OpenWetWare:Software/Projects/Chat

Current State

 * De-supporting old chat application
 * Adding support for Jabber-based chat
 * OpenFire chat server already running
 * SparkFire chat client available
 * SparkFire web chat client available

OWW Discussion re: new chat client

 * Discuss OWW chat here.

Jabber

 * Generally Requires external client
 * Can use a hosted web client
 * Jabber is the Basis of the emerging XMPP standard for point-to-point connected real-time apps

HTML/HTTP Browser++ Chat

 * Easy to use but server suffers with excessive load due to the division of the work load
 * example: former OWW php chat application
 * Javascript now is being used to push much of the load to the client
 * Flash also used to intelligently communicate
 * The best options are not open source
 * If you know of alternatives, let us know!
 * http://cgiirc.org/ for HTTP client (alternative clients include Chatzilla); servers host an IRC daemon program.

3rd Party Hosted Chat

 * Few of them are free!
 * Most hosted clients that are close to free lack integration features with OWW
 * No single-signon available with many: your OWW user name will not always appear in the chat unles you reset it each time you use it.
 * Ad-sponsorship makes use of some of these is problematic.
 * See Sandbox for a demo of embedded Meebo rooms