MetaFilter

MetaFilter was created in July of 1999 by MattHaughey. MetaFilter consists of six sub-sites, each with a different BackgroundColor:

• MetaFilter itself, where you can find the list of all current "best of the Web" posts and the SideBar, is also known as MeFi or "the blue" based on its hex color, #006699.

• MetaTalk, an area of the website specifically devoted to issues that concern the website itself. Also known as MeTa or the "the grey".

• AskMetaFilter, where users ask the community a variety of questions, taking advantage of the experience and knowledge of the other members. Also known as AskMe or "the green".

• MetaFilter Projects, where people post links to sites they've worked on (the official way to skirt the "no self links" rule)

• MetaFilter Music, where you can post music you've worked on.

• MetaFilter Jobs, where jobs are posted.

On most of the sub-sites, each post has its own dedicated page with a list of all the comment?s that have been added to it; this is known as a thread.

Thoughts about MetaFilter

What is MetaFilter?

From the [OED]: "In Greek, the Meta prefix is joined chiefly to verbs and verbal derivatives; the principal notions which it expresses are: sharing, action in common; pursuit or quest; and, especially, change (of place, order, condition, or nature)".

And, from [Merriam Webster]: A filter is a "porous material through which a liquid or gas is passed in order to separate the fluid from suspended particulate matter".

So MetaFilter can be thought of as a shared pursuit or quest to separate the particulate matter of the web from the ubiquitous fluid it's suspended in. Put simply, it's a collaborative effort to point out (and discuss) the interesting stuff on the web.

MetaFilter's Engine

MetaFilter runs on a ColdFusion engine written by MattHaughey. The source isn't available although he is thinking of GPLing it in July 2003. If you'd like to run your own MetaFilter-esque website, there are [plenty of open source engines] that fulfil many of the features (plus more, in some cases) that MetaFilter offers.

Additional MetaFilter Information

There used to be a mailing list called MetaFilter Projects [see the archives] that members (and anyone else) used to advertise their projects, websites and other such things. It has now been replaced by the Projects section of the MetaFilter site proper.

You can find details regarding MetaFilter's RSS feeds at RSSFeeds.

You can [find MetaFilter statistics here]. Also see MoreResources and RelatedWebsites.