In May 2009, seeing that nothing happened, I announced that I was working on Facebook support for Kopete and released a prototype on github. The plugin was not perfect, and it was talking to Facebook using non-standard ways (including html scrapping!), but allowed people to see their contacts and chat.

Yesterday, Facebook finally announced XMPP support. This means various things:

• You can connecto to Facebook chat using any XMPP compatible program: Kopete (using the standard Jabber plugin)
• My Kopete plugin is not longer needed and will be deprecated

To setup it with Kopete just add a Jabber account like this:

Kopete preferences for Facebook chat

This is a great move from Facebook. As Lars already mentioned, the Web 2.0 sites have brought lot of innovation and fresh wind to the Web. However, they have ignored interoperability a lot, and he is right, you need “connectors” to get your data.

The Web 2.0 has changed the way users store their data. Now it is everywhere. Without good interoperability we are only adding complexity to users.

If your website implements contacts, don’t forget to add a url with a http accessible vCard list. If your site implement events, provide an url with iCal entries. Google has done a good job with Google Calendar and Google Mail. Worth to mention the urls with calendar/contact entries can be “secret urls” which contain a long random string, but require no authentication, which makes it easy to add to your desktop mashup utilities, organizers, plasmods, etc.

Facebook still could do more. They invented a whole new email system. But they forgot to offer IMAP/SMTP interoperability with it. I am not sure either (feel free to correct me) whether I can generate a secret url with iCal entries of Facebook events as well.

Anyways, big thanks to whoever is responsible of getting this done. You did a big favor to the Internet itself.

As for Kopete. As protocols start to use XMPP, the need of hiding XMPP for the end user arises. The account wizard should display the services known by name, and do the XMPP setup with the known preferences. May be something I can work on now that I don’t need to maintain the protocol anymore. And I almost forget: we need a way to migrate current users of the plugin.

Since then I have made some improvements to message handling and other code cleanups. The code is now available in a git repository at github.

As KDE’s svn trunk is frozen, I will keep it there for now.

You can get packages for openSUSE Factory (version 0.1.2). I gave up trying to build it for openSUSE 11.1, as Kopete API has changed quite a bit. However the package may build on 11.1 plus the KDE 4.2+ repositories. You need libqjson from Flavio Castelli installed (or -devel package if you want to build it).

Roadmap for next 0.1.3:

• Add caching to avoid downloading the pictures every 3 minutes.
• More bugfixes

Roadmap for later:

• Look into adding , searching, and other stuff.

Be aware. This is weeks-old-code. It has not been tested much and has lot of debug messages. Use it if you are a early adopter only.

As you may know, Facebook has a chat service. For me at least is slowly becoming the place where I have more people talking to me, and as you may also guess, the value of social systems is very tied to the number of users.

Sadly, Facebook guys where not smart enough as the Google guys and brought yet another damn protocol to this protocol overpopulated world. Then came the worst part. They announced something that was not there and promised Jabber support. One year later nothing has yet happened.

For a such popular service, one starts to think whether waiting another year is worth for a protocol that is so popular. As I wanted it myself now, at some point I decided I was willing to implement it even if a Jabber version was available later.

We already have the problem that users expect to see Google talk in the Kopete list, because developers don’t figure out that grandma does not know what Jabber/XMPP is. So a good improvement would be adding the concept of “services” where we could add a protocol by just saying “it is just jabber, but with this server settings, this logo and this name”. That path would allow for a easy move to other XMPP protocols later.

But for Facebook, no more wait. Yesterday I was able to use it for first time to chat, so I am blogging about it.

Next steps:

• Add more error handling
• Fix a bug in the contacts status when they go offline
• Put it into kopete or playground svn
• Make an openSUSE package
• Cleanup. I started over the testbed plugin and it added some stuff that probably I don’t need
• Proxy support. I coded the engine using QNetworkAccessManager so it is KDE independent. Only the Kopete plugin is KDE based, so I haven’t looked into proxy support and other stuff

Other stuff with less priority:

• Adding contacts from the client
• Configuration (there is no much to configure)

See the rest of the article on how to run KDE applications on Windows.

• ITO time spent on YaST. No success yet with Wt. It does not provide something like Qt’s QSocketNotifier, or glib’s gioadd_watch which integrate themselves with the event loop. Did a hack with a standard select and a timeout, did not work. Even worse, Wt crashes on processEvents().

