How do you create your own Java chat applet???

[DOGFARMER]

I want to create a Java Chat Applet on my website that will sit behind a password restriction so friends and I can chat. I looked into a couple sites selling Java chat applet softwares for a $1000 a piece...FORGET THAT. Can you just create your own java chat applet for minimal users...about 20 at the most at the same time?

How do you create this and what the best way to do this on a Windows NT OS???

[VirtuallyVB]

Hmmm, the best way to do this on Windows might be to use the ready made MS Netmeeting. I know this comes with Win98 and is a free download anyway. I use it to control my NT pc at work from home on Win98. It has text, voice, video and other data transfer. That's the kind of solution I can deal with. Free and it actually works.

The meeting host can assign a password I believe. Also, the attendees can choose to accept a new person joining the "meeting". There are directories that you can list into to make your meeting public, or you can keep it private.

A custom Java solution could begin with study of the following:
Java Tutorial
http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/?frontpage-spotlight
Networking
http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/networking/index.html
Client/Server
http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/networking/sockets/clientServer.html
Multiple Clients
http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/networking/sockets/clientServer.html#later

A Java "Applet" has the default security of not allowing sockets to connect to a server other than the server the applet was downloaded from. This might be an advantage to the chat design you are considering (letting a central server control the flow of chatting).

You can also write a Java "Application" which can connect to any other pc "server" without the security restriction of the Applet. This can be a peer to peer design.

You might want to get your networked meeting up and running with MS NetMeeting, then "collaborate" online to design your custom Java solution.

I actually turned to serious Java study when I attempted to make this type of application with VB and the Winsock control. I got tired of MS' poor documentation. One of the supposedly up to date docs had an obvious compile error in the source code they were presenting (and I was a paying customer). Imagine what would happen with an advanced implementation. Now I won't dabble with MS unless the price is right, FREE!

[lengwai]

hie there,

I had completed a chat program allowing both voice and text, but initially it only works within LAN. This is because it is block when i tried to get out of the proxy or gateway of my ISP. Please advice.

My ex-mate told me that it could be done if its an applet as it gets out through the web-server port. But I have no idea how to achieve that.

I am now trying to work on text to speech and speech to text. Do you guys have any idea , of how to do it???

Thanks ,

leng wai

[ccoder]

There are some examples in JAVA Network Programming from Manning Publications Co. ISBN 1-884777-49-X

From the copyright page: "For electronic browsing of this book, see http://www.manning.com"

[lengwai]

thankx a lot