Category: Web Apps
OpenID is sweet. It’s a protocol / service that allows clients to log into web applications using a single account.
If you’re like me, not having to create tons of accounts all over the place sounds like heaven. There have been several services I’ve wanted to try out, but filling out the same information again and again, and remembering yet another password tends to put me off. Many places have lost purchases from me because it was just too much effort for me to create an account.
The way it works in a nut shell: you create an account on some OpenID authentication service (or create your own authentication server), and from then on you log into web applications with a simple URL. That’s it. You put in your OpenID URL, it asks the authentication service if it’s ok, and bang, you’re off and running.
There are a lot of services that are supporting OpenID now. And according to the OpenID website, the number of sites is increasing very quickly.
Try it out and you’ll see why. Once you create an account and login to your first OpenID enabled website, you’ll know why it’s an idea who’s time has come.
So, if you’re curious, create an account on the OpenID web site, then for a safe haven test, you can login to one of my sites that support OpenID.
If you have a public service, you might want to think about adding support for OpenID. If you are using Drupal, there is even a module you can just plugin.