• Will hosted a hack session on Saturday. While I did not get any code done, I got motivated by the Kopete 4.x state to continue working on it at home. Yesterday I commited my chat window participants view code for Kopete. It simplifies the code and the signal battle a lot. I still have to fix some issues.

• The Android stuff is so cool. Read this post about Dalvik: how Google routed around Sun’s IP-based licensing restrictions on Java ME. The Activity, Services and Intents model seems natural for other scenarios, not only mobiles.

Help us to market one click install. Go to your software vendor and ask them to provide one-click-install links for their product, together with a install repository. They will, answer “we have no idea how to do that”, then you point them to this tutorial.

Qt

From Aaron’s blog:

Matthias Ettrich is up now doing the Qt platform directions talk, speaking about where Qt is goingin 4.4 and 4.5. He covered:

One of the topics was:

WebKit: merging web technologies and desktop applications. Things like accessing signals/slots from javascript or moving things around in the DOM from C++

Also:

There are apparently plans for at least a 4.7 and there are no current plans for Qt5. If a Qt5 were to happen, it wouldn’t be before 2011/2012 and it would not be a major API design break with Qt4 as Qt4 was to Qt3. However, they feel that Qt4 has what is needed for years of innovation to come and so there are no plans at all for a Qt5 right now.

openSUSE 10.3

From Martin Schlander’s blog:

After listening to those same complaints for a long period of time, it’s amazing that they are all obsoleted in one single release cycle.

• Cleaned up my bug list. Closed 10.2 bugs fixed in 10.3 that will not be released as online updates and other ones.

Package Kit

Richard Hughes calls for a Qt based package manager for PackageKit.

I would love to see a QT-based package manager and update icon using the PackageKit API. I’m quite prepared to make changes the the libpackagekit source if this is needed, I know I use a lot of gobject’isms. I can provide a private git server and add as much documentation as you guys need, I just need someone to take lead of such a project. Email the mailing list if you are interested. Thanks.

You can see documentation here and available backends here.

Kopete

Matt Rogers calls for more Kopete developers.

My build service packages

Upgraded and fixed builds in most packages from the security:privacy repository project in the openSUSE build service, including tor, torK, vidalia and truecrypt. torK still does not build on x86.

One of the biggest news stories out of this year’s Computex wasn’t of a new chipset, GPU, or graphics card, but rather of the announcement of the ASUS Eee PC, a small, slim, and light portable computer that is priced at $199. Introduced by Jonney Shih, Chariman and CEO of ASUS at Intel’s keynote address the first day of the show, the Eee PC has already made headlines world wide.
The Eee PC’s main competition is the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project that originally aimed to bring to market a laptop priced at $100 for children in developing countries. However, the OLPC project has seen numerous delays and even a price increase to the $170 range.

Thanks Will for the link (hothardware.com)

But not for everyone. Hundred of hackers and contributors are still in Glasgow, discussing and coding the pieces that conform the best free desktop out there.

The first social event was in a strange, but cool place called something with “Duck” in it. It was perfect except for the Dj on crack which sounded like a mp3 player with skips on a super high I/O load. People also had some obsession with fruits and flavors in beer which germans did not like.

On Monday evening, we had a nice event at the City Hall. The place was like a palace. Lot of marmol, paintings and details. The reception was in a big luxurious room, were the city authorities and Aaron gave a speech, followed by nice food and wine. We also sang happy birthday to Zack, the KDE e.V. and other people. I did not bring my camera, but here there is a picture from Nikolaj Hald Nielsen blog.

I had much fun talking with the spanish guys (plus Helio). Finally met Thiago and Charles and had a italian dinner with Will and some Trolls.

Unlike last year, I was able to get my KDE4 development environment running in no time, and spend most of the time playing with Kross and Kopete integration.

The organization was good. I liked the hostel more than the one in Dublin, especially because it had one bathroom per shared room and completely free wireless (even if it only worked the first day).

Scotland was a special place for me to visit, as the first MacVicar came to Chile from Scotland. I had the chance to meet some of family there. That was incredible! They even showed me the original letter the wife of the first MacVicar in Chile wrote to his brother in Scotland announcing his death.

