Web workshop part 5: Adding more complex modules

So, you've got the latest news, a slew of podcasts, and all the photos of kittens you could ever want, coming on to your Netvibes page. But it’s as easy to add more complex modules onto your page.

For example, in the communications section of the widgets tab, you'll find a bunch of modules which will let you check your email from Netvibes. Choose your provider, share a password and you can have your messages embedded in a Netvibes page.

If you don't use one of the webmail services that's shown, you can also configure any POP3 account to be reported here, too, providing you're able to provide Netvibes with the settings.

A word of warning, though: Netvibes is not an encrypted service, and you might want to consider if you wish to share your email login details with a third party. And note that while Netvibes will let you see what mail you've got, you'll still have to go to your normal mail service to read and respond.

Explore the Netvibes EcoSystem to find other widgets that people have made - there's an ever-growing number of them, which allow you to do anything from reading the latest Doonesbury to playing a round of Sudoku.

Netvibes

Most of these modules are provided by third parties - that is, people other than the Netvibes team. They're able to do this because Netvibes released its API - or Application Programming Interface. This gives outside programmers the information they need to produce software that integrates with Netvibes' way of working.

Making an API public has become a key feature to ensuring web applications' success - even a large company like Google shares its APIs, knowing that outsiders will have ideas they don't, that if shared, will bring more customers to the core product. It's like offering pitches for a car boot sale instead of organising a jumble sale - you don't have control over everything that's sold, but you make your profit by giving others the space in which to pitch.

For example, Bitty Browser will insert a tiny web browser onto your Netvibes page, should you want one. Mini-Clock lets you keep an eye on the time with a range of elegant (and less-elegant) analogue clocks - handy to help you keep an eye on the time you're burning playing Mah Jongg.

To add a module, click the ‘+netvibes’ button on the page about the module.

Netvibes

You'll notice as you that Netvibes reminds you that it can't take responsibility for their content, or any nasty surprises they might contain. (Neither, incidentally, do the BBC or the Open University). When you're deciding what you're going to put on your page, take a bit of care - use the preview function to examine how much, and what sort, of advertising is included with the widget, and always be on your guard for anything that might ask you to share passwords. And always ensure that your virus software is up to date and switched on.

Remember that every LOLCAT, flash game and video of ducks slipping on ice will have to be downloaded to your machine - fill a Netvibes page up with too much material, and you'll find it takes a longer time to load. It might make sense to create extra tabs to break your modules up over a number of pages.

Next: sharing