So let me state for the record that I think Telligent's Community Server is a top notch product. If you look at the TechNet and MSDN forums they are powered by customized Community Server forums which blow SharePoint's discussion lists right out of the water - there really isn't any comparison here. MSDN blogs are also powered by Community Server (no, not WSS!).
On March 14th, Telligent announced that their Community Server 2008 release would natively support OpenID, which is a great step and one that we're seeing other industry leaders emulate as well. My only issue with this statement is one of a growing perception problem - that by supporting OpenID there is no need to support Windows CardSpace. Since you can use CardSpace to get to OpenID, anything that supports OpenID therefore supports CardSpace correct? Wrong!
Back at the end of February I posted a question on the Community Server forum - "Feature Request: CardSpace and OpenID support". In the request I asked if the 2008 product would have support for CardSpace and OpenID and the answer was, OpenID - Yes, CardSpace, only through OpenID. In the course of the thread CardSpace is reduced to "a provider for OpenID" and that by supporting OpenID there is no need to support CardSpace directly.
So, while I applaud Telligent's designs to include OpenID, I think this is the beginning of a dangerous trend equating CardSpace as simply a provider for other authentication technologies. Microsoft isn't guilt free here either - the fact that (via a beta site) I can use CardSpace to sign in to my Windows Live ID perpetuates the idea that CardSpace is not a replacement for these methods but only a more secure method of using existing forms of web authentication - which it categorically is not. While it is obviously easy to relegate CardSpace to this position, I think it misses the full intent of the offering.
I hope someone on the Microsoft side is able to speak out and issue some course corrections here - it appears as if the community is not receiving CardSpace in the manner it was intended.
C'mon, I know you have an opinion!
3 comments:
CardSpace is definitely interesting and something we've done work with. OpenId seems to be getting more traction right now.
It's not a lack of interest in CardSpace that drove our investment in OpenId, but more in appealing to a broader set of people/users that will likely be more exposed to OpenId.
We also should shortly be announcing some better LiveID integration support for Community Server too :)
Rob
rhoward@telligent.com
Thanks for your reply Rob, I certainly will not fault you guys for giving priority to a more popular solution. It's just our job as part of the "community" to help evangelize complimenting technologies and rally enough support for CardSpace.
My first goal is to attempt to rectify the growing perception problem I outlined previously, but I think it will take some stewardship from Microsoft to help clarify here.
Looking forward to Community Server 2008!
Brad..Thanks for the read..GREAT Blog
Post a Comment