I work at Facebook.
We absolutely do care about our API.
We are working as hard as we can to make our API less buggy and more stable.
Over the course of the past year, we have added more tests, more resources and more tools to this problem than we have throughout the lifetime of Facebook Platform.
In addition, we are in the process of reducing the surface area of our platform to a level that allows us to provide a good level of support. Specifically, we are removing FBML (https://developers.facebook.com/blog/post/568/), deprecating the REST API (https://developers.facebook.com/blog/post/616/), moving to support OAuth 2.0/HTTPs (https://developers.facebook.com/docs/oauth2-https-migration/) across the board and deciding what SDKs we are really going to support. These changes are painful for us and developers, but necessary to provide the level of support developers expect.
Ironically, it is the OAuth migration that is responsible for the JavaScript SDK bug reported in the post. We introduced this bug went we added the OAuth code path. This bug is on deck to be fixed soon, however (there is a straightforward workaround in the meantime).
In terms of the source of JavaScript SDK, we are working through the right approach to ensure that developers get access to the non-minified source (which I agree we need to do for debugging). It is unlikely that we will do this via GitHub, but we are looking at just having it off our CDN with the minified version as an option.
As for the bug process, I'll say two things. First, we now have a dedicated team of engineers devoted to supporting developers. If you have been developing on Facebook Platform for a while, the fact that bugs are getting daily responses is a vast improvement. We have a _long_ way to go, but we are listening and fixing. I will note that we are still working through the process on how we respond to various issues and how the bug tool (something we launched this year) works -- this seems to be evidenced from the post and something I am following up on. Second, just because the reporter can repro it, it doesn't mean we can, even with the steps that you provide. Our team of support engineers tries to repro every single issue that gets reported. Often, they simply can't and need more information.
I'll close by saying the following:
1. We care about our developers and the API.
2. We have done more this year than we have ever done to help developers and keep the platform stable.
3. That said, we still have a long way to go and these things do not change overnight.
4. If anyone has issue with how a bug is getting handled or any other issue with Facebook Platform, you can always ping me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/dmp) or [email protected].
We absolutely do care about our API.
We are working as hard as we can to make our API less buggy and more stable.
Over the course of the past year, we have added more tests, more resources and more tools to this problem than we have throughout the lifetime of Facebook Platform.
In addition, we are in the process of reducing the surface area of our platform to a level that allows us to provide a good level of support. Specifically, we are removing FBML (https://developers.facebook.com/blog/post/568/), deprecating the REST API (https://developers.facebook.com/blog/post/616/), moving to support OAuth 2.0/HTTPs (https://developers.facebook.com/docs/oauth2-https-migration/) across the board and deciding what SDKs we are really going to support. These changes are painful for us and developers, but necessary to provide the level of support developers expect.
Ironically, it is the OAuth migration that is responsible for the JavaScript SDK bug reported in the post. We introduced this bug went we added the OAuth code path. This bug is on deck to be fixed soon, however (there is a straightforward workaround in the meantime).
In terms of the source of JavaScript SDK, we are working through the right approach to ensure that developers get access to the non-minified source (which I agree we need to do for debugging). It is unlikely that we will do this via GitHub, but we are looking at just having it off our CDN with the minified version as an option.
As for the bug process, I'll say two things. First, we now have a dedicated team of engineers devoted to supporting developers. If you have been developing on Facebook Platform for a while, the fact that bugs are getting daily responses is a vast improvement. We have a _long_ way to go, but we are listening and fixing. I will note that we are still working through the process on how we respond to various issues and how the bug tool (something we launched this year) works -- this seems to be evidenced from the post and something I am following up on. Second, just because the reporter can repro it, it doesn't mean we can, even with the steps that you provide. Our team of support engineers tries to repro every single issue that gets reported. Often, they simply can't and need more information.
I'll close by saying the following:
1. We care about our developers and the API.
2. We have done more this year than we have ever done to help developers and keep the platform stable.
3. That said, we still have a long way to go and these things do not change overnight.
4. If anyone has issue with how a bug is getting handled or any other issue with Facebook Platform, you can always ping me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/dmp) or [email protected].