Facebook's Breaking Change - A Nerdery Interactive Primer

MATT TONAKCOMMUNITY MANAGER

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FACEBOOK BREAKING CHANGEREMOVING FBML FROM THE PLATFORM

DANSENIOR DEVELOPER

THOMASFRONTEND DEVELOPER

SCHEDULE FOR REMOVAL

September 29, 2011http://developers.facebook.com/blog/post/568/

When Platform launched in 2007, FBML was a key component for developers building on Facebook, with millions of apps successfully built using this technology. Over time, as Platform matured and embraced open standards, such as OAuth 2.0, HTML, and Javascript, the need for FBML has decreased. Last August, we announced our intent to move away from FBML. In March, we removed the ability to create new FBML apps. Today, we are announcing the FBML deprecation schedule...

SAVE THE DATE

JANUARY 1, 2012FBML will no longer be supported. We will not fix FBML bugs after this date with the exception of security and privacy issues

JUNE 1, 2012FBML apps will no longer work on Facebook. All FBML endpoints will be removed.

DO I HAVE AN FMBL APP?There are a few tell-tale signs of a static FBML application.

A Static FBML has an easily recognizable icon that you can find without being a Facebook Developer or Administrator to a page.

FBML APP POSSIBLE FBML APP

AM I AN ADMIN OF A PAGE?

If you are not sure if you are an admin of a Fan Page, you can quickly find out by...

1. Go to: http://www.facebook.com/pages/browser.php

2. Click "Pages I Admin"

DO I HAVE A FBML APP? As the Administrator of a Facebook Fan Page you have access to all the applications that are installed on your fan page.

The apps view can also quickly tell you if you have a Static FBML application installed.

If you are the Fan Page admin you will see the "edit" button. Find that button and then we can keep searching...

ADMINISTRATOR VIEW

Once inside the admin view of your Fan Page, look for the "Apps" tab.

Clicking the "Apps" tab will load all applications that are installed on your fan page.

IDENTIFYING FBML ICONS

You want to start to look for the following icons...

The first 3 icons represent static FBML applications. These are the applications that are in jeopardy and will be deleted for you by Facebook on June 1, 2012.

The last icon is an icon that did apply to Static FBML applications and regular iFrame applications.  If you see the four icon there is a bit more searching for you to perform.

FBML APP LISTINGHere we can see the icon (blue) and the word "FBML" in the name and description of the application.

Here we can see the "atom" icon and the word "FBML" in the name.

ONE LAST TEST FOR THE ATOM ICONIf you find an Atom icon, click on the "Go to App" link.

If click opens this window.... you have an FBML application. Notice the changed icon.

SO NOW WHAT?!

If you have an FBML application:

• Create a new Facebook application using the tab canvas.

• You'll need to migrate that application to HTML and use the iFrame implementation.

• You'll need to re-write your app and remove the depreciated FBML tags and replace with the new XFBML tags as needed.

• Host your new app on a web server

• Obtain an SSL certificate

IN CLOSING

Go out to the FBML markup and make a copy of that code. Some of it can be reused to make your new application.

Simply copy and paste the text into a document and save it for later review.

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