Follow these best practices to help you avoid some common problems experienced by OpenSocial developers on iGoogle.

Maintain Compatibility for Users

Not all users have access to new features of iGoogle simultaneously. Gadgets should continue to operate for users who do not have access to the canvas view or OpenSocial features. See this blog post for instructions on how to support canvas view and non-canvas view users in the same gadget.

Fit iGoogle's Context

Unlike many of the other sites supporting OpenSocial, iGoogle provides users access only to their own page. It isn't possible for an iGoogle user to visit the page of a friend, or use an OpenSocial application without being the OWNER. Successful iGoogle applications expose all relevant information and interaction possibilities without requiring a user to visit an application installed on another user's page.