My Board

Nem sent me a pm with a list of ideas for a messenger which Rift could be the lead coder on but it would be a crew effort. Here's the basics:

[quote]*i was thinking that sean could make it interact with hotmail, aol and yahoo messengers so that those contacts can be added to the list.
*at the bottom, instead of the annoying banner ads from msn it could have that weeks banner winner displayed there - or could be set to display a random banner, if they wanted. it could, like jakes program - download that weeks banner winner and be displayed giving another incentive to enter the banner comp...the banner could also be a direct link to the forum when they click on it......its more advertising for killanet and the winners each week.
*there could be a section where it could display who is in the chat room and who is active
*there could be a section telling you if you have any new killanet mail..
*you could of course pm people on the list
*more variation in smilies which would be a good advert for the smily generator people you have the hosting account with - could link back to them
*could let you know if there are any votes/polls going on that week, perhaps letting you remotley register your vote
*could tell you when a topic you post is replied to
*tell you the most active topics for that day
*for the gamers it could display a weekly list/daily list of who's top champ of what game.
*calendar feature[/quote]

I'm not sure how this would integrate with other programmes we already have on the go, because it doesn't make much sense to duplicate services. The email function would only work for staff, as only staff have killanet email addresses at this time, unless we want to get into the whole field of an email service, but in my opinion gmail offers far more than I would even want to try to compete with. Although I have to admit, I have a gmail account and remember to check about once every 2 or 3 months; kind of the same for Hotmail unless I happen to be sitting here when an email comes in for that account.

Anyway, it's here for discussion--you all are the programmers, not me. /smile.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':)\' />

[b]at the bottom, instead of the annoying banner ads from msn it could have that weeks banner winner displayed there - or could be set to display a random banner, if they wanted. it could, like jakes program - download that weeks banner winner and be displayed giving another incentive to enter the banner comp...the banner could also be a direct link to the forum when they click on it......its more advertising for killanet and the winners each week.[/b]
hmmm...not sure what to comment on this yet..

[b]*there could be a section where it could display who is in the chat room and who is active[/b]
This would be pretty cool. I can think of a couple ways we could acheive this..shouldn't be that hard really.

[b]*there could be a section telling you if you have any new killanet mail..[/b]
Heck! Tami says that it would be for staff only, but we could still integrate it by setting the client up to check if the e-mail address is a staff member so it would be enabled.

[b]*more variation in smilies which would be a good advert for the smily generator people you have the hosting account with - could link back to them[/b]
Good idea...I had an idea that would take the images from the smilies generator and let you have an offline interface of generating your smilies. This could be put into the client pretty easily I'm sure.

[b]*could let you know if there are any votes/polls going on that week, perhaps letting you remotley register your vote[/b]
Could we explain a little bit more on this? I'm not following..lol

[b]*could tell you when a topic you post is replied to[/b]
This is a great idea..I hate how IPB uses your e-mail to do this because I barely check my email.

[b]*tell you the most active topics for that day[/b]
Easy enough...thanks to the techniques sean has taught me.

[b]*for the gamers it could display a weekly list/daily list of who's top champ of what game[/b]
Also a good idea...

I probably wouldn't use the calendar feature though /blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' />


k,,, now to put in a couple of my ideas.

Maybe we could add tabs like msn messenger has. I do enjoy those tabs, but not when it has useless crap in them like shopping and travel.

Also, we could add a "Live Support" feature which will enable the user to send an IM to a staff member who has a status of "Online" so they can get instant help on the fly.

All very good idea's. I love how jennifer comes up with such good ones /blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' /> lol

Sounds great! .... I have ideas of how to achieve some of the things mentioned above and I'll post them when Survivor isn't about to start /blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' /> .... I like the idea of a joint initiative, although I'm not sure how much time I have to contribute right now. Regardless, I'll be happy to help when I can.... As well I'll be happy to provide working examples of code (eg. wallchanger functions etc.) if Rift feels they'll be of assistance. Anyway Survivor's starting... I post more thoughts on this later /biggrin.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':D\' />

The main part of the joint initiative is to make sure that all of the pertinent services work together; for instance, Alex's navigator would need to be able to connect to the messenger protocol, similar to the way IE does with Messenger. The messenger client would need to be able to connecto to the protocol for killablogger, etc. In this aspect you will all need to work together so that integration is as seamless as possible.

The messenger will be Rift's project, but I certainly encourage working together as needed and sharing ideas and testing etc.. The more we do together, the more we can do /smile.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':)\' />

*sings*
The Mooooooore we work together together together...
the Moooooooore we work together the happier we'll be...
'cause your ideas are my ideas and my ideas are your ideas
the mooooooooore we work together the happier we'll be!

/biggrin.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':D\' /> /biggrin.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':D\' /> /biggrin.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':D\' />

okay that's it no more holidays for you young man /stare.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\'(stare)\' />

*thinks josh forgot to take his meds while in NYC*

us3rX /ph34r.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':ph34r:\' />

[quote]The main part of the joint initiative is to make sure that all of the pertinent services work together; for instance, Alex's navigator would need to be able to connect to the messenger protocol, similar to the way IE does with Messenger. The messenger client would need to be able to connecto to the protocol for killablogger, etc. In this aspect you will all need to work together so that integration is as seamless as possible.[/quote]
(*[i]sucky voice[/i]) but that doesn't have anything to do with meeeeee .... *sniff, sniff

jk....
I know that Rift can easily handle all of the above ideas, but I'll just put some of my thoughts just for the sake of discussion.

