Common Craft Blog
In the Workspace
By leelefever on August 12, 2003 - 1:22pm
I'm going to take some time to talk about what I'm up to lately...
For the past couple of years, I've used Web Crossing, which is a collaboration/online community platform.
Now that I'm independent, I'm hard at work developing a customized version of Web Crossing that will hopefully offer my customers something innovative and useful in managing online communities.
You see, like a number of platforms, Web Crossing uses a proprietary language called "WCTL" or Web Crossing Template Language. Using this language, users are free to create new resources that work with the Web Crossing platform.
It has been my experience that if you can dream it up, there is a way to do it with Web Crossing. So, I've been doing a lot of dreaming lately. I see a bunch of ways to customize and add onto Web Crossing to create a platform that fits with the niche in the market that I see. I truly love experimenting with new and more effective ways to help online communities be more successful - it's my passion and the reason I became independent.
I'm working with a programmer that can make all the dreams happen. So, lately, we've been working to implement a bunch of customizations to the "workspace" of this site. Using the workspace, I'm constantly tweaking a prototype of what will be Common Craft's first product.
It's not ready for prime-time, but it won't be too long. It's a little risky for me to be putting my limited resources into so much development, but I'm confident. It seems like there is so much homogeny out there and I really think this product is going to be something different.
In the Workspace
Hey Lee,
Your plans sound great. I look forward to hearing more about your progress. If you ever need someone to "pilot" your new site, I'd be most happy to help out.
Thanks,
Rich
In the Workspace
Good luck! Can you leverage Web Crossing as a partner and get into some of their clients as a consultant?
In the Workspace
Thanks for the encouraging words folks. Andrew- Your point about the Web Crossing clients is well-taken.
In the Workspace
Here here regarding the homogeny of systems available. I am just about to embark on the dreadful task of shopping out for applications to for my community work (I lack the resources to develop my own *and* maintain the living community I have). I am not looking forward to being boxed in my someone else's idea of interface.
I would be very interested in seeing how far WCTL can be pushed.