IM/Website Project Communication

[filburt1]

This is the thread for developers of the MSN-style replacement site/client to communicate with each other. See http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.p...threadid=91487 for more information on the project.

The yet-to-be-named MSN-style Replacement site and client is exactly that: it is designed to be a website similar to the MSN portal (sans Hotmail and other services) and a client, such as MSN Messenger. The client will be written entirely in Visual Basic, except, of course, for referenced DLLs, OCXs, etc. The website will likely be written in Dreamweaver, FrontPage, or another WYSIWYG editor. The majority of the graphics for both the client and the site will be composed in Adobe Photoshop or Jasc Paint Shop Pro.

Interoperatability between AIM and MSN Messenger could be implemented later; however, due to the controversy surrounding MSN being able to use AIM protocols at one point, this is unlikely.

The project is always looking for more developers, web designers, graphic artists, or anyone else with a useful skill to the project. If you would like to participate, please post with what skills you could contribute to the project.

[j2k]

Oh and what filby forgot to mention - I'm project leader

Check out the competition in the thread outlined above by filburt1.

[filburt1]

I'm...uh...subleader.

Here are my proposed requirements:

1. The site must be Section 508 Level One requirement for accessibility
2. The code in the client should address my pet peeves: http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.p...ght=pet+peeves
3. If we want to even have a vague hope of competing with MSN, AIM, and stuff like that, we have to be realistic. Trying to do news each day would be a b****. And we might be forced to drop features later on.
4. Compatibility with the AIM and MSN protocols for the client would be a nice plus.
5. To avoid legal issues as well has having people actually use the client, it should probably be *gasp* free.

[j2k]

Originally posted by filburt1
Here are my proposed requirements:

1. The site must be Section 508 Level One requirement for accessibility
2. The code in the client should address my pet peeves: http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.p...ght=pet+peeves
3. If we want to even have a vague hope of competing with MSN, AIM, and stuff like that, we have to be realistic. Trying to do news each day would be a b****. And we might be forced to drop features later on.
4. Compatibility with the AIM and MSN protocols for the client would be a nice plus.
5. To avoid legal issues as well has having people actually use the client, it should probably be *gasp* free.

What is Section 508 Level One requirement??!

Haha your pet peeves! I defy all of them! But for the sake of the project I'll abide by them

News service... How about a bot to provide the news, such as Moreover?

Yeah, co-protocol-isation would be useful, but are there any implications of using parts of their service via a different one?

Free-ness.... Well, as outlined in my original post, I'd like it to be free... But if it does prove popular, we could use PayPal's membership style service, so it automatically takes payment once a month etc, then split the money...

Just a thought

[filburt1]

1. Section 508 defines how a site should be written to allow for accessibility for the handicapped, such as ALT text for images, not relying on color, etc. Level one is good enough. I suppose we could be W3C HTML 4.0 certified too, but to hell with that.
2. A bot would be good for the news service.
3. Use of AIM and MSN protocols for compatibility would probably bring up lawsuits. That's bad. For now, we could design our own simple protocol. Then, when the need arises and we get legal permission, we could translate AIM/MSN requests into our own protocol internally.
4. Money is always good. We could work it out later if it becomes relatively popular.

Remember not to get your hopes up! We're dealing with massive evil empires as competitors.

[j2k]

haha this project was only supposed to be a bit of fun for during the holidays anyway But now it seems to be getting a bit more serious so we will work on it till the bitter end


I think we'd better play safe and not mess with other protocols though..

And I see you're the self appointed subleader eh?

[filburt1]

Originally posted by j2k
I think we'd better play safe and not mess with other protocols though..

And I see you're the self appointed subleader eh?

1. Agreed.
2. Agreed.

[j2k]

haha!

BTW: Addressing one of your "pet peeves"... Unless there's another way I'm unfamiliar with we'll have to break rule:

2. Using OLE. It just slows down your app and makes it chunky.

We need OLE to generate emoticons (smileys) in IM.

Also, make sure if you modify the .vbp file, you remove the lines which are incompatible with VB5 (it's all I have)... I think there are two lines to remove: The "Retained" line and "MaxNumberOfThreads".

[filburt1]

Since I'd be making or at least tweaking the GUIs, all I'd have to do is deal with the .frm files.

About the OLE: I assume we'd be using the RichTextBox? Does it support pasting images? I think it does, because WordPad can do it...

[j2k]

Originally posted by filburt1
Since I'd be making or at least tweaking the GUIs, all I'd have to do is deal with the .frm files.

