Description
XHTML live Chat based on the XMLHttpRequest Object (ajax)
Please consider this a proof of concept rather then a tested real world solution. I am happy for anybody use and develop this further.
For feedback and suggestions please use the No Kahuna Project.
The sources are available on GitHub or you can download a zip archive.
Known issues
Works in latest IE(win), Firefox and Safari.
Older/other Browsers might not like it at all and I have not build in any means to catch those (or have this chat degrade gracefully).
As a chat it would be more intuitive if the layout was following the usual chat scheme: input at the bottom, history moving upwards.
The frequent update cycles should be intelligent (i.e. slow down if nothing has changed or switch into a pause mode)
Where do we go from here?
Apart from this being a chat I can think of some more (even more useful?) applications:
- An advanced comment function for blogs offering immediate communication between users.
- An advanced shoutbox.
- A live single/multi-user publishing system.
- A XHTML Broadcasting tool for live coverage of events.
All of these could degrade gracefully if javascript is not available!
Credits
I have used the following resources:
- Guide to Using XMLHttpRequest (with Baby Steps)
Providing all you need to know about XMLHttpRequest. - Unobtrusive Javascript
Got me started on the whole javascript thing.
Creative Commons License
This web site (including XHTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, all images), unless otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
valid XHTML
chat output
- plasticshore chat:welcome