ConferenceRoom experiences

Overview

ConferenceRoom is designed for and most appropriate for business communications. Though ConferenceRoom supports RFC 1459 clients, it is not intended for conventional IRC networks. Nevertheless, we feel that our evalutation of the software will be helpful to anyone interested in IRC-based servers.

Pros

• Integration The CR software includes the chat server itself, "services" software to manage nicknames and channels, an LDAP server for exporting data, and a web server for serving Java applets and custom pages. The modules work well with one another and have a coherent design: the web server can interact with services (by registering nicknames) as well as the chat server (by displaying room topics and user counts).
• Ease of setup CR's configuration is generally easy. The server configuration can be conveniently changed from the chat environment (using the ADMINSERV command) and most changes take effect immediately. A few rarely-used commands (such as OPERSERV OPERCFG and OPERSERV TRIGGER) have inconsistent, confusing syntax.
• Code quality CR is extremely stable. Most bugs are minor.
• Support WebMaster responds very quickly to support e-mails.
• Java Several users have said that the ConferenceRoom Java applet is among the best that they have used. It is also extremely customizable and supports HTTP tunneling, a plus for users behind firewalls.

Cons

• Dependence CR is a closed-source product; therefore, we are subject to decisions of WebMaster. Generally, architectural decisions (such as wrapping the Java client protocol) are well thought out. Sometimes we must wait on WebMaster to release bugfixes which inconveniences users, but this is true of any software company.
• Databases CR has no API for accessing and manipulating services databases, though one is in development. We have developed a set of clever hacks that use the built-in web server to allow remote applications (in this case, PHP scripts) to register nicknames and channels. The software, crdbl, available with our toolkit from our colophon page.

Conclusion

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