Re^2: Real-time chat box

[petecm99]

Thanks for passing that along - I never realized that these 'add-ons' actually integrated into the PM Chat. I guess I thought that they were for separate, private, conversations, so I never really investigated further.

However, why aren't one of these alternatives simply the default behavior for the site? An impossibility, perhaps?

[jdporter]

why aren't one of these alternatives simply the default behavior for the site?

Several reasons:

1. The simple fact is that our web app framework is based on pretty old technology. Integrating a live chat feature into the site would require a huge, disruptive amount of work. Consider - we don't even have any^* javascript active here at all!
2. A live chat system would probably add a significant amount of load to our already overburdened servers.
3. Even with the non-realtime chat system have now, we're treading dangerously close to violating our service provider's terms of service, which state that real-time chat is not allowed.
#2 and #3 could be mitigated by moving to a different hosting service with beefier boxes; but #1 can only be solved by completely re-implementing the site.

Hmm. We could do all 3 at once. Perl6Monks, anyone? ;-)

^* There are one or two tiny places where js is used, but only in functions available only to the site admins.

[petecm99]

Well, that explains that...Thanks for cluing me in. I just read an article where young billionaires are starting to devote their fortunes toward worthy causes during their lifetimes instead of waiting to do so posthumously. Too bad none of them love Perl enough!