Ok, I wanted to run this past all my Facebook friends first before doing something rash like actually buying anything :-P  So the “Christian Facebook” as I’ve deemed it for now is taking shape!  I mean it really is… Instead of being foolhardy and attempting to code the thing from the ground up with PHP and MySQL I’ve decided to take a little help.  I’ve enlisted the help of a rapid development framework!  The site is still “PHP” so to speak, but my side isn’t very much PHP unless I’m defining a new object that isn’t included in the framework.  It’s object oriented which means I use objects instead of PHP… it’s actually much faster too.  Problem is it’s new to me, so there is a bit of a learning curve as might be expected… not to mention I’m using the beta version of the development framework I’m working with because it has all sorts of necessary features, functions, and doodads that aren’t available in the stable version… also they change a large number of the objects so the stable versions documentation is no help at all… and the Beta’s documentation is just starting to come together.  So try and learn a new programming language with no real help… Never the less the site is still coming together very nicely!

In fact things are developing so fast that it’s time to start thinking about what the site should be or look like.  What I need from you guys is your opinions on these matters:

1. Profiles - I was thinking StumbleUpon esque, very simple, not the main feature of the site.  But would like to know if you guys would prefer them more robust like with MySpace or Facebook.  Of course you’d still be able to customize everything the other way but it’d be limited to only a few photos, preferences, etc.  (check out http://archmaille.stumbleupon.com/ for more details on what it might look like, plus a signature wall for your friends, 5-10 photos instead of 1)
2. name of site - I’ve been racking my brain and praying about this… I wanted something that sounded ancient (me?  ancient?  No way) Kind of wanted something to show like old forum type of thing you know?  Because that’s the main purpose of the site to gather Christians together.  Then I started thinking lighthouse, or beacon… finally came up with “AgapeBeacon.com”  (oh, and another thing is it has to be available, things like GodSpace.com and everything went through my mind, the owners of the site aren’t using it, but want like $2k for me to buy the domain from the, I can’t afford that).  AgapeBeacon.com is available but wanted to see everyones reaction to it before getting it.
3. Niche - Ok, so yeah, I was thinking social networking all along… but not necessarily Facebook, MySpace type of site.  The main thing I was going for was the discussion board.  A place where Christians can go to find sound advice about life.  I have a lot of ideas and things set in motion for the discussion board… but how do you guys feel about that.  Is a massive forum really what is needed?  Or something different.  Forum is sort of underplaying the functionality of the site since it will be much MUCH more than maybe what you guys would think of as an online “forum” like PHPBB or whatever.  I mean for starters much more in depth personal profiles, networks, and calendars to help organize off site events.

Thoughts feelings suggestions?  I was kind of lucky, as I am with my job anyways to only work 1 hour with MTV.  Of course I could of worked more if I called them and said “Hey I’m out of work send me more!”  But I appreciated the time to fiddle with and learn the new framework.  I’m going to be doing much more work with MTV this week, and every week preceding of course.  I’m going to need the money as I’m actually going to rent a server for this site (hoping for over 10k users, maybe into the 100k range some day and that can’t be done on a shared hosting plan.  Yeah sure I get over 2,000 visitors to all my sites combined on a daily basis, but it’s not the same thing).  I also will need the knowledge.  That’s one thing that has been amazing about working with MTV, I’ve learned SOOO freaking much!  They’re always like “hey can you do this?”  And I’m like “Yeah sure no problem!”  Come to find out it usually is if it’s off my usual path of interest.  But I get the opportunity to research and learn new things.  Oh, and also development with the site will be slower… we’re talking one month or so before I have something you guys can all jump into and check out.