• Glasgow has a nice downtown, but it is not my kind of city (Well, Dublin wasn’t too). I am looking forward to see other cities from the country in the future.
• When walking in the street. I immediately noticed something. Then I realized it was not my imagination.

I think we were all amazed by the number of people. It really felt like a big group (just check the group photo). You rock guys.

My photoset is here.

These changes means that my Ruby bindings will be able to support it too.

I also got the code as yast2-bindings-ruby in the build service, it doesn’t build yet, but soon will appear in the home:dmacvicar project.

Srinivasa Ragavan is working on Desktop status awareness, which means trying to do useful tasks when you are away from your computer. I pointed him to the Kopete motion-auto-away plugin I hacked some years ago in order to set the user away in the messaging client if no motion was detected in a webcam stream.

Some time ago I was talking with Will, and we both remembered one of the most funniest (now) things ever happened in #kopete irc channel. We laughed a lot, until Will told me. “I still have those logs somewhere”. I said “Really! I think it is time to blog them.

April 3, probably 2003 or 2004. I was in Chile by then. It was sleeping time for Europa. In the channel you can see Sean Egan, GAIM’s lead developer, and myself. Until….

The following takes place between 5 am and 6 am… Events ocur in real time.

--> Lazlo ([HOST REMOVED].edu) has joined #kopete
<Lazlo> uhh, hi all heh.  I have a strange request.   is that Sean Egan
from New York  (sorry kinda new to irc)
<SeanEgan> hm?
<Lazlo> hello ?
<Lazlo> oh heh
<SeanEgan> Um, yeah.  I'm from New York
<Lazlo> uh, hi -- I searched on google and it said a 'Sean Egan' was in
this chat room.   Do you know where Valley STream is?  
<SeanEgan> Yeah, that's where I live on Long Island
<Lazlo> ehh, what's the zip code heh (sorry for these odd questions I have
to protect an identity here, kinda iffy)?
<SeanEgan> hehe, um, it's [ZIP CODE REMOVED].  Who are you?
<Lazlo> uh, Are you at [ADDRESS REMOVED]?
<SeanEgan> ok.  Who are you?
<Lazlo> can anyone here tell me if this is really Sean Egan?
<SeanEgan> they're probably all asleep.  This is a very European channel.
<SeanEgan> being KDE and all  
<Lazlo> uhh, hi all heh.  I have a strange request.   is that Sean Egan
from New York  (sorry  
<Lazlo> um, what's KDE? I don't use computers mujch
<SeanEgan> It's alright.  Why do you know m address?
<Lazlo> whatever man -- look, are you really Sean Egan?
<SeanEgan> Yeah.
<Lazlo> um, I think I may have found your wallet near a truck stop
<SeanEgan> really?!
<SeanEgan> haha!
<SeanEgan> I lost my wallet yesterda
<SeanEgan> y
<Lazlo> phew! hah, man i wasn't sure if I could find you heh
<SeanEgan> well, you do have my address  
<Lazlo> heh, true but i'm in west virginia.  you're credit card is [CREDIT
CARD REMOVED], right?
<SeanEgan> ,,,
<SeanEgan> Um, I'll take your word for it...
<Lazlo> ?? heh, maybe I should buy some stuff haha
* SeanEgan hopes you're joking.
<SeanEgan> Ok.  The address you have is my Long Island address, but I'm up
at school in Binghamton
<Lazlo> um, i can rent a car with the credit card and drive to drop it off
if you like?
<Lazlo> by the way, who's the hot girl in the picture   heh
<SeanEgan> Dude, that's my sister.
<SeanEgan> Listen, just mail the wallet to me.  I'll PM you my address.
<Lazlo> man just calm down -- i'm trying to help here i didn't know
<Lazlo> what about the cost to send it?!?
<SeanEgan> no, it's alright.  I'm going to PM you my address, and you can
mail it to me?
<SeanEgan> Um... I don't know.  Maybe $2?
<Lazlo> $2?!?  i think more than that man
<SeanEgan> If you want, I should have some cash in there, you can pay with
my money.
<SeanEgan> But I need my id and my credit cards and stuff.
<Lazlo> look i took the time to search your name and stuff
<SeanEgan> yeah, pay for postage with my own money, I don't care
<Lazlo> i'm not even talking about postage man -- I'll use the card to buy
