I spent yesterday mostly sitting around and watching movies, which was a nice change from the norm. I also started work on a new BuddyPress Chat plugin that will allow user-user chatting, similar to Facebook style. When I was down in San Francisco at WordCamp, I told Andy Peatling that I really wanted to contribute something to BuddyPress if I could, so I thought a chat feature might be a cool feature.
I still have a ways to go, but I have the code which takes a user from “Offline” to “Online” chat status working now. Next step will be to display a list of Online friends, and then obviously open up a small chat window to allow chatting with them. As you can see, I’ve also planned out a History section, so you can see your past conversations. I’ve also debated how to do group chats, which I think would be awesome in enterprise environments.
I’m hoping to have it done in a few weeks so that it’ll be ready when BuddyPress launches. I still have a bit of a learning curve to go with regards to the BuddyPress infrastructure, but I’m making progress by reverse engineering code.
In terms of today, I really don’t have many plans. I’ll probably clean up a few things in the web department, then walk down to Chapters and spend some time browsing around. I’m heading to Hamilton/Toronto on Thursday for the long weekend, so I have to start getting stuff together for that trip as well.
Cool!
If you need to pick my brain with how MU works, feel free.
I installed BuddyPress last week and was poking around. Looks very promising. Can’t wait to try out your plugin, it will be a great addition to the features of BuddyPress.
Hi Duane,
Thanks for working on a chat plugin for BuddyPress!!!!!!!
I would really like to have the ability to have group chats when in groups. Will your plug in do this?
I look forward to hearing your response!!!!!!!!!
Tim
I recently installed buddypress and would love to integrate chat. I stumbled across this post and I’m wondering if you finished this chat plugin and if so where I can download it.
Would be nice to know if you are still working on that chat plugin.
Sorry guys, I haven’t had time to finish it off. If any company wants to sponsor its completion, let me know. But I just don’t have the free time to finish it right now. Someday I hope.
This plugin is in great demand. There are some other developers working on similar plugins too.. but non of them is functional till now.
Please let us know how long do you think it may still take?
@Ashish — sorry, still no update on time. I have a few paying projects with clients right now, so until those are done I won’t be able to slot in the BuddyPress plugin for this. If a company wants to sponsor it, I might be able to finish it off soon. But for now it’ll have to be whenever I can find some time.
Hi Duane,
What is your price Quote for the completion of Chat plug-in including the chat rooms feature.
Do email me, so that I can decide on sponsoring.
Hi Duane, I’m OK to pay for this plugin as well. Let me know the status if you’re ok.
Make thins plugin and charge $90 for it. I’m sure you would find a decent amount of people willing to pay for the plugin (I sure would). I have been looking around and still nobody seems to have written such a plugin for BuddyPress.