Allow photos to be easily uploaded, searchable and shared via Email, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
- Document the crap out of it so others can build their own OpenPhoto applications
- Open source the installable version on Github
I can't promise the following deliverables but if we can get some additional pledges I would commit to do the following.
- Mobile application for iPhone and Android
- A marketplace for designers to create their own themes for free or paid
- A community based feature request voting system
- AMIs for easy setup on EC2
- Many more...
The Method
I just left my job as an engineer at Yahoo! to persue this project. I'll be spending countless hours at the Hacker Dojo to build OpenPhoto.
I've been building web applications for over a decade and previously co-founded a photo sharing service I still use myself. Over the last 8 years I've learned a great deal about online photo sharing services so I'll be building the majority of this myself. I will, however, work with some awesome designers to make sure that the site looks and functions great.
Why $25,000
A portion of the money will be used to pay bills since I'm not getting my cushy paycheck from Yahoo! anymore. There are also various other expenses such as design work, space at the Hacker Dojo and lots of peanut butter, jelly and bread.
In reality this venture will cost more than $25,000 but it sounded like a good starting point. This is an ambitious project that compares to photo sharing startups who raise hundreds of thousands of dollars. $25,000 is the first of many steps. But it's the most important step and you all rock for making it happen.
The Dates
July/August
The installable source code to run your own OpenPhoto site. This will be downloadable from Github.
September
A hosted version of OpenPhoto where anyone can sign up for an account. You can always switch from an installed version to the hosted version and back whenever you want. Your data is made completely portable by the OpenPhoto system.
Join me in setting everyone's photos free!
You can fork the project on Github or follow us on Twitter.
FAQ
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When you upload photos to Flickr or Smugmug they essentially host your photos hostage. Without your account with them your photos are inaccessible. If you want to switch from one service to another it's extremely difficult to export all of your information, you're basically stuck.
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Yes. But you're still tied to the company you signed up with. If you signed up at Flickr, for example, you have to keep your account with them else your photos will be inaccessible and deleted. The APIs are great for additional features but they do not address the ownership problem.
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Amazon Web Services will be the most common since they offer both cloud file storage (S3) and cloud database (SimpleDb). Rackspace Cloudfiles and Dropbox will be the other popular options to store photos. Note that if you select either of the latter two options you'll still need something like SimpleDb to store your tags and comments.
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OpenPhoto is free to use. You will have to pay for storage and bandwidth from whichever cloud service you choose. For Amazon S3 and SimpleDb the costs are roughly:
20GB of storage ≈$2/mo
A 250KB photo served up 4,000 times ≈$.10/mo-- ten cents
A simpleDb database for a personal account is typically freeThat would be about $2.10 per month if you get a lot of views on your photos and store 20GB.
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Adding support is as easy as adding an adapter so that the cloud service you'd like to add conforms to what OpenPhoto expects.
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That's why I'd like to build a hosted version of this software. It lets anyone enjoy the benefits of OpenPhoto without requiring any technical know-how.
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Yes. See the following tweets.
http://twitter.com/#!/jmathai/status/75680509363101697
http://twitter.com/#!/jmathai/status/75710080758202368 -
It takes attention away from my receding hairline. Or so I think.
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
414
Backers
$25,242
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on July 13, 2011.
Pledge $5 or more Pledge $5 or more
Beta access to the project as it progresses and status updates.
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
Your name on a credits page that is included with the source code for OpenPhoto and linked to from the footer.
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
Your name and a profile photo on the same page above, highlighted at the top.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
An OpenPhoto tshirt. The logo is TBD (To Be Designed) but it'll be awesome. Plus everything above.
Pledge $150 or more Pledge $150 or more
Custom camera strap with the OpenPhoto name and logo. These will be sweet. Plus everything above.
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
Installation / setup of the OpenPhoto service on an Amazon EC2 instance of your own. Plus everything above.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
Have an idea which you'd like implemented? This reward gives you the opportunity to pitch an idea to myself for inclusion into the project. Ultimately, I may or may not be able to include it but I'll do whatever I can to make sure you're satisfied. Plus everything above.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
I will migrate your Flickr or SmugMug account to your Amazon account. Freedom never tasted so sweet. Plus everything above.
Pledge $5,000 or more Pledge $5,000 or more
Anything you want. Except that. Maybe. Plus everything above.
Pledge $7,500 or more Pledge $7,500 or more
Corporate sponsorship of OpenPhoto. Your contribution will be made publicly aware so everyone know how awesome you are. Plus everything above.
Project By
Has not connected their Facebook account.
I'm a software engineer who left his job at Yahoo! to bring freedom to everyone's photos. I previously co-founded a photo sharing startup between 2003 and 2008 and have been obsessed with making photo sharing better ever since.
