As with most web 2.0 platforms, a large part of the platform interaction on XING is handled via JavaScript. In total, 25,000 lines of code render dynamic content on our platform. Dragging and dropping the boxes of your start page, editing settings in your profile, a live search selecting your contacts when you type a new message – AJAX is just about everywhere. (more…)

Changing an underlying layer of an IT infrastructure involves a similar level of risk to whipping away a lightly stained table cloth from underneath a set of beautiful porcelain china: The worst-case scenario is a heap of priceless family heirlooms on the floor; if things turn out right nobody will notice a thing – except perhaps that everything looks a little more spick and span.

Today, XING members have had several new proverbial table cloths laid for them: we’ve been busy cleaning up parts of the database of our event invitations, which we speed things up in this part of the site. (more…)

OpenSocial, Google’s API for social networks, has been around the web for quite a while now. Within the last months, the gadget-oriented framework ’socialized’ well and, knowing Google’s and the web’s social networks’ power, will continue do so. XING has been working on the integration of OpenSocial since 2007.

At the moment, we are just a few laps away from launching the platform, driving in 6^th gear all the way. Working with this company, I witness how tremendously fast the wheel is turning. My colleague Karsten Rieke and I recently published an article that will be printed in the Informatik Spektrum, a German-speaking informatics periodical. Our article is one of the first comprehensive academic publications on the subject. (more…)

One of our major targets for this year is to grow our network and become more international, opening up more and more opportunities for our members to profit from new contacts. Along these lines, we updated the list of online email service providers which in the Address Book Comparison and bulk invitation functions. (more…)

I am in my 4th week at XING now, getting into the subjects and enjoying the spirit here. I am Senior Product Manager and will take care of some features and functions at XING now – like the exciting enhancement of the events feature.

A bit on my background: I studied in Lüneburg, Aix-en-Provence and Istanbul. First, I worked for a PR agency for the Official Cultural Program to the Football World Cup, then I changed to Eventim (European market leader in ticketing) where I occupied several positions during the last years, at last Head of product management web shop. (more…)

Our professional network grows week for week, and we’re not just talking about new members here. Our team of developers is constantly working in the background on new technologies and interfaces, interface optimizations and database adaptations. They spend their time each and every day working on everything from detailed enhancements through to major changes and product innovations. Technical updates are introduced at XING on a weekly basis. (more…)

We’re pleased to announce that XING will be a Silver Sponsor of this year’s EuRuKo, Europe’s most credible conference for the Ruby programming language, which will be held in Barcelona, Spain, from May 9th – 10th. Our support for the conference reflects XING’s commitment
to the technology utilized by a substantial part of our platform, as well as our recognition of the community behind the technology!

Focusing on making a page work for all users should supersede the costly aim of pixel perfection in technically obsolete browsers. This position paper questions the current presentational hacking for IE.

Web developers are spending a lot of time applying workarounds for technically obsolete browsers. This is causing high development and maintenance costs for the web industry.

IE7 was a step, but only one step, in the right direction. For IE6 and IE7, the extra costs of developing a web site are currently justified by IE’s combined market share, not because it makes sense technically. (more…)

We’re happy to announce that we’re hosting this week’s Rails User Group Hamburg – Hamburg’s monthly meetup of Ruby on Rails developers. What makes this occasion even more special for us is that this will be the first opportunity to show off our sexy new offices! So if you’re into Rails or just want to get to know us, drop by and hang out – rumors are there will even be pizza and beer.

For details, have a look at the event page or the Rails UG wiki. We’re looking forward to seeing you!

We took a couple of photos during the Events release this week, which the whole team is really proud of! And there’s lots more to come in this feature over the next few weeks…Until then you´re welcome to watch a short “Making of” movie that Mireille has produced.

Link:

Interested in working at XING? Have a look at our job site – there are currently 37 job openings, including jobs in the Engineering team.