stuff I think is right, seriously.  you owe me big time
<SeanEgan> you want a reward?
<SeanEgan> How much cash do I have in there?  $30?
<duncanmv> oh, Americans
<Lazlo> whatever dude -- you don't get it! How much do you have on your
card, can i buy some stuff?
<SeanEgan> No, you can't
<SeanEgan> Are you serious?
* duncanmv doesn't find it a funny joke
<Lazlo> why wouldl i joke?! look, i'll just buy some stuff or you won't
get your wallet
<SeanEgan> Lazlo: I just called my bank and they've cancelled the credit
card.
<SeanEgan> I'll let you keep all the cash I have in there as a reward, but
if you would please return it to the address I PMed you, I would really
appreciate it.
<Lazlo> ??!?!?
<SeanEgan> And so would the Occidental University Police, if you catch my
drift.
<Lazlo> now you WONT GET YOUR FRIGGIN WALLET
<Lazlo> uHGHGHG
<duncanmv> ok, just call his college tomorrow
<duncanmv> and tell them [NAME REMOVED] has your wallet
<duncanmv> tell them the ip and time log
<duncanmv> and tell them you offered him even a reward
<SeanEgan> Lazlo: Let's not make a big deal out of it.  Keep the cash, and
mail the wallet to that address, ok?
<Lazlo> what the f*XCKC    wahta kinda platce is this??!?  stay out of
this duncanmv.    dude don't you DARE TELL MY schools 
<Lazlo> SeanEgan: NO!  crap there's only $24 dollars in the WALLET man
<SeanEgan> Listen, that wallet has my drivers license in it, it has my
social security card, it has my school id... I really need that.
<SeanEgan> You can keep the $24, just mail it back to me, please.
<SeanEgan> What do you think is a fair reward?
<Lazlo> F*CUI@  NO!!! look, i could have sold your stuff already but i
didn't.  social security cards are expensive
<SeanEgan> Listen, how much do you want from me?
<duncanmv> I could have sold your social security card? wtf? gansters?
<Lazlo> LISTEN! I'm talking a few hundred dude -- and some stuff.
<Lazlo> all i know is the people on the internet always look for this
identify stuff
<SeanEgan> It's not worth a few hundred to me.  I can just get the ID
reissued for a hundred.
<SeanEgan> at most
<SeanEgan> OK, and you just told me that you're selling my social security
number, so I can get new one and make sure it's worthless.
<SeanEgan> I'll offer you $100.
<SeanEgan> final offer.
<Lazlo> F@#@!  FINE dude, whatever -- how will you send me the money then?
i definitely WONT send it until the money gets here.  i'm no fool buddy
<duncanmv> ok
<duncanmv> I logged into [UNIVERSITY NAME REMOVED], and got all his data
<duncanmv>  
<SeanEgan> My ATM pin is [PIN REMOVED].  That's the Citibank one.  If you
withdraw anymore than $100, I report you to the police and they'll have your
picture and everything and you'll go to jail, do you understand me?
<SeanEgan> Also, I'm changing the PIN FIRST THING tomorrow, so you have to
act on that quick.
<SeanEgan> deal?
<Lazlo> This is some world of shit dudes!  i try to help and all you do is
threaten police call!!@@  LISTEN I HAVE MY RIGHTS
<SeanEgan> Lazlo: You have no clue how deep trouble you're in right now.
<duncanmv> your rights is stealing Sean's money? come on
<SeanEgan> 10 people have this conversation logged; we have all your
personal data; you really are in no position to talk about your rights.
<Lazlo> WHATEVER This is the LAST time i try to help some looser out who
can't keep his wallet.  Where's your gratitude man?   
<SeanEgan> Ok.  Take $100. Send me my wallet.
<Lazlo> f&%@ fine. you're lucky.
<-- Lazlo has quit ("leaving")

I never knew what happened with Sean’s wallet. So today I emailed him and asked. This is the happy end of the story:

Ha! I didn’t think anyone remembered that! That guy was nuts. I was able to reason with him, though. It turned out I was able to promise him a feature request in Gaim and that sufficed for him. He sent the wallet back, and I never found any weird fraudulent charges on any of my cards

My guess is that he wasn’t any older than 16.

Just remember, every time a Gaim user sends someone a file by dragging it into a conversation window, it’s because I lost my wallet.

-s.