# New software, test site, OpenProfile

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/new-software-test-site-openprofile/93465>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [April 3, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/new-software-test-site-openprofile/93465 "2006-04-03T19:29:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![al-evans](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@al-evans](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/al-evans)\
**Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/new-software-test-site-openprofile/93465/1 "2006-04-03T19:29:57Z")

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I’ve just put a new Ruby On Rails application up for testing at:

[http://rtest.openprofile.net](http://rtest.openprofile.net)

Open Profile can be used as a login and user profile module for any Ruby  
On Rails application.

Its purpose is to minimize the hassle of joining new web forums (or  
anything else on the web that requires you to enter a user name, email  
addres, password twice, etc.). If it’s widely adopted, OpenProfile can  
reduce this whole process to entering a single URL (and, as required,  
your OpenID server password).

It uses the OpenID protocol for establishing user identity. If the  
user’s OpenID URL is successfuly verified, it presents a form in which  
he can enter his profile information. He can type this information in  
manually, or upload a vCard from which it will be extracted  
automatically. The user can upload a photo or other graphic to be  
associated with his profile.

The OpenID URL the user gives may point to a web page that has an hcard  
containing his profile information, in addition to the links to his  
OpenID server and delegate. Open Profile will automatically retrieve  
this hcard when it authenticates a new user, and will present it as the  
default information for the “edit profile” operation.

Optionally, the user can add a “Profile Reference” when he edits his  
profile information. This is a single word to be used to retrieve his  
profile by name. He can then give, for example,  
“[rtest.openprofile.net/profile/someword](http://rtest.openprofile.net/profile/someword)” as an OpenID URL to be used to  
log into another system.

Open Profile will produce a web page that contains the data required for  
the OpenID server, along with an hcard containing his profile  
information. If the other system uses Open Profile, it will  
automatically acquire his profile information in the process of  
authenticating him.

After a bit of testing and cleanup, I’ll package OpenProfile up and put  
it on RubyForge, so everyone can play:-)

–Al Evans

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**Author:** ![al-evans](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@al-evans](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/al-evans)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 12:43am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/new-software-test-site-openprofile/93465/2 "2006-04-04T00:43:11Z")

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Al Evans wrote:

> After a bit of testing and cleanup, I’ll package OpenProfile up and put  
> it on RubyForge, so everyone can play:-)

And some bug-fixing…

Sorry about that. It worked great until everybody started testing it!

Thanks for not saying nasty things about it all day.

I think it’s OK now. I’ve emptied the database, so if you tried to log  
in earlier, please try it again!

[http://rtest.openprofile.net](http://rtest.openprofile.net)

–Al Evans

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**Author:** ![al-evans](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@al-evans](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/al-evans)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 12:46am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/new-software-test-site-openprofile/93465/3 "2006-04-04T00:46:29Z")

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Al Evans wrote:

> [http://rtest.openprofile.net](http://rtest.openprofile.net)

Grrrr.

Let’s try [http://rtest.openprofile.net/](http://rtest.openprofile.net/)

–Al Evans

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**Author:** ![al-evans](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@al-evans](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/al-evans)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 12:47am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/new-software-test-site-openprofile/93465/4 "2006-04-04T00:47:42Z")

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Al Evans wrote:

> Let’s try [http://rtest.openprofile.net/](http://rtest.openprofile.net/)

OK, how about [http://rtest.openprofile.net](http://rtest.openprofile.net)

–Al Evans