The Java Chat Server is a minimalist multithreaded chat server that can be used by the Java Chat Client. It supports the concept of a 'conversation'. It does this by providing a 'waiting list' from which a person on or off the waiting list can invite one or more people on the waiting list to start a conversation. Anyone in a conversation can also invite one or more people on the waiting list into the conversation.
This version of the Java Chat Server supports 'crashing' conversations, which are called 'groups'. Anyone can create a group by clicking the Create Group button. Anyone can join a group by selecting a group and clicking the Join Group button. Of course, you cannot enter a group more than once. Chat groups can be useful for online meetings, discussing a particular web site (by having the name of the group be the web page), or any impromptu subject.
The Java Chat Server also supports a Chat Admin Client with minimal features. The Chat Admin Client can run as an application or an applet and can remotely administer the Java Chat Server. The features supported are:
The Chat Admin Client does not support removing people from the waiting list, terminating specific conversations, removing users, or monitoring conversations. These administration features would also require modifications to the Java Chat Server, and would probably be better served by extending both the Java Chat Server and the Chat Admin Client into new applications that supported these features.
The Java Chat Client, which can run as an application or an applet, implements the functionality that was discussed in the Java Chat Server. Upon logging in to the Java Chat Server with a user name, you can initiate a conversation with one or more people on the waiting list, you can put yourself on the waiting list, you can create a group, or you can join an existing group. While in a conversation, you can see all of the people in it and on the waiting list if it is not a group conversation. Anything sent goes to everyone in the conversation.
The Java Chat Client supports being in more than one conversation and being in a conversation alone. To be in more conversations, go back to the main Chat Client window and initiate a conversation with more people on the waiting list, put yourself on the waiting list again, create another group, or join another group.
The Chat Client and Server now has peer-to-peer file sharing with or without the server. The Chat Server enables you to easily find File Sharing clients, and there is a separate File Sharing client for you to use if you would rather not chat while downloading that can directly connect to peers.
Expert Backgammon For Java uses networking functionality provided by extending the Java Chat Server. It also incorporates an extension of the Java Chat Client that allows game related information to be passed and allows the players in a game to chat. The Java Help Desk Server and clients also use the networking capabilities of the Java Chat Server.
Run the applet version of the Java Chat Client (last updated Feb. 17, 2001) for browsers that support Java 1.1, such as Netscape 4.6 and above and Internet Explorer 5.0 and above. This is only currently possible at night if the Java Chat Server is up.
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This page was last updated Feb. 17, 2001.