Slashdot Mirror
Google Hires Gaim's Main Developer
astrab writes "According to Dirson's blog, Google's just hired Sean Egan (the main developer of Gaim open IM client), just the same day Yahoo! and Microsoft plan to link their respective proprietary IM networks." From the post: "While Yahoo! and Microsoft link their proprietary networks for Instant Messaging, Google bets on Open Protocols to make information universally accessible ... Currently, Google uses XMPP/Jabber specs, but they claim to be supporting open server-to-server federation, and work "to hear from other people in the communications industry about how best to build a federation model that is open, scalable". In fact, there are this month several tests with firms like EarthLink, Sipphone or PeopleCall. "
Gaim is odd. Sometimes I just don't get it. But I like the fact its free and its pretty much all I use on Linux
Very neat, glad to see google is committed to cross-platform support.
I will be happy when gtalk works with my jabber account in iChat.
Just another example of where an OSS junkie finds gainful employment in the dot-com industry.
It's interesting that MSN and Yahoo IM clients are working together to get in on the pie that AOL currently has half of through text chat. Meanwhile, it looks like Google wants to make sure everyone can talk to everyone in hopes that this will attract more people than regular IM, methinks. Afterall, why bother with IM, when Google will have a veritable VoIP service for free ( I know it's not the same, but it could be quite similar ) that plays with others? The only pitfall to this tactic is that you can IM someone a dirty little sercret at work, but VoIP'ing it can get you into serious trouble ^_^
Perfecting Discordia
www.stevenvansickle.com
My guess is that they want support for AIM, MSN, Yahoo, etc. on multiple platforms with minimal effort, which is libgaim. That would mean that they'd have to rewrite Google Talk on top of libgaim, for which Sean is a good choice.
So basically we're going back to the days of IRC, albeit in a different front-end format.
It does sound good, in some ways, but I worry about rogue servers and rogue clients. IM has been virtually free of direct spam attacks (I have only received one in my entire life), and I fear that without having some corporation's control in their propietary medium, we'll see more spam and less usefulness.
Look what happened with the "open standard" of Usenet. It is SO informative and so readily useful, isn't it? I'm not a fan of most Yahoo Groups but the ones I read are generally spam free (moderators) instead of being spam magnets.
Yes, there is a place for open source, but I don't think this is it. I'm willing to hear reasons why Google's desire to have a open server-to-server federation will be good for a product that already offers me everything I need (at the moment). What new features are going to replace the current text-to-text feature that is probably used by 100% of IM's users. Is VoIP really an extension to IM or is it a different product? Aren't there enough programmers added on features to the propietary AIM program that is doesn't seem to warrant the need for a more open standard? Does the propietary standard offer manufacturers more reason to police their networks of abusers, and is it wrong for these companies to assume to make a profit in order to pay for the massive infrastructure needed to provide IM services?
I do understand the need to open the standard for client-server interaction. More clients means more features, more stability, and more control over your applications on your computer. It also means more clients for lesser-used operating systems, better integration into non-PC stations (media centers, phones, etc), and possibly more people using the IM system.
I've been using xdb_sql to log user registrations and roster changes and whatnot to PostgreSQL; notes