I guess the main thing that jumps out at me is that for the following suggestions:

[b]
- there could be a section where it could display who is in the chat room and who is active
- could let you know if there are any votes/polls going on that week, perhaps letting you remotley register your vote
- could tell you when a topic you post is replied to
- tell you the most active topics for that day
- for the gamers it could display a weekly list/daily list of who's top champ of what game[/b]

For these ideas, it would make sense in my mind to have a bot/bots running off of the killanet servers that frequently scans the forums, chatrooms etc. and then takes the relative information and puts it at a specified location in a tiny text file. Then all the users' clients get their information from the text file rather than each client performing the above tasks. This would minimize transfer strains on the server.
I'm sure Rift has something like this or better in mind, just thought I'd throw it out.

One more comment .... If there's anyone thinking that this program would be better if it was independent of MSN, yahoo ... etc. (ie. it was an exclusive KN program) I'd have to disagree. The reason being is that such a program would likely have to be P2P, which has drawbacks (eg. security, IP changing) - although if this were to be done, I think Rift would be the best man for the job. If it wasn't P2P, it would require server resources that quickly could become excessive.
Besides, MSN, Yahoo, have virtually unlimited resources and are tried, tested and true - no point in re-inventing the wheel.

Anyway, that's my thoughts on the matter.... once again, great idea! /good.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\'(Y)\' />

I've worked with the MSN's messenger protocol and it can be so annoying because if you send one wrong command they disconnect you instantly >.< I don't know if it's the same with yahoo's protocol or not but the msn protocol is a real rude protocol to ya /blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' />

[/jabbering]

i dont too much like the idea of binding it with msn as msnplus is, or some of the other things ive made in the past are. It is a hassle, yes, like josh said, and also whever this addon is, it then means that msn is there also, i like the idea of starting it as what will be small im sure, but continually working on it to have the features of msn, but better, and of course more then the features they have on their's. I am happy to incorporate p2p on it also, but i dont know if that's the sort of thing id want to do as of yet because when the time comes i plan on writing a server module that the messenger program can route through that way it'd work like this..

IP.x.x.x ---- sends fbytes to server --> server ----- passess bytes to receiver ---> but id be running that off my own server in the future.. one reason id like to do it like that is because.. it can lessen the chance obviously of knowing one another's ip address since it wont bridge a direct connection, also the server can offer the security of virus scanning and checking for illegal transfer's later on in the future if such things would arrise. That doesnt sound to private but it's only an idea.. if i did do that id probably leave it as a default setting for file transfering, voice etc... i guess that's not the technical definition of "p2p" but it would do the job. I'd also probably have another option to make a direct (masked) connection to another user to transfer.. and give the program a set auth protocol and encryption algo for the IP address' so that they can mask one another.. that wont stop people from using netstat.. but if someone is directly debugging the prog for whatever reason it will help hide certain details and will be there for any future reasons.. ill try and go into some detail more a bit later but im eating atm:P well about to be eating anyways:P

Sounds like you've really thought this through.... I agree that the idea of sender-->server-->receiver is definately the best method. This would allow username and pw's for authentication and the server can keep track of the IP changes and increase security drastically from a direct p2p connection. I guess my initial worry about such an idea is that eventually server traffic would become excessive. I must admit however, server traffic is something I know very little about and if you believe this is not a concern then I have full confidence that it is not.

You brought up something that interests me.... you mentioned using an algorithm for encryption in a masked IP p2p connection. This is something that I will inevitably have to incorporate into one of the programs I'm currently working on.... so just a heads up, I may be knocking at your door in the near future /biggrin.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':D\' />

Anyway, it sounds like you've got your head on straight on this one.... can't wait to see it come to life! /smile.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':)\' />

nice idea for a messenger rift, however its not worth trying to connect to AOL, Yahoo!, MSN and ICQ as they all change their protocols all the time to put developers off the scent, anyway, why reinvent trillian?

if you want a messenger i would suggest these...

1) ICQ is by far the most popular messenger program (yep it aint msn, lol), part of that is because of ICQ5's visual beauty, if you want a messenger you need it to blend visually like ICQ and it should be skinnable.

think about Winamp, the reason for its popularity is because its so flexible, if you made this kind of thing for a messenger you would knock the others off the market.

2) you could intergrate services KN offers into tab like system just like MSN does, this would allow you to intergrate games from the arcade etc?

3) remember KNN (KillaNet Navigator) needs to be able to connect to this protocol if you are going to do a messenger, i would need to skin it to my theme and on top of this need to intergrate it with the services, lol

4) its gunna need a lot of tools as the reason why people preferred Yahoo over MSNIM is cause yahoo gave you everything MSN does before MSN provided it.

lol I think ICQ is really ugly /blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' /> MSN has a more "easy on the eyes" look. Plus MSN doesn't lag me as much as ICQ does.

I already said something about tabs btw /blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' />

Sure KNN would need to connect to the protocol, but why skin the messenger and KNN exactly the same? Seems kinda dull in my opinion lol..

[quote name=\'Alexander\' date=\'Mar 30 2005, 08:07 AM\']nice idea for a messenger rift, however its not worth trying to connect to AOL, Yahoo!, MSN and ICQ as they all change their protocols all the time to put developers off the scent, anyway, why reinvent trillian?[/quote]

as far as i know it isnt going to be connecting to any of those services however i was going to include the options to retreive mail from those different servers which wont require using their messenger server protocols and such. Also about integrating it with your navigator, that's what adaera was talking about it being a group thing, is that it's going to have to have a protocol and work together with the other services on here. Dont worry though it'll all work out:P i plan on making a dll that will hook into the messenger later on so that you can hook into the messenger it's self to retrieve the contacts etc or whatever it is in particular that's going to be integrated into KNN later on when this is developed

sounds good Rift....it'll be really cool when it's ready for launch /smile.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':)\' />