title: Developing a Social Network: tips, details and information
body: <p>I would like to create a small Social Network using Ruby on Rails 3. Since it is a complex system, what is recommended for the Information Architecture?</p>
  
  <p>I thought to create multiple RoR applications with a Hierarchical Architecture, each used to accomplish a specific purpose. Therefore I created one domain and more subdomains. </p>
  
  <p>For example:</p>
  
  <p>Main domain: <code>http://main.com</code></p>
  
  <p>All nedded subdomains: <code>http://app1.main.com</code>, <code>http://app2.main.com</code>, ...</p>
  
  <p>A problem that occurs using this type of architecture is the <em>authentication</em> of users, because, while setting the cookie at the <code>http://main.com</code> level (so that all cookies are accesible from all subdomains), they are not "followed" when I try to make an HTTP GET calls between subdomains, unless you explicitly pass parameter values of cookies in the HTTP GET call, maybe using a SSL/TSL connection. Is this a right approach?</p>
  
  <p>However, in this case, I can think of using REST APIs and a protocol such OAuth to protect resources...</p>
  
  <p><strong>What is the right way to create a Social Network? Can anyone advise me detailed enough?</strong></p>
  
  <p>P.S.: is it correct what I'm saying?!</p>