Create script for managing G+ circles

[patcon]

Rationale

Adding people to G+ circles is important because circles are the main way that we can invite large groups of people to participate in a pre-arranged hangout-on-air at a future date. For example, we might start with a "team" circle for anyone who has expressed interest in the gittip project, but gradually move to a "coder" and "designer" and "artist" circle as we reach the need to invite certain segments of the contributor community to participate.

An invite to a pre-scheduled hangout-on-air will show up on a users google calendar, and allow them to RSVP from the gcal event. This will make is as simple as possible to remember the event and set aside time to participate, or perhaps simply listen in.

References

As of right now, G+ circles can be managed via API for personal G+ accounts: https://developers.google.com/+/domains/api/circles

It seems that circles for G+ pages (where Gittip's circles fit), is by request only: https://developers.google.com/+/api/pages-signup

I've sent a sign-up request.

In the meantime, I'll work on creating a script for managing personal circles. We can always share the personal circle and semi-regularly make sure everyone from that list is sync'ed with the corresponding Gittip page circle: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/1684780?hl=en

Sample interaction

patcon>> roobot circle add jane@example.com
roobot>> jane@example.com has been added to the "code" circle
patcon>> roobot circle add john@example.com design music
roobot>> john@example.com has been added to the "design" and "music" circle
patcon>> roobot circle remove jane@example.com code
roobot>> jane@example.com has been removed from the "code" circle

cc: @whit537

[patcon]

Submitted the application for G+ pages API access. Put me as the technical contact and @whit537 as the "business contact", but asked them to contact me first :)

[chadwhitacre]

!m @patcon :-)