Great. That would be fine

About the OLE: I assume we'd be using the RichTextBox?[/B]

Yes we would.

[stickman373]

You both are really trying to beat the Times of war post aren't you

BTW, Hi filburt i would be helping with the group also

Sounds like this might get off the ground hopefully

[j2k]

LOL. There are at least two others who are serious about it stickman373 and Vilim.

[filburt1]

We can take a full attendance count on Monday. This place isn't as busy on the weekends, but there is literally a hundred people during weekdays.

[filburt1]

BTW, here's a sample of my Photoshop work (a project at school). Also, check out the splash on my home page (http://www.liquid2k.com/filburt1).

[filburt1]

I'm spreading the word: http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.p...threadid=99082

[JungleMan]

What does it do that I can't do on MSN/AIM?

I'm good with GUI and Graphic design, so I think I can lend a hand.

[j2k]

I only wish I could do something as professional looking as that, filburt1! May I ask, how long did it take you to create them?

I've been contracted by my old school to design a networking app which is an IM, file transfer, community whiteboard, meeting scheduler etc to put on all the school PCs so the kids can share things, and teachers can arrange meetings etc. I could just imagine a splash similar to that one! It would look very professional. I wonder if I can achieve similar effects myself, using PSP.

[filburt1]

Originally posted by j2k
how long did it take you to create them?

My home page splash took about half an hour; the RHHSHN one took about a day. Once you get the hang of PS, it is really easy to use. The interface is just daunting to new users.

[j2k]

Downloading PS now ........

PSP is hopeless for stuff like this (don't flame me please!!) IMHO.

[j2k]

Hehe.. What's the point of rating threads BTW?

[filburt1]

Nothing, really. Just another feature that John can use to preach his vBulletin.

[bataeu]

I would love to be a part of this project. I know VB and Director 8. Director would be good if you did want to make this program compatable with mac os. I can use photoshop but I am not the best artist but i get by. My vb is by far my best qualification.

[j2k]

Excellent! Nice one! Welcome to the team

filburt1 - like my signature? Bring back memories?

[j2k]

Right.. I think it would be best if all the current participents in the project meet up for a chat sometime... I have ICQ, MSN Messenger and Yahoo Messenger.

I'm free all week

Oh and try to make it a time when I'll be awake -=- I'm in England, time zone is BST (GMT+1) - I posted this message at 12:50pm - work it out from there



At last we can get the ball rolling!

[filburt1]

A meeting would be cool. But I have school from now to forever. We could all use AIM Express.

Sorry, dude, I have sigs turned off.

[filburt1]

Grr...we need a name. I can't create a folder on my hard drive for the VBP project until we have one.

[j2k]

lol. That's why I wanted to call a meeting.... You sure you can't get hold of Y!/MSN/ICQ?

BTW: I'm sure you can see my sig.


__________________
j2k
O h - F i s h s t i c k s

[filburt1]

Originally posted by j2k
lol. That's why I wanted to call a meeting.... You sure you can't get hold of Y!/MSN/ICQ?

I guess I could get MSN, but I don't like installing stuff from the evil empires on my pooter.

Originally posted by j2k
BTW: I'm sure you can see my sig.


------------------
j2k
O h - F i s h s t i c k s !

Grr.

[j2k]

Originally posted by filburt1


I guess I could get MSN, but I don't like installing stuff from the evil empires on my pooter.

Haha If you let the evil demons (yes I know.. all you UK Big Brother 2001 fans will say I'm like Brian) on your computer, PM me for my Hotmail email addy

Grr.

Ha!

[filburt1]

I just got MSN. You can probably guess my username. But I'm not going to keep it running all the time.

Maybe a meeting on next Saturday?

[j2k]

Sure.

[j2k]

/me is just installing MSN again from Windows Update

[j2k]

If your signin name is what I think it is then I've just added you to my contact list

[filburt1]

Is yours the same, too?

[j2k]

Nope

If you log onto MSN it will tell you I've added you and you have the option to add me (you prolly know that anyhoo)

[j2k]

So, what features should it have?

[filburt1]

1. Very intuitive interface with no clutter
2. Easy to use buddy list indicating a user's state (online, away, BRB, etc.)
3. Customizable sounds
4. Emoticons (it would be cool to rip the vBulletin ones but John would sue us )
5. Uh, more stuff that I think of

[filburt1]

6. Multiple sessions (talking to several people at once)

[j2k]

Great! But remember - it's more than just a glorified messenger service

[filburt1]

Well, I was just thinking of the client end. BTW, what type of net connection do you have, dude?