Facebook is one of an elite few leading the charge. Every day, hundreds of people join the Web site to reconnect with old acquaintances and make new friends.
But helping people make connections with each other is just one of Facebook's qualities.
Another important element is that Facebook allows application developers to create small programs called apps (short for applications) and use Facebook as a platform.
In a way, Facebook is acting like an operating system -- it provides the foundation for smaller applications that tap into the social network's resources.
Arguably, the most important resource is Facebook's user base. Building an app can be time-consuming and challenging; however, Facebook's community includes millions of people, and that gives developers a built-in audience for their...