LimeBits Summary
Product definition:
Static websites with drop-in dynamic features
LimeBits lets ordinary users easily create powerful websites. It simplifies creation of websites with advanced, dynamic behavior -- no programming or system administration are needed.
Users can copy the design and components they like from existing LimeBits websites, and then easily customize.
For advanced users, LimeBits provides an innovative framework and ecosystem in which to create, customize, upgrade, and disseminate web software and web services.
Until now, websites have come in two flavors: static and dynamic:
• Static sites are easy to create using HTML, but they don't do much beyond display.
• Dynamic sites can be interactive and collaborative but are harder to create -- requiring knowledge of programming languages and database systems, as well as system administration (select hosting provider, install and configure software packages, etc.).
LimeBits provides the best of both worlds: interactive power with easy creation. LimeBits is a brand new framework for website development, with the potential to overthrow the established, cumbersome process for developing dynamic websites.
Drop-ins
Instead of using complex, server-side programs, LimeBits gives website authors the ability to "drop" links to pre-built scripts into their static HTML pages. These client-side drop-ins combine with LimeBits' WebDAV storage repository to provide all of the power of dynamic websites, with none of the programming/administrative hassle.
With LimeBits, website authors can drop a dynamic wiki, forum, database, office suite, or any other app into their webpages, simply via static links -- without the need for traditional server applications. No other system puts so much power so easily into the hands of website authors.
A website author drops a Javascript code module into an HTML page via <SCRIPT> tags. Using LimeBits, authors no longer need skills in Perl, PHP, Java, etc. and no longer need to write server-side code. Using client-side drop-ins created by other users, authors no longer need any programming skills at all.
Advanced developers can create additional apps and functions and make them available as drop-ins to website authors on LimeBits.
Benefits
The direct benefits of LimeBits are:
• Authors can easily create static websites with advanced, dynamic behavior.
• Authors can share website components (bits) and customize them.
• Advanced developers can build and customize high-value drop-ins to give website authors more power.
• A community, ecosystem, and commercial marketplace can emerge for web development.
LimeBits' approach -- radically simplifying the server by using it only for controlled storage/ retrieval -- constitutes a new paradigm for web software.
As LimeBits gains traction, the longer term benefits will include:
• Portability. Websites will become decoupled from hosting. A site owner can easily move both code and data at will.
• Transportability. Browsers can cache an entire website, including data and dynamic functionality. Laptop users with a web-based office suite (for example) can continue editing documents when offline. Modifications can re-sync when the laptop is back online.
• Outflow of some sites from hosting companies to personal servers or PCs.
• Explosion in the number of websites, including personal websites.
• Standardized software services, based on drop-in programs (portable "verbs") and data objects in WebDAV repositories (portable "nouns").
• Increased sharing and refinement of code, as well as increased use of code reputation services.
LimeBits is an exciting innovation in website development and hosting. It reaches into previously untapped market segments. It expands the pie for website authoring and usage. It bridges between opposite wings of the website authoring/development community -- novices and experts -- in a mutually beneficial way.
Market description and positioning
LimeBits targets three key markets.
1. Novice website creators/authors. Motivations: ease, speed, convenience, portability.
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Easiest websites |
No programming or system administration. |
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Easiest signup |
No complicated hosting contract or setup. |
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Easiest sharing |
One-click copy of website. |
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Easiest connect to software functions |
Drop in <SCRIPT> tags to include code. |
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Easiest customization |
Find most similar site and make small changes. |
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Easiest access to expert help |
Experts and novices in same community. |
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Auto-site: personal LimeBits website automatically hosted on your PC |
Your PC gets its own URL and can host your files and drop-ins, with full access to LimeBits. |
2. Advanced developers. Motivations: innovation, earnings, software elegance/power, open-source community reputation.
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Simplest programming model |
Single codebase for all functions. |
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Standardizable |
Standard API for data access. |
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Scalable |
Applications run on client computers. |
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Secure |
Eliminates cross-site vulnerabilities. |
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Easy collaborative authoring |
WebDAV is designed for collaboration. |
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Help novices and earn payment |
Use skills for profit. |
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Open-source community participation |
Recognition and reputation for high quality. |
3. Small businesses. Motivations: powerful yet flexible web presence, low startup costs, marketing opportunities.
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Easiest production deployment |
Single codebase for all functions. |
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Most flexible |
Easy to modify, no special access required. |
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Untethers websites from hosting |
Copy to any LimeBits (or equivalent) site. |
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Makes websites viral |
Can send full functionality, not just link. |
LimeBits release 1 opened publicly in January 2008 to "friends and family." It consists of a storage server (LimeStone WebDAV) embedded in a webserver (Apache) and backed by a database (Postgres); sample drop-ins (in Javascript); a front-end website; and user management code (create accounts, copy files).
Development and rollout
The Alpha phase is aimed at creating a viable LimeBits technology platform and gathering initial user feedback to help improve and target the product.
Alpha1. As of January 22, 2008, LimeBits is publicly released and available on the web for "friends and family" use. During this Alpha1 deployment, users may sign up and may test, copy, and customize a sample drop-in (Blog Editor) application. Users may also create, upload, and deploy their own drop-ins.
The Alpha1 release includes two "toy" applications -- a simple blog website and a 2-person remote tic-tac-toe game. These demo some of the capabilities of LimeBits.
Alpha 2. The Alpha2 release is aimed at improvements to attract a first "real" user -- that is, an advanced software developer who figures out without prompting "over the shoulder" from the LimeBits team how to use LimeBits, and who chooses to use LimeBits for some purpose.
During Alpha2 development, the LimeBits team will create a "real" website -- something that customers would actually use. Among the applications that the team will consider are: a wedding site, event invitations, eBay add-ons, an "apartment describer" for Craigslist, a family email address book, and a Google-style mashup.
Further releases of LimeBits will include requests and opportunities for user comment. LimeBits team members will collect such comments and use them as guidance in development.
Alpha3. The Alpha3 release is aimed at improvements responsive to feedback from the first real users, and to feature enhancements enabling general (Beta) release.
The Alpha phase releases will add more drop-ins as reference applications, to show features and usage. The software team will refine, strengthen, and stabilize the core WebDAV functions.
At the end of each phase, LimeBits and Lime management will review the project status and decide how to proceed.
Beta. During the Beta phase, those activities will continue. In addition, the business team will start promoting LimeBits and developing partnerships to expand the value of LimeBits for novice website authors, expert software developers, and small businesses.
Beta releases will be widespread and public.
Development and marketing efforts will emphasize growing the LimeBits network of users, interconnecting users, and providing cross-site services. The team will promote open-source development opportunities using the LimeBits platform.
Core values
A clearly articulated set of core values for LimeBits will help motivate and clarify LimeBits team decisions, and will help users decide to participate in LimeBits and contribute to the community. The following principles are proposed as LimeBits core values.
• Open source
• Build and serve community/ecosystem
• Reduce friction in code development market
• Earn trust via security/privacy
• Promote freedom and power of individuals who use the Internet
• Promote sharing of code and data