Flash Platform Community Chat XMPP / Jabber Server
If you have been in the Flash community for a while, then you may remember a chat app that I worked on for Macromedia Central, named “Central Dev Chat”. This was a decent chat client, but the thing I liked about it the most, was that it provided an easy way for the community to hang out and chat about the Flash community and development.
Since then, I have tried a couple of solutions to bring a persistent chat back (including IRC) but haven’t found anything that is easy enough to use and administer. I spent the past week thinking about building a new chat system using AIR and Python, and then remembered that this problem has already been solved with with XMPP / Jabber.
So, I have setup an XMPP / Jabber server on my server and am going to experiment with using it as a community server, especially to host a chat room to talk about the Flash Platform.
Right now you need to access the room via an IM client with XMPP / Jabber support (I use Adium), although if there is interest, then I may build an AIR app to connect to the chat (which would make it super easy for anyone to join).
So, here is the server info:
Server : mikechambers.com
Port : 5222
The server allows registration of new account via your IM client.
Here is the info for the chat room:
Room name: flashplatform_chat
Server : conference.mikechambers.com
Note : You may get a warning that the certificate cannot be verified. Just ignore it (I am looking into how to fix it).
If your IM client supports it, then you can just click the link below:
xmpp:flashplatform_chat@conference.mikechambers.com?join
You can find a list of IM client which support XMPP / Jabber here.
This is an experiment, so especially at first, the server may go up and down, and accounts may get reset. However, if it proves useful, then I would like to keep it as a resource for the community (including adding additional chat rooms).
I am also hoping to weekly scheduled chats with members of AIR, Flash Player and Flex teams.
Connecting
Below is information on how to connect to the chat with different IM clients.
Adium
If you have an existing Jabber / XMPP account, such as a GTalk account, then you can connect without having to register with my server.
File > Join Group Chat
Select the GTalk server.
Enter these settings:
Chat Room Name: flashplatform_chat
Server : conference.mikechambers.com
Handle : You name / handle
Password : leave blank
Click Join
If you want to create an account on my server then:
File > Add Account > Jabber > Register New Account
When the dialog opens asking for the server, enter mikechambers.com
This will enter a dialog where you can add your account info.
Once you have the account, then you need to connect to the room:
File > Join Group Chat
Select mikechambers.com server.
Enter these settings:
Chat Room Name: flashplatform_chat
Server : conference.mikechambers.com
Handle : YOUR_SERVER_USERNAME
Password : YOUR_SERVER_PASSWORD
iChat
Cliff Rowley has posted instructions for iChat in this comment.
Rules
Keep things civil and act as if you were actually talking to everyone else in person. If anyone is being disruptive or abusive, then I reserve the right to temporarily or permanently ban then from the server.
If you have info on how to connect to the chat with a particular IM client, please post it in the comments to help others figure it out. If you run into any issues, or have problems, please post in the comments, and I will try and help out.
Connecting via iChat:
First off iChat doesn’t appear to be able to create Jabber accounts itself, though it can use them (?). So you need to download another Jabber client first. Not sure who thought that one out. I grabbed Psi to do it, but any Jabber client should do.
The first time you use Psi it’ll pop up a wizard to create your Jabber account:
1. Give the account a name, or leave it as ‘Default’ if you wish and check the ‘Register new account’ checkbox. Then click Add.
2. Enter ‘mikechambers.com’ as the server name. Leave the other options as default.
3. After a brief delay you should get a popup stating that the ‘certificate failed the authenticity test’. Just click Continue.
4. Fill in your details and click Next.
5. After another brief delay you’ll get a popup stating that you ‘have been successfully registered’. Hit OK, then hit Save.
Then switch to iChat.
1. Click iChat -> Preferences and click Accounts in the tool bar.
2. Click the + button at the bottom of the dialog.
3. Change the Account Type to Jabber Account and fill in your username and password you created in Psi. Your username will take the format @mikechambers.com. Then click Done.
4. After a brief delay you’ll get a popup saying that iChat ‘can’t verify the identity of “MikeChambers.com”. Just click Continue.
5. If everything went OK, iChat will then sign you in.
6. Join the group chat by clicking File > Go to Chat Room, selecting your MikeChambers.com account in the list, and typing in the room name ‘flashplatform_chat’. Click Go and you’re golden ;-)
You can close and forget Psi for the time being, but keep it around as you may need to set up your account again as Mike specified in his post.
Cliff Rowley
14 Aug 08 at 8:55 am
Just to add to my last comment. By default iChat group chats are *fugly* and barely useable. Be sure to do this once you’ve joined the chat room:
1. Click View > Messages > Show as Boxes
2. Click View > Messages > Show Names and Pictures
Whew.
Cliff Rowley
14 Aug 08 at 9:03 am
[...] Original Drugwonks | index [...]
Flash Platform Community Chat XMPP / Jabber Server
14 Aug 08 at 9:07 am
I got it working in Trillian, although the free version doesn’t support XMPP / Jabber.
I can create the connection using these instructions:
1) Trillian –> Connections –> Manage My Connections
2) Add a new connection.. –> Jabber
3) JID: Reboog711@mikechambers.com password: [left out for obvious reasons]
4) Click “Create this account on server…”
It appears to connect, this is from the status window:
[13:30] *** Creating connection “reboog711@mikechambers.com/Trillian”
[13:31] *** Auth: Server assigned JID: reboog711@mikechambers.com/Trillian
[13:31] *** Connection established with encryption: EDH-RSA-DES-CBC3-SHA (TLSv1/SSLv3)
[13:31] *** You have successfully connected to Jabber.
[13:31] *** Retrieved buddy list from server.
[13:31] *** mikechambers.com is running Openfire 3.5.2 on Java 1.6.0_07.
[13:31] *** Located user directory at search.mikechambers.com.
And I get a pop-up window from “mikechambers.com” that says Welcome to mikechambers.com xmpp server. More information at : http://bit.ly/flashplatform_chat
Select the connection and “Join Conference Room”
Room: flashplatform_chat
Server: conference.mikechambers.com
Nick: Reboog711
Password: [blank]
If I try to add that mikechambers.com as a user trillian crashes. Not sure why.
Jeffry Houser
14 Aug 08 at 9:42 am
The instructions for pidgin (aka gaim) are almost exactly like Adium. Only difference is “Buddies > Join a Chat…” instead of “File > Join Group Chat”.
David R
14 Aug 08 at 11:49 am
[...] I mentioned earlier, I am starting to build an XMPP chat client for the XMPP / Jabber community server I set up today. I am using the XIFF ActionScript 3 library. While the library seems to be pretty solid, there is [...]
Mike Chambers » Blog Archive » Connecting to an XMPP / Jabber Server with the XIFF AS3 Library
14 Aug 08 at 4:35 pm
I keep getting an error that “The server does not support registration”… and I so badly want to register.
Rob
15 Aug 08 at 7:32 am
@Rob
What client are you using? Have you tried a different one just to register?
I will check and see if there is a way to register via HTML.
mike chambers
mesh@adobe.com
mikechambers
15 Aug 08 at 8:12 am
You can register from the web with http://jwchat.org/
Set the server name to mikechambers.com
Fill in your new username and password.
It will give an error when you connect but your account is created.
Ash
15 Aug 08 at 12:15 pm
Looks like you can connect without creating an account if you already have a google talk account. At least it’s that was with Adium.
Chris Hayen
15 Aug 08 at 4:06 pm
Hi Mike,
If you want to add (rather simple) instructions for Pidgin (formerly known as Gaim) users, here they go:
- Select an XMPP account
- Going to Buddies > Join chat
- Room: flashplatform_chat
- Server : conference.mikechambers.com
- Handle: (whatever name you want)
- Password: empty
Cheers!
Juan
Zarate
18 Aug 08 at 6:09 am
[...] have set up a permanent test group chat room on the Flash Platform community chat server. This can be used if you need to test your chat client, or if you are building an XMPP / Jabber [...]
Mike Chambers » Blog Archive » Community test XMPP / Jabber room
18 Aug 08 at 10:29 am
Hey Mike,
Do you mind if I ask if you use openfire or ejabberd as your xmpp server?
ilteris
18 Aug 08 at 11:17 am
@ilteris
openfire.
mike chambers
mesh@adobe.com
mikechambers
18 Aug 08 at 11:34 am
[...] have been having a lot of fun hanging out in the Flash Platform Chat room I set up last week. However, it can be a little bit of a hassle to connect to the room depending on [...]
Mike Chambers » Blog Archive » Using AppleScript to connect to a Jabber Chat Room with Adium
18 Aug 08 at 11:28 pm
Getting into the chat room . When i click on Plaza up comes chat rooms then it says__ please wait connecting then nothing! I have given my password to a friend and they can get straight away . so it is something i have done on My Mac. Please can you help
Deryk riches
25 Sep 09 at 4:16 am