Over the past few months I've been asked about the range of Open Source Social Networking Tools, so I thought it might be an idea to put up a page which lists those that I know of with a brief description of each.
Drupal is a general Content Management System, however with the use of a range of different third party modules, it can be turned into quite a decent "Social Networking" facility. If nothing else it integrates very well with other tools such as twitter, status.net, facebook, etc, etc.
Wordpress started out as a simple blogging platform but since then has grown into something more. While retaining the blogging feel, the wordpress community has expanded the available modules, so that it can be used in a much wider range of situations than simple blog/reponse.
Elgg is dedicated Social Networking package. It combines features from facebook, twitter, blogger and other social networks into one package.
Formally known as laconica, status.net is an open source microblogging platform. While it has a twitter compatible API, status.net has a lot more features, not the least of which being federation, which allows a user on one status.net server to follow the microblog of another user on a completely different server.
I haven't used Mahara myself so I'll stick in the project description:
Mahara is an open source e-portfolio system with a flexible display framework. Mahara, meaning 'think' or 'thought' in Te Reo M?ori, is user centred environment with a permissions framework that enables different views of an e-portfolio to be easily managed. Mahara also features a weblog, resume builder and social networking system, connecting users and creating online learner communities.
Joomla and components as social networking tool
Joomla 1.5 has 2 main social networking extensions, primarily as online community tools. The old but highly configurable warhorse Community Builder (2 light templates available too) and the new kid JomSocial which looks a lot more Web 2.0 but is a little less configurable and less accessible. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. Both integrate with other popular site components via plugins so users can use them to manage all the content they have contributed to the site through a front end interface... a very handy thing when your social networking is part of a suite of user generated content tools in a "gated community" site.
Joomla also has a range of other social networking plugins for twitter, facebook, google apps etc.
All definitely worth a look if you need a broad based Open Source CMS platform.
Where is Dolphin?
I guess you missed a few.
http://mashable.com/2007/07/25/open-source-social-platforms/