# AROUNDMe

> decommissioned GNU package

**Wikidata**: [Q113377528](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q113377528)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/aroundme

## Summary
AROUNDMe was a free software collaborative platform designed for interpersonal networking and web development. Created by Tom Calthrop in 2003 and written in PHP, it operated as an official GNU package before being decommissioned. The software provided tools for collaboration and was last updated in 2008 with the release of version 1.6.2.

## Key Facts
- **Status:** AROUNDMe is a decommissioned GNU package.
- **Category:** It is classified as collaborative software, free software, and a GNU package.
- **Creator:** The software was created and maintained by Tom Calthrop.
- **Inception:** Development began in 2003.
- **Final Version:** The stable release, version 1.6.2, was published on March 27, 2008.
- **Technical Stack:** The software was built using the PHP scripting language.
- **Parent Project:** It was a part of the GNU Project.
- **Function:** Its primary use was interpersonal networking.
- **Aliases:** Also known as "GNU aroundme" and "Aroundme."

## FAQs
### Q: Is AROUNDMe still active?
A: No, AROUNDMe is currently listed as a decommissioned GNU package. Its last stable release was version 1.6.2 on March 27, 2008.

### Q: Who created AROUNDMe?
A: AROUNDMe was created by Tom Calthrop, who also maintained the project starting in 2003.

### Q: What was the primary function of AROUNDMe?
A: AROUNDMe was collaborative software used for interpersonal networking, allowing users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it under the terms of free software.

## Why It Matters
AROUNDMe represents a specific era of the free software movement's expansion into social web technologies. As an official component of the GNU Project—a free software project initiated in 1983—AROUNDMe exemplified the application of free software principles to interpersonal networking. Unlike proprietary social networking platforms, AROUNDMe provided users with the freedom to modify and distribute the software, adhering to the core definition of free software.

Its development in PHP, a scripting language widely used for web development since 1995, positioned it as an accessible tool for web-based collaboration during the mid-2000s. Although the project has since been decommissioned, its existence highlights the demand for open, user-controlled alternatives for digital interaction and community building within the software industry. Its final update in 2008, which introduced OpenID 2.0 support, marked its evolution alongside emerging web identity standards before the project concluded.

## Notable For
- Being an official **GNU Package** dedicated to interpersonal networking.
- Integration of **OpenID 2.0 support** in its final stable release (version 1.6.2).
- Offering a **free software alternative** for collaborative web development.
- Classification under the **Barnraiser** initiative (referenced in creator archives).
- Being distinct from the entity "AroundMe" (different_from: AroundMe).

## Body

### History and Development
AROUNDMe was initiated in 2003 by creator Tom Calthrop. It was developed as a free software project intended to facilitate interpersonal networking and collaboration. The project was officially recognized as a GNU Package, operating under the umbrella of the GNU Project (established in 1983).

The software was maintained by Calthrop, with archives indicating active development and community discussion via mailing lists. The project is currently decommissioned.

### Technical Specifications
The software was built using **PHP**, a general-purpose scripting language geared towards web development. It fell under the category of collaborative software and was distributed with a copyright status that allowed users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it.

The project was hosted on Savannah, the central repository for the GNU Project, under the project ID `aroundme`.

### Release History
The last confirmed stable version of AROUNDMe is **version 1.6.2**.
- **Release Date:** March 27, 2008.
- **Key Feature:** This release introduced OpenID 2.0 support.
- **Download Availability:** The release package (`aroundme_c_20080327.tar.gz`) was hosted at `download.savannah.gnu.org`.

### Resources and Archives
While the original project website is no longer the primary source, information and code archives remain accessible through:
- **Project Page:** `https://savannah.gnu.org/projects/aroundme/`
- **Mailing List:** `https://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/aroundme-dev-announce/`
- **Free Software Directory:** Listed under the entry "Aroundme".

## References

1. [Source](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/savannah-hackers/2004-11/msg00670.html)
2. Free Software Directory
3. [AROUNDMe collaboration server 1.6.2 released with OpenID 2.0 support!. 2008](https://savannah.gnu.org/forum/forum.php?forum_id=5253)
4. [Source](https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/aroundme-dev-announce/)