Facebook cross-posting should contain link to Diaspora Post

[HankG]

I'm experimenting with the Facebook cross-posting capability and it is working pretty well. When cross-posting a picture it posts a link to the picture in Diaspora. I think it would be good for it to post the link to the original Diaspora post in general, or at least make that something a sure can toggle. For posts with links I was thinking it should embed it near the end in a way that does not limit Facebook's rendering system from rendering the requested end link. So it would be something like this:

<message> (<diaspora link>) <original link URL>

I've experimented with this manually and it renders well in Facebook.

I have looked at the code from the service and think I see how I'd make the change. I'd be willing to pick this up as a first change if this behavior is something that is agreed upon.

[HankG]

I have an initial implementation. The behavior I am seeking is the following:

• If the post is a photo or just text, have the D* link posted at the end like
• If the post ends in a validly formed URL then we want the URL to stay at the end so it is rendered by Facebook correctly but we want to append a (via D* link) so that there is a trace back to the original D* post

So a post which reads "Some text." would post to Facebook as:
"Some text. http://<diasporaserver>/p/<postnumber>"

Whereas a post which reads ""Some text and a link http://someserver1/testlink1 http://someserver2/testlink2"" would post to Facebook as:
"Some text and a link http://someserver1/testlink1 (via http://<diasporaserver>/p/<postnumber> ) http://someserver2/testlink2"

I have amended the spec to exercise this new functionality so there are appropriate tests for happy path and some errant condition testing. I don't have a means for Facebook integration testing. If this concept sounds good I'd be up for working with a seasoned developer on next steps towards the pull request.

[SuperTux88]

Whereas a post which reads ""Some text and a link http://someserver1/testlink1 http://someserver2/testlink2"" would post to Facebook as:
"Some text and a link http://someserver1/testlink1 (via http://<diasporaserver>/p/<postnumber> ) http://someserver2/testlink2"

That looks very weird, why should the "via" be inserted in the middle of the post? Why not a (via http://<diasporaserver>/p/<postnumber>) always at the end of the post?

[HankG]

I believe if you put it at the end then Facebook will not render any of the URLs but I can experiment with it manually. If it works then always putting it at the end makes sense to me.

[HankG]

...I actually tested and it does render correctly. I can make it so it has the via at the end if there is a URL otherwise just straight posting the link. So:

"Some text. http://<diasporaserver>/p/<postnumber>"
and:
"Some text and a link http://someserver1/testlink1 http://someserver2/testlink2 (via http://<diasporaserver>/p/<postnumber> ) "

[SuperTux88]

I would always add it with "via".

[HankG]

OK. I have follow-up questions for whomever from the seasoned development team wants to help me.