small private IRC for this forum

[wraithfireorca]

how bout a small embedded irc client?

[Anailaigh]

Mmm could possibly be done.. then again theres a lot here already im not sure if we have coding room lol... Thatd be up to our codemaster

[wraithfireorca]

well i have someone who you can talk to. i admit i didnt pull this out of my butt, theres another forum that i go to that has just that. talk to micksam7 at the www.cetafurs.com website

[Slate]

I recall asking the Boss Hoss a similar thing. Unfortunately, I can't find the thread... However, he was saying something about implementing something better than IRC.

Anyway, asking him about it would be the thing to do ^,=,^

[Rick Canaan]

Oh *nicker-rrrf* that.

We tried to get FlashChat setup on Scififur.net last week, but some compatibility issues cropped up that we as of yet, have been able to get worked out. We are still exploring other options, though, so stay tuned about it.

On this note, too, I would rather not go with a private IRC channel. We tried it once before and had nothing but problems with it; it was either a stability issue with the IRC server communicating with our forum software, or it was our forum software just up and vomiting the interface right into a spectacular crash of the whole forums.

This forum that you pointed out, Orca, is using PhpBB for its forum interface. It is relatively easy to setup a simple IRC chat on that software. We, however, are using vBulletin with vBa CMPS and other feature-laden software addons. Sometimes getting third party addons to work with it - like IRC chat-bridges - can come nested with a whole lot of problems.

We are working on it, though, guys, never fear. It may take us a while to get something setup, but it will happen. And when we do, we wish to be certain that it is something everyone will enjoy, easy for everybody to use, and that it will be stable.

On this note, too, we haven't forgotten about getting a Podcast going. Daryn has been exploring Podcast options over the last few days.

We're still a very new forum, and we're exploring all kinds of new features and options. So stay tuned. What everybody wants will eventually make it onto the forums, and very likely, then some.

And no doubt a lot of them somes, too.

[wraithfireorca]

PODCAST? heh, you need help with that, pm me. always wanted to be a radio jockey and podcast is the next best thing

[Anailaigh]

*facepaws* im gonna login one morning... an everythings gonna be changed around lol

[OdinAshcroft]

*facepaws* im gonna login one morning... an everythings gonna be changed around lol

Ah, welcome to my world...that seems to happen on a daily basis, when I sign on...Now where'd I put that remote

[Daryn]

Well if you can suggest a few flash or java based clients that I can have a look at it'd be appreciated. I'll have a look and see if I can make something out of it.

[Iscin]

On it [extending post by x charters]

I see you've bumped an old thread, but if you can find something to help give us a chat go ahead!

Personally I am familiar with IRC but finding a good embedded app for IRC can be difficult.

[Iscin]

well

here's the one i grew up with (went to a site with it on and found the name)
its got a nice UI - Mutliple channels query's what have you; i like it

http://www.pjirc.com/

http://www.pjirc.com/demo.php

it can be embedded in a page, if you want me stop 'bumping' please PM me, or just dont respond, i dont want to be annoying,

Well we'll see what our techwizzard (Daryn) says first

[Daryn]

I was searching and found this:

http://www.mibbit.com

That one looks quite good actually.

[Daryn]

Thanks for the input. I know that we'll figure it out. We've got lots of options to look into.

[Rick Canaan]

Back a couple of months ago, we told everyone we were going to go for this interface called "FlashChat". FlashChat is this really neat little program that allows for direct bridge-over from the forums (meaning you don't have to log into it from the forums - it is done automatically), and it is a very colorful and feature-packed interface.

However...

When we tried to install the program, it just simply refused to work. I think Daryn described it to me as "it just sat there and looked at me with a blue screen and did nothing".

Well, since then, other things arose (like our Podcast project) that made us put our chat idea on the back burner. And admittedly, we had completely forgotten about it. Perhaps with this renewed interest, though, we will give our options another look and see about getting something installed.

I would rather we didn't go with an IRC link-up, however. My reason being is we have tried it before and there were more than a few problems with them. Members were having a hard time getting logged on, having trouble keeping track of what information to input (because you actually do have to know a good little package of basics to get logged on), and there were other problems - not the least of which, vBulletin doesn't seem to be all that compatible with the available IRC bridge suites that operate from forums; they are glitchy, even when you are able to get them to work.

There are several chat interfaces to choose from, though. Ajax chat is one. It isn't exactly a lovely interface, but it does seem to work on just about any platform on which you want to install it.

Either way, we will have another look at this and see what can be done.

Also, HavokDelta6, if you can link Daryn up with some of your favorite programs (because we admit, we aren't hugely familiar with what is available out there), we can look into trying them. Because admittedly, we haven't tried very many - stopping experimenting on them after the first couple didn't work. It seemed like it would be wasted effort to try more, if the first couple we tried weren't successful. Maybe with your help, though, we'll be able to get something going on again, and maybe it will be something pretty nice for everyone, too.

Thanks, HavokDelta6.

[macrorufus]

I don't use IRC enough to be able to really comment, but it 'sounds' good.

[Lore]

Just reading this thread, and thought I would chuck my two cent's worth in.

I run a couple of IRC channels on the FurNet IRC servers. Rather than getting your own server, you could always just create a channel (example: #SciFiFurs) on that network. It's a possibility.

Rather than embedding an IRC client into the forums, you could always download IRc software such as mIRC, XChat, IceChat, etc. mIRC is classed as the "Original IRC client" and it has the widest range of command functions (that I've come across) out of all of them, but is not very eye-friendly (walls of text can be annoying). IceChat uses 99% of the mIRC protocols, but allows for emoticons and such to be displayed, rather than it being just all text of different colours.

I can assist in setting up something like that if you are interested, along with a "How-To" guide on connecting to the server using mIRC. I've got all that information on my forums if you wanted to have a look.

If I can be of any assistance, just PM me.

~L

[Rick Canaan]

Actually, after lengthy discussion between the rest of staff and myself, we have decided that having a chat on the forums at this point is not something we think would work. Our member base at this juncture is too small to support a chat, and having one would be more likely to draw attention away from the forums, diminishing visible participation, and thereby diminishing interest for the purpose of drawing in prospective new members.

We appreciate everyone's input in the idea, though, and we are likely to visit the idea again. When we do, we may get in touch with those of you who forwarded ideas and ask if you would like to be involved in helping us with a project.

Thanks, everyone, who showed interest.

[Lore]

Actually, after lengthy discussion between the rest of staff and myself, we have decided that having a chat on the forums at this point is not something we think would work. Our member base at this juncture is too small to support a chat, and having one would be more likely to draw attention away from the forums, diminishing visible participation, and thereby diminishing interest for the purpose of drawing in prospective new members.

We appreciate everyone's input in the idea, though, and we are likely to visit the idea again. When we do, we may get in touch with those of you who forwarded ideas and ask if you would like to be involved in helping us with a project.

Thanks, everyone, who showed interest.

Fair enough Rick. ^_^