2011-01-21

This code was originally derived from the old Python icb client code from http://a.armory.com/~zenomt/icb.py

That code did not originally have a license on it (eek!) when I forked it to start this project. A BSD style license was later added by the author and has since been added and adopted here.

Status:

• skimpy bones, differences from the old icb.py so far are:
  • Requires Python 3.1 or later to run. (how's that for keeping the rabble away?)
  • No longer word wraps long lines coming from other people as that breaks URLs.
  • It word wraps your own longer than 239 char lines into multiple messages. Input is capped at 2x that limit anyways (no spammies).
  • It shortens long URLs in your own lines using goo.gl.
  • It prefixes openmsg and privmsg lines with a timestamp.
  • It periodically sends a ping over the connection to avoid NAT timeouts from dropping it while everyone is at a cocktail party.

TODO list:

• Refactoring and code improvements:
  • Refactor the long if/elif blocks to method dispatch.
  • Add unittests for much of the old code.
• URL shortening:
  • Optionally goo.gl incoming URLs (is that wise?).
  • On goo.gl shortened URLs include a (note.com) mention after them with the original domain name if it is not rediculiously long.
• Implementation and usability improvements:
  • Intelligently word wrap incoming text by detecting URLs and never breaking them for optimal cut and paste action.
  • Investigate using readline. That the ancient code implements its own basic input & line editing is sad.
  • Move the network IO and update of the chat log into its own thread and scrolling region so that a partially typed message doesn't cause a backlog of scroll.

Gregory P. Smith greg@krypto.org