Opera Software ASA

Yes. Opera Unite is based on common Web technologies, such as HTML and JavaScript. When building Opera Unite, we sought to use documented open Web standards wherever possible. This ensures that Opera Unite applications can easily be created using the techniques Web developers use every day. In addition, during the development of the technology, we have made various key parts available for standardization. One example is the file I/O object, which Opera published and submitted to W3C. W3C is now in the process of starting a group that would standardize it, and it has already been taken up by BONDI and similar efforts.

The Opera Unite server is located in your Opera browser on your computer as part of Opera Unite. A proxy server is used when no direct connection is established, and this proxy server is currently located in Norway. No data is stored on any Opera-owned servers.

A lot of work has gone into making Opera Unite easy and simple enough for anyone to use, not only for installing and setting up applications, but also for creating an easy way for people to interact. Although some operating systems have included Web servers for a long time, the complexity involved in setting these up and using them has meant that they were only used by technically-experienced developers; not the average Web user. Opera Unite is aimed at a wider target audience and offers the ability to share data directly from a computer to everyone by offering a browser feature that is enabled with a simple login and that is easy and quick to use, without any complex configuration or set up.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) applications rely on all users of a given application sharing the data to all other users. An example of this is the BitTorrent client built into Opera. While you download something on BitTorrent, you also make it available for others, sharing the overall load among everyone who wants to download that content.

Opera Unite is a standard Web server. People connect to applications or content on your Opera Unite server, and communicate, view or download that content directly from your computer without distributing it to others. While Opera Unite currently focuses on sharing data directly with other users, a distributed hosting model is within the possibilities of what developers can do with Opera Unite applications.

Opera Unite applications extend the capabilities of the browser to share content or collaborate. Applications range from social-networking tools for posting messages or holding chat sessions to tools for sharing content like files or photos. For more information, see the Opera Unite user guide.

Opera Unite applications are made using standard Web technologies, such as HTML , CSS, JavaScript, SVG, and AJAX.

Note: Some of the new APIs are still experimental and are yet to be standardized. Expect some API changes as the specifications and implementations mature.

To start developing Opera Unite applications, you need some knowledge of common Web technologies, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. All applications submitted for publishing on unite.opera.com are reviewed by Opera Software to check for errors and to ensure that they comply with the terms and conditions. For more details, see the Opera Unite articles, the File I/O API specification, and the Unite API specification on dev.opera.com.

See the Opera Unite Developer's Primer on dev.opera.com for instructions.

Publishing your Opera Unite application on unite.opera.com shares it with many users around the world quickly and easily. These users can provide you with feedback and bug reports to help you make it even better.

All applications need to be reviewed by Opera Software to check for errors and to ensure that they comply with the publishing terms and conditions. This ensures that our users have an enjoyable and safe online experience. We do not take responsibility for the content of the applications or make any guarantees about the functionality. See our disclaimer. You are free to offer applications for download from your own site; however, as this avoids our approval process, we will not be able to review the applications to ensure that the they will work correctly.

You will have received a message stating what terms or conditions the application breaks or other issues encountered. Fix these issues, submit the application for publication again, and we will review it. See the terms and conditions on the Publish page.

No. The Opera Unite catalog at unite.opera.com is currently a free resource. Users can download and install applications from here completely free of charge. You could potentially charge for applications that you create and distribute yourself.

When you publish your application, we unpack it and test its contents before repacking it and putting it on the server. This may lead to some differences in compression and file size. Additionally, if you change the application information in the Configure step, this information is put back into your ZIP file. Finally, Opera Software reserves the right to update or correct the description fields at any time.

See the terms and conditions on the Publish page. Please be aware that these terms and conditions apply to publishing applications only. For information about terms of service for end users, see the Terms and Conditions on My Opera.

When a bug is reported for your application, it is shown in a link marked "Assigned issues" when you are logged in to unite.opera.com. As the author, you are responsible for fixing any bugs. Opera Software does not fix bugs in applications published by external parties.

No. Once a application is published, you cannot delete it from the site. Once people start using an application in Opera Unite, we prefer not to interrupt it. If there is an error or problem with it, Opera Software may remove it.

The Opera account is needed to provide you with a simple link using our DNS server. Opera Unite was designed to offer a simple and easy way for people to share data and collaborate online. In line with this, we have provided a simple and quick way to create a domain name. If you prefer to change the configuration to use your own custom domain name, refer to our article "Setting up custom domains for Opera Unite" on dev.opera.com. The Opera account also enables social-networking support from the My Opera community.

Yes, you can set up your own domain names for Opera Unite applications rather than use the default name assigned by Opera. See the article "Setting up custom domains for Opera Unite" on dev.opera.com.

When you start using Opera Unite, we generate a URL for you at our Domain Name Server (DNS). This adheres to the following format: http://[device name].[user name].operaunite.com.

Alternatively, you are welcome to use your own DNS server or even your static IP address. To get more details on this, refer to our detailed article "Setting up custom domains for Opera Unite" on dev.opera.com.

No. Opera Unite applications can use JavaScript as a server-side customization tool. Opera Unite is not designed to replace professional Web servers, but to make it easy for people to share content and communicate without the technical knowledge required to run a server, let alone program in PHP.

To discuss Opera Unite, including suggesting ideas for improvement, use the following avenues:

• Discuss with others on the Opera Unite applications forum.
• Discuss directly in an IRC chat at #unite@irc.opera.com.
• Suggest an idea on the forum to Share your Opera Unite dream.
• Post a feature request as a comment on the application details page. To view the details page for an application, go to the applications catalog, and select the "More details" link for that application.

For information, refer to the Opera Unite blog.

Before you report a problem:

• On the application details page, under the Install application button, click the link marked "(number) issues". A list of existing issues displays. Read through the list to see if anyone has already reported the same bug. If the bug has been listed, do not report it.
• Check if you have the latest version of the application. The issue might have been fixed in a later version. To ensure you have the latest version, go to the Opera Unite application catalog, select the application, and click "Install application". Opera Unite detects that you already have this application, and, if there is a later version, displays a dialog with the option "Upgrade existing Opera Unite application" preselected. Click "OK" to upgrade.

If you have the latest version, and the bug has not been reported:

1. Go to the details page for the application.
2. Click the "Report a problem" link.
3. Fill in a short title, summarizing the problem.
4. In the text box, describe the problem in as much detail as you can. Describe what you were doing when the bug occurred – for example, what you were clicking or filling in. Supply any error messages you received. Specify which Opera version, platform, and device on which you were running the application.
5. Review your information to check it.
6. Check the field stating that you have looked through already reported bugs.
7. Click the Submit button. Issues that you report are shown in a link at the top marked "Reported issues" . The author of the application is notified and is responsible for resolving the issue.