OpenID

OpenID "is a decentralized identity system, but one that's actually decentralized and doesn't entirely crumble if one company turns evil or goes out of business". openid.net

How

 * First do some experiments with the CS Wiki
 * Evan from Wikivoyage wrote some patches for MediaWiki: http://www.nabble.com/OpenID-extension-for-MediaWiki-t1999721.html
 * There are many libraries at http://openid.net/wiki/index.php/Libraries
 * According to the OpenId protocol, CouchSurfing could act as consumer, as server or as both.
 * An OpenId consumer (or Relying Party) is a web site (server) that allows users to login using an OpenId URL (for example, http://zooomr.com allows users to log in with openid urls).
 * An OpenId server (or OpenID Provider or Identity Provider) is a server that gives registered users an OpenId URL, with this OpenID URL users can then login in other web sites (for example, every user of livejournal can use http:// .livejournal.org as OpenId URL and so can use this OpenId URL in order to login in other sites).
 * CouchSurfing could act both as consumer and as server:
 * it seems reasonable to first deploy an OpenId consumer, so that CSers can log in using their already existant OpenId urls.
 * as a second step, we could deploy an OpenId server, so that CSers can use http:// .couchsurfing.com as their OpenId URL, this means it will be the site they visit and log into every morning. Then they will never ever to login in different sites with ad hoc logins and passwords.

Advantages

 * You don't have to log in to 40 different sites a day anymore.

Disadvantages

 * Security?
 * Does it complicate signup? Could CS host an OpenID server and allow users to create a new account and sign up in one step? I think simplifying the process and then making users aware of the benefits they've just gained would be great. chmac TalkCS 11:54, 24 October 2006 (GMT+7)

Comments
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 * I think this is a FANTASTIC, GREAT, WONDERFUL, GENIUS idea. I can't stress strongly enough in words how important I think something like OpenID is. It's a great framework that makes online authentication SO MUCH EASIER. There's no excuse not to adopt this immediately, I think the Wiki would make a great test ground and then I would fully support integration into CouchSurfing itself. chmac TalkCS 11:54, 24 October 2006 (GMT+7)


 * I don't know too much about OpenId but i think it is a wonderful idea as well. Since "play with openid" is in my todo list since months, I would like to help in some way to implement the feature. I think it would make sense to apply it also to the entire CS site so that it would be possible to login using your openid nick.


 * I've used openID before with livejournal stuff and believe it would be a useful tool here as well. Rich 17:16, 16 November 2006 (EST)


 * Currently there are two IDs. One for the couchsurfing system, another one for the wiki. Would be great if openID could be used for both at the same time. Roland 07:34, 16 February 2007 (EST)


 * Any new development on this subject? 14:57, 16 January 2008 (GMT)

Interested developers

 * phauly TalkCS - trying out different libraries (See Talk page)
 * Bru - I managed to make openid work on a few systems, both consumer and server. Looking forward to hammer it in here.