Private Chat 1

[audiopro]

I have a client who has a facility on his website where people can chat to each other anonymously.
Before the 'Angry Cencorship Brigade' start shouting, let me say this is not an X rated site but a means of discussing a legitimate product without the enquirer revealing any identification. I wrote this many years ago, it uses an refreshing Iframe and still works very well.

My client's site has expanded since it's creation and now needs some extra facilities adding. It is possible to enhance the existing product but as technology has marched on a pace since this was created, I wondered if there was a better medium for such a facility.

I will be writing the product and wonder if Java is a viable option or should I avoid it like the plague.

Keith

http://www.studiosoft.co.uk

 

[BillyRayPreachersSon]

It really depends on how your current solution works, I'd say.

For example, if your existing system uses a hidden iframe to receive just the updates it needs, rather than the whole content every time, then ultimately you're going to be no better off with AJAX.

If, however, you send all the data back all of the time, then you may as well rewrite your code to only send what it needs... and if you're going to do that you might as well switch to using AJAX.

Have a read up on AJAX, and see what you think. If you need help with it, there's always forum1600 to visit, as well as forum216 for general JS-related questions you might have during the rewrite.

Whatever you choose to do, do it for a reason, not because you think you need to... so if your current system works, and you aren't excited by the prospect of rewriting it, then stick with it.

If, however, learning about and then implementing an AJAX solution sounds like something interesting to get your teeth into, then go for it.

Note: I've only discussed one possible alternative here (AJAX)... but as you say, you could use a Java applet... or even Flash if you wanted to. However, AJAX is probably the cleanest, smallest, and quickest option IMHO, should you need an alternative.

Hope this helps,
Dan



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