clearspring - the widget network.

The Clearspring infrastructure platform enables the distribution, tracking, monetization, and exchange of dynamic web application components and content, also called widgets. If you're short on time, just check out the FAQ.

Widgets 101

Are you new to widgets? If so, please read our Widgets 101 page.

Tools for Every Occasion

The Launchpad On-Page tools provide you with interactive buttons and menus capable of posting your content to any destination on the web, right from your own site. Simply register an account with us, and our Javascript API will give you complete control over what you share and how you share it. Our platform provides clear, rich analytics that allow you, the developer, to monitor exactly how your content is moving around the web.

 

The Launchpad In-Widget tools provide a bunch of other cool things:

• Your widget will be automatically enabled with a set of services that allow your users to share it with each other and to place it on destinations across the web -- like all the top social networks -- without writing a line of code
• You'll get detailed analytics on where your widget is seen, how often, how it is shared, how users interact with it, and much more
• You'll get a home page and some APIs that can help you distribute and seed your widget (including the On-Page tools)
• You'll be able to program your widget to be a significantly more aware of its surroundings

There's a lot more to it, but that's the basic idea. Why not just get started?

How it Works

So what do you and your end users actually see? It depends on whether you're using the On-Page or In-Widget toolsets.

Using the Launchpad On-Page Tools

Generally, the process goes like this:

 

1. You get some Javascript code that you can embed in your web page; you can get this code in our Widget Management Console or just code it up directly using the API docs.
2. You place the code in your own web page (written in whatever language/framework you normally use), pointing it to the chunk of content you wish to share.
3. When a user visits your page, the Launchpad UI (Menu or Button, standard or your own custom appearance) will allow them to post your content on a large number of social networks, start pages, blogs and more. They can even send it via email. Whatever they choose, Clearspring will keep track of it.
4. You can login to Clearspring at any time to check your analytics, see where your content is going, and what's happening to it.

 

That's the basic idea. At no time does Clearspring really pay much attention to what the content that you're sharing actually is -- the platform just passes it through to the location the user specifies, and keeps track of the fact that it went there. This is a very simple yet also very powerful way to leverage the platform, with lots of flexible options (see the On-Page API reference for the actual code details).

Using the Launchpad In-Widget Tools

With the Launchpad In-Widget tools, Clearspring platform technology gets associated with your widget in the client side. You can use the Standard version, in which your widget gets loaded in our Container and you don't need to write a line of code, or you can use the Advanced version (and load the Kernel directly) to get more direct control.

Launchpad In-Widget: Standard

How it works:

1. You register a Widget in the Widget Console, selecting Launchpad In-Widget and specifying its type, URL, and a few other things.
2. You Get the Code for your widget from the console; this code that Clearspring gives you will render your widget with all of the services attached, so you can place it on your site or other distribution point.
3. Whenever a user sees your widget -- on your own site or out on the web, it will have a built-in sharing menu that they can use to grab the widget for themselves. The user can place it on a large number of social networks, start pages, blogs, and more. Each time the user does so, we keep track of it.
4. You login to Clearspring at any time to view detailed analytics on what exactly is happening with your widget, how it is being moved around the web, where it is being virally spread, and even how users are interacting with it.

There is quite a lot you can accomplish with the In-Widget tools. If you just want your widget asset be loaded by the Clearspring platform and don't want to write any special code, this'll let you do that. The platform makes a full-featured API available to your widget (in multiple languages), and if you want, you can use it to make your widget even more powerful.

Launchpad In-Widget: Advanced

If you're a developer looking for maximum flexibility and control, Advanced mode will let you load the Clearspring Kernel into your widget yourself. Your widget will be the first thing to load, and will grab assets dynamically from Clearspring's servers (on your command). The library will give you access to the full In-Widget API, including viral sharing capabilities, but everything is under your direct control. Check out the Container vs. the Kernel comparison for a more technical explanation of these different options.

Which Tool is Best?

Which tool is best for you depends on the needs you have. Generally, using Launchpad On-Page to dynamically share any arbitrary content is a very fast and efficient way to deal with straightforward sharing tasks. As you develop more sophisticated needs and want to do things like manage configuration and put more contextual intelligence into your widget, registering it in our platform and leveraging the In-Widget APIs and the Container provides many benefits. For the ultimate in control, Launchpad In-Widget: Advanced Mode gives you the most options. Experiment with each of the tools and continue reading these docs to find the choice that's right for you.

Why Clearspring?

Why is Clearspring the best choice for modular application and content syndication?

• Write once, run everywhere: Runtime services allow your widget to work just about everywhere on the web, with no additional development work on your part. You can focus on the core functionality of your application, and the quality of your content.
• Broad based, orchestrated distribution: Widgets in our system can be syndicated to most major galleries, social networks, start pages, blog sites, and more.
• Real-time, interactive analytics: Clearspring's real-time analytics engine will show you everything you could possibly want to know about your widget, and then some. Full interactivity, full viral spread, and more coming all the time.
• Fully flexible solutions: Our solutions are flexible to meet your needs. If you're looking for simple viral sharing services, we have them. If you're looking for rich control over your content and its behavior, we have that too.
• The best back-end in the business: Our back-end infrastructure is the fastest, most scalable, most reliable, and most globally distributed in the market.