Personally I think that OpenID is the next best thing since sliced bread. I plan to use it on all my [personal projects](http://codedumper.com) and advocate it whenever I can.
However, when I have to explain OpenID, and if they understood, it then raises a foray of debate - which is fine, but I don’t want to argue just to get my user to log in.
My approach from here on in is to stop using OpenID. That is I’ll reduce the presence of OpenID at the front line (i.e. what the user sees) but continue as it suites me behind the scenes.
[](https://training.leftlogic.com/buy/terminal/cli2?coupon=BLOG\&utm_source=blog\&utm_medium=banner\&utm_campaign=remysharp-discount)
[READER DISCOUNTSave $50 on terminal.training](https://training.leftlogic.com/buy/terminal/cli2?coupon=BLOG\&utm_source=blog\&utm_medium=banner\&utm_campaign=remysharp-discount)
[I’ve published 38 videos for new developers, designers, UX, UI, product owners and anyone who needs to conquer the command line today.](https://training.leftlogic.com/buy/terminal/cli2?coupon=BLOG\&utm_source=blog\&utm_medium=banner\&utm_campaign=remysharp-discount)
Why?[](#why)
-
Your user should not care, or even have to know about OpenID.
-
It saves having to go in to the whole explanation of what OpenID is. My new explanation goes a little like this:
You have a Flickr account, right?
Right.
Well, you just use your username on my site, Flickr will authenticate you, proving you’re really who you say you are, and on you go.
Tidy.
-
OpenIDs can sometimes be tricky to remember/get right.
For example, [Technorati’s](http://technorati.com/pop/blogs/ "Technorati Popular: Top 100 blogs") OpenID caused me no end of problems. It boiled down to the Technorati OpenID requiring 'http\://' at the start - whereas I can happily use '[remysharp.com](http://remysharp.com)' as my OpenID - regardless of the 'http' part.
In addition 'http://technorati.com/people/technorati/remysharp' is fairly long to type.
How?[](#how)
The 'how' should make it even easier to get those users in to your web site. Since some of the [big boys](http://openid.net/get/) offer OpenID as part of your account, I’m going to assume that there’s a large proportion of users who have an OpenID without knowing it.
-
Don’t ask for OpenID urls: just ask for the username for X service, and construct the OpenID behind the scenes.
Have a look at the following example (taken from [Code Dumper’s login](http://codedumper.com/login)):
You’ll need to have JavaScript enabled to view the demo.
Sign in
OpenID: remysharp or do you have one of these accounts?
Behind the scenes OpenID is: xxx
This example still initially points the user to an OpenID login (I’d love to get a UI designer’s direction on this) - but the key effect is the ability for the user to select their login and only specify their username.
-
Use a cookie to store the selection of services the user chose. I don’t want to have to keep selecting the right service from the drop down each time I log in.
-
If you can add visuals on the login: icons for AOL, Flickr, Blogger, Yahoo, etc, will immediately connect people’s understanding that they’re logging in to that service, not only in the input field as above, but perhaps horizontally introducing the log in.
Next time I’ll show you how to glean an avatar for your user without any input from them.
Published 24-Apr 2008 under #openid & #web. [Edit this post](https://github.com/remy/remysharp.com/blob/main/public/blog/stop-using-openid-why-how.md)
Comments
Lock Thread
Login
Add Comment[M ↓ Markdown]()
[Upvotes]()[Newest]()[Oldest]()
?
Anonymous
0 points
13 years ago
OpenID, is growing in popularity each day and well in the millions of websites using it at present. Its something we all will be using in the future. I love it, but some dont.
?
Anonymous
0 points
16 years ago
@Larry - yep, I spotted the Janrain app about 10 minutes after I posted the article. I like that it’s helping the user to get in, and it’s a definite win with the visual que of the site icons.
Definitely recommend anyone who agrees with this post checking out ID Selector
?
Anonymous
0 points
16 years ago
Check out [www.idselector.com](http://www.idselector.com) .
?
Anonymous
0 points
16 years ago
Interesting points raised I agree 100%. Open ID is great but it is quite a hard concept to sell some people on (especially those who are not technical) whereas your approach removes that barrier completely and ensures the user is instantly familiar and comfortable with the decision you are asking them to make.
In terms of UI, I like the way Moo does it (not a login, but same concept):
[Commento](https://commento.io)