IRC chat can foster a better sense of community than message forums alone. It encourages simple chatting as opposed to the more formal discussions seen on the forums. Some of us have attempted to create an IRC channel but have met with limited success. We suspect this may be because people who do not use IRC regularly find it cumbersome to figure out how it works and install the appropriate client. An IRC applet would reduce this barrier. Additionally, if we placed this applet on or close to the main page on java-gaming.org it might encourage more participation. Would you like to see such an applet on java-gaming.org?
There have been quite a few posts along these lines, just need someone to actually carry it out 
Kev
Ew… we had a chat thingy here. It was damn ugly and lagged like s-word.
Hmwell, there is a chan… on freenode?
well, we had irc://irc.freenode.net/javagaming which kinda a slumbered, we also have irc://enterthegame.net/javagaming but thats also kinda stale. Apparently most JGO members are not irc people 
- we have a lot more activity in irc://irc.freenode.net/lwjgl it would appear…
A chat applet or similar doesnt have to be slow. Even a link to a webstart enabled chat client that automatically logs into whatever channel would be great.
I vote no, but I’d change it to an abstention if I were assured this applet would never be on the front page!
We all know Java’s shortcomings as a client technology. Freezing every browser window for 10-15 seconds while the VM starts isn’t something I’ll tolerate happening every time I visit the site.
Is there really need for a chat applet? Mozilla handles IRC natively, and Firebird gets IRC support via a tiny extension. Surely similar things exist for IE, Opera and Safari?
Yeah, I think that the reason this thread is getting a lot of negative votes is the thought of any applet. Noone likes them!
However, if you changed the poll to read “How would everyone feel about a link to IRC chat under the javagaming forums link”
Such as:
- Discussion Forums
- Discussion Chat
Then have that link to an info page explaining that you can either:
A) Connect to the IRC Server (info here)
B) Click on this webstart application to be taken directly into chat
I think that would be a cleaner solution. I dont agree we should be forcing people into the chat, but I do agree that it would be nice to make it more accessible.
[quote]well, we had irc://irc.freenode.net/javagaming which kinda a slumbered, we also have irc://enterthegame.net/javagaming but thats also kinda stale. Apparently most JGO members are not irc people - we have a lot more activity in irc://irc.freenode.net/lwjgl it would appear…
[/quote]
Hmyea… freenode and ETG. Well, I’m usually on qnet and ircnet and that’s enough. I just don’t have enough room for two additional tabs (server+chan) :>
Hmm… interesting, i think i’ll be adding this one to my trillian. i never knew about it till now.
i reckon a webstart app is pretty pointless, many of us, if not nearly all of us already have IRC.
Trillian can connect to IRC, and use it’s /msg feature like an instant message same as MSN or ICQ.
an applet would be nice, as a link from the main page.
plus most of us dont have java installed yet so
webstart is well out!. what is webstart anyways ;D
some sort of .net thing i guess runs for cover