Make Your Own Google Bot

Chat bots can be fun or useful, but until now, deploying and maintaining a chat bot for Google Talk was difficult. Google has announced a new XMPP API that makes it easier to build your own chat bots with the Google App Engine.

The XMPP support lets you create apps that exchange messages with users on any XMPP system, including of course Google Talk, but any Jabber network. Where it gets really interesting is the built-in XMPP support for the fast-approaching Google Wave, which will be rolling out to a larger beta group at the end of September. This means that you’ll be able to use the XMPP API to build bots that interact with your Waves.

For all the details, read the API release notes.

JBuddy Messenger

JBuddy Messenger is a multi-protocol, cross-platform instant messaging desktop client. JBuddy Messenger supports popular public instant messaging protocols as well as enterprise instant messaging servers and runs on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris and other Java-enabled desktop environments.

System Requirements:

JBuddy Messenger requires a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) which means it’s suited to run on most modern operating systems.

Download & Deployment:

JBuddy Messenger v3.0 supports three download formats; one for each popular operating system.

• JBuddyMessenger.zip – for Windows XP and Vista; extracts to a simple exe launcher
• JBuddyMessenger.dmg – for Mac OS X; extracts to a simple JBuddy Messenger.app
• JBuddyMessenger.tgz – for Linux, Solaris and other Unix platforms; extracts with a simple shell launch script

Free Public Instant Messaging Support:

• AIM
• ICQ
• Windows Live Messenger (MSN)
• Yahoo! Messenger

Paid License – Enterprise Instant Messaging Support:

•  Google Talk
• XMPP / Jabber / iChat Server
• IBM Lotus Sametime
• Microsoft Office Communications Server (OCS 2007)
• Microsoft Live Communications Server (LCS 2005)
• JBuddy Message Server (Zion’s own enterprise IM server)

Paid License – Business Features:

• Chat Log Browser
• Chat Log Search Engine
• English Spell Checker

Skins

JBuddy Messenger support several Java Look and Feel skins, which means how it looks can be customized depending on the environment and user preferences.

Buddy List Management

One of the challenges of using a multi-protocol instant messaging client is buddy list management. Often a savvy instant messaging user will have multiple screen names for many of their contacts; perhaps a work screen name and a home screen name. JBuddy Messenger v3.0 introduces Meta-Buddies (Trillian calls them Meta Contacts). A meta-buddy is an aggregation of the presence of multiple screen names under one buddy. Also, buddies groups of the same name across multiple accounts can be visually merged to simplify large buddy lists.

Useful Links:

• Download JBuddy Messenger – Zion Software
• JBuddy Messenger Product Page