Because of that i am very happy to announce that my mate from company that we work for, started to write new web-based client - code name SmackZK. Its main goal is to be simple and convenient. You probably wondering why i write this in "Jorge" section, well simply - because SmackZK will be strongly integrated with Project Jorge.
Currently SmackZK is in very active state of development but it is fully usable, and even I drop Psi for day-to-day use of SmackZK:
SmackZK currently support basics: presence, messaging, full resource and priority support, inactivity events and tabbed chats. Interface introduce some convenience features like: filtering roster list - while typing, toggling roster items (online/away, online/offline).
SmackZK have almost no requirements - it only require browser with enabled javascript. It is written in Java and ZK, and is using Smack API, running on Tomcat server. You can try it (to connect to any XMPP server) at www.jabster.pl/web (remember that this is just development application and can lead to unpredictable behavior).
Few words about integration: SmackZK will allow you to jump directly to archived chats by providing link in chat window to chat map, so no matter where you are - you always have instant access to your chat history messages. It also provide day-wise chat history - as this is web-client many people will be traveling between computers during day from computer to computer. Very often users close chat window or switch off client, so they forgot last words from chat - no more - Jorge will remind you during day by showing last lines - no matter where or when you login.
This is just the beginning, we have lot of ideas that we will put into both projects, to make them convenient and simple for all users out there...
As a summary, web-clients are great because of:
- low resource needs/requirements
- are platform/system/place independent
- are simple and fast
- they are only for chats - not for any other activity (yes! thats a pros for me - i don't need any fun stuff in client)
- the lack of history is no more argument - as long as you use Jorge ;)
NOTE: above extraordinary opinion comes from experience with using two great web-clients: gtalk and smackzk. Try them out!
SmackZK have almost no requirements - it only require browser with enabled javascript. It is written in Java and ZK, and is using Smack API, running on Tomcat server. You can try it (to connect to any XMPP server) at www.jabster.pl/web (remember that this is just development application and can lead to unpredictable behavior).
Few words about integration: SmackZK will allow you to jump directly to archived chats by providing link in chat window to chat map, so no matter where you are - you always have instant access to your chat history messages. It also provide day-wise chat history - as this is web-client many people will be traveling between computers during day from computer to computer. Very often users close chat window or switch off client, so they forgot last words from chat - no more - Jorge will remind you during day by showing last lines - no matter where or when you login.
This is just the beginning, we have lot of ideas that we will put into both projects, to make them convenient and simple for all users out there...
As a summary, web-clients are great because of:
- low resource needs/requirements
- are platform/system/place independent
- are simple and fast
- they are only for chats - not for any other activity (yes! thats a pros for me - i don't need any fun stuff in client)
- the lack of history is no more argument - as long as you use Jorge ;)
NOTE: above extraordinary opinion comes from experience with using two great web-clients: gtalk and smackzk. Try them out!
