idova has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

I am way over my head, my first time at network programing and the boss has set me one hell of a task, problem is i have started to have sucess which only fuels his need for more :(. My problem is this i have to create a chat server but what i need to do is not start it straight from a web browser nor can i telnet to the server, I need to start the server either via the chat client (which will be flash) or by a sepereate start/stop program that i can start from a web page, can anyone point me in the right direction for that.

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Re: socket programing and web browsers
by naChoZ (Curate) on Aug 20, 2003 at 12:06 UTC
    Not sure if this is a possible solution, but you should have a look at the lily project. It's a mud-like chat client/server app. My company uses it heavily, inter-department communication, customer service requesting assistance from a specific department, staff notices, etc. You can turn on a java client accessible from the web. I've given it a try briefly and it does work.

    --
    "I just read perlman:perlboot," said Tom, objectively.
    naChoZ

      thank you for the suggestion problem is that i have to make everything run from the one web server and i can install any new binaries on it (we dont own it, we only get web host from it) so i cant hotlink off to any other server like i would have to for lily or jabber. I have figured out how to make a daemon so my problem may be solved, i will have to stress test a few ideas and add in a feature or two but my tests worked which is good :)
Re: socket programing and web browsers
by zby (Vicar) on Aug 20, 2003 at 10:35 UTC
    I believe you should try the existing solutions first before you start programming your own. One (reportedly very good) chat server is jabber. It is pretty much customizable, and extendable (with perl too). It uses an open XML based protocol so you can write your own clients for it with ease. Usually the chat server is running all the time as a daemon - I don't understand why you want to start it from the client.
      sorry perhaps i should explain the limitations i am forced to work under. First we dont own the web server nor can can we get to the server by any means other than via a web browser or ftp. Second we can only run on there script code, not compiled progrmas nor can we compile any so that restricts the chat server to be coded as perl or php (i had a successful test with perl). Thirdly I am super new to network programing which this is, i can data manipulate with the best of them but this is a new field so a daemon may be the best answer, but i haven't a clue as to what a daemon is nor how to get one written in perl or how to start it up from a web browser, any and all input would be appreciated
Re: socket programing and web browsers
by idova (Novice) on Aug 20, 2003 at 10:56 UTC
    I have now looked up what the term daemon means, and yes that is what i had in mind all the time, so next question how the hell do i make one, and yes i will need to make it, the restriction on what is and is not allowed both on the server and within this company (they will spend 6 months to develop a mailing list program but wont spend 39 bucks on buying one)
      A quick search shows that there is a jabber implementation in perl Net::Jabber::Server.
      Net::Jabber::Server is a module that provides a developer easy access to developing applications that need an embedded Jabber server.
      I can't say how much of the module is some C code that will need to be compiled, but chances are that the admins will just install that module for you.