Facebook development in localhost

Edit: 2-15-2012 This is how to use FB authentication for a localhost website.

I find it more scalable and convenient to set up a second Facebook app. If I’m building MyApp, then I’ll make a second one called MyApp-dev.

  • Create a new app at https://developers.facebook.com/apps
  • (New 2/15/2012) Click the Website checkbox under ‘Select how your application integrates with Facebook’
    (In the recent Facebook version you can find this under Settings > Basic > Add Platform – Then select website)
  • Set the Site URL field (NOT the App Domains field) to http://www.localhost:3000 (this address is for Ruby on Rails, change as needed)

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  • In your application initializer, put in code to detect the environment
    • Sample Rails 3 code
      if Rails.env == 'development' || Rails.env == 'test'
        Rails.application.config.middleware.use OmniAuth::Builder do
          provider :facebook, 'DEV_APP_ID', 'DEV_APP_SECRET'
        end
      else
        # Production
        Rails.application.config.middleware.use OmniAuth::Builder do
          provider :facebook, 'PRODUCTION_APP_ID', 'PRODUCTION_APP_SECRET'
        end
      end
      

I prefer this method because once it’s set up, coworkers and other machines don’t have additional setup.

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