TinA (Tina Is not Apf) Amazon Web Services script.

What is Project TinA?

Tina is a PHP conversion / adaptation of MrRat's Amazon Products Feed script which for the last five years has been a leader in the field of not only Amazon Web Services scripts but of Web Services scripts period.

The TinA conversion is primarily the work of Dean Marshall although MrRat has been assisting and has promised to continue to be available in a consulting capacity. Obviously without the original APF there would be no conversion and without MrRat's agreement / permission to convert there would be no TinA - so my thanks to MrRat three times over.

The input of APF community hero 'TomPaine' is also greatfully acknowledged - thanks Johannes.

The Need For PHP

To Dean the need for a PHP implementation of the highly successful Amazon script was apparent - initially this was to make integration with Mambo and Joomla easier, more efficient and simply smoother for the end users. A number of requests from users of other CMSs and blogging platforms confirmed the idea that PHP was the way to go.

The License

From the beginning of the conversion, port, rewrite call it what you will the license of the final script was a concern. MrRat's APF is GPL and the new script is quite clearly built from this source. Clearly it is derivative - but following discussion with MrRat we decided that the rewrite would be such a major task that the new work should be considered a stand-alone product. As yet no final decision has been made on the license.

Aims of the project

• 1. To continue in the spirit of MrRat's APF - to make it easy for people to integrate an Amazon store into their web site for the purpose of adding a revenue stream to their existing website.
• 2. To build a business around this endeavor generating revenue for developers and in so doing ensure the future security of the project.
• 3. To build a business friendly eco-system around the new script and develop a market for third party add-on services and products.
• 4. To offer all of this functionality and yet keep the operation of the script as simple as possible - as we say over at Mambo 'power through simplicity'.
• 5. To 'compete' with the recent crop of Amazon 'widgets' and 'astore' add-ons which whilst generally welcomed are none-the-less not currently compatible with the aims of those of us who wish to operate a store on our own sites.

Important Links:

Who is this Dean bloke anyway?
Dean: http://www.deanmarshall.co.uk/

Website that will become the focus for the project
Project TinA: http://www.project-tina.com/
Current Demo: http://www.project-tina.com/tina/

So - where to from here?

For now we are letting you know of our intentions, of the work that has taken place (and is continuing to take place) behind the scenes and to reassure you that although there have been no visible signs of development recently the project does live on.

In due course we will be publishing a 'roadmap' of future development and early next year (all right - in a couple of weeks) announcing a Beta testing programme.

Please join us in discussing the future - and sharing your opinions on what a killer Amazon store needs.

Short and pithy as ever - lol

MrRat and Dean (verbose) Marshall