vbmessenger?

[GoTTi]

wasnt there a vbmessenger on here? any kind of instant messenger for the forum? i know about the one released recently and put int he graveyard, but i thought there was another one. im runnin 3.7

thanks

[TigerC10]

I think this is as close as you're going to get.

You should also look into shoutboxes, some can be detatched from the window in the way that the messenger I linked you to could. They can also be put on their own separate pages to achieve a chatroom feel.



But as far as an application that people could download and install, a true-form chat program... I don't think there is one.

[GoTTi]

there was one made a few weeks ago, but got graveyarded because its a actual .exe application you have to install on computer, then it works with your forums db. they wont allow it here.

i thought there was something called vbmessenger tho a long time ago

[Swampfox]

There was vbpager, it worked very well, but there was a security bug that so far the author hasnt fixed, so its in the graveyard, i wish someone would fix it or program something similar

[TigerC10]

The bug is probably because it stored database connect information in the program's configuration file. By giving away the database connection info you're just BEGGING for someone to fuss with your database and mess up your website. Or it was sending unencrypted passwords through network traffic that could be monitored.

I'm considering writing a program for this, I've got plenty of good ways to send messages from the server to people, but I'm still trying to figure out a good way to send messages to the server.

EDIT:

I've found a way to do it well, I'll try and build this mod.

UDPATE:

I have put together the GUI, I just need to throw in the code behind and make the product XML file and we'll be good to go.

[GoTTi]

cool tiger. what r u making? im courious!

[TigerC10]

Well you wanted an instant messenger program that people could install. That what I'm making. However my instant messenger is written in Java - meaning you can run it in Windows/Mac/Linux without having to make "special" versions. It'll also be open source so you can be sure that it has security in place.

If you choose to have it remember your username and password for future logins, it will store the password with an MD5 encryption. It also transmits this password over networks with MD5 so that no one monitoring can actually get your password.

There is no database connection info in the client, and there is no server utility program to listen for IM connections. Instead the client sends your username and password to PHP scripts on the server, the PHP scripts double check your information to make sure it's correct and then spit out the information you need (such as friend lists, messages, etc). This may cause a strain on the webserver, but without actually making and testing it I don't now how much of a burden it will be. Since it's just pulling down text and not images, I think it should be okay. At launch I'll recommend this mod not be used on forums with hundreds of active members.

The friend list is tied into vBulletin 3.7's friend list. There's also going to be a contact list as well (compliant with the 3.6- stuff, for people you add to your contacts but who you haven't officially become "friends" with). If someone isn't online, you can send Private Messages to them.

The "buddy icons" will be tied into vBulletin's avatar system.

There will *not* be any form of file transfer or picture sharing, at least not at this stage. I've considered adding a plugin system for it, but if I do decide to it won't be in the first version. Maybe if I get enough donations I can build those things in.

[GoTTi]

sounds good. keep in mind, the last messenger that was a install got put int he graveyard because it was a install, and the vb.org regim here didnt want it allowed i guess because the modder didnt release the source to them, so that is good that you will release the source and let it be built, i am waiting for this. i just hope they let you release the mod and keep it on here.

so the IM client is going to run off the "friends" add to the profiles ?

[TigerC10]

I'm putting as much security as I can into it, and I'm releasing the source so that people can see that it's secure. If there's a security flaw somewhere then they can point it out and it can be fixed right away. Hopefully that will warrant leaving it up. The other one that got graveyarded could have easily been a virus and not actually a mod - or worse, it could have been a phishing agent that took a user's information and sent it to the maker of the mod so that he/she could get access to websites they shouldn't have access to.

I'm trying to tie it into the forums as much as I can, but yeah. The buddy list will make use of the friends/contact/blocked lists from the forums. With people on your friends list you can send IMs, people that aren't online in your friends list and people in your contacts list you can send private messages. Of course, if someone has you blocked you won't be able to do anything with them.

But since I'm doing this of my own volition as opposed to doing it as commission, it's not very high on my priority list. I don't even think I'd use it on my own forums (my members have no interest in downloading more IM clients)... I've got a few other things to take care of before I finish it. Don't expect it for a few weeks. On the plus side, I've got the GUI out of the way (which with Java the GUI is the hardest part).

[TNCclubman]

nice, can you make an official post for your messenger so I can bookmark it to keep track of the progress?

Also, please consider having 'webcam' use like msn messenger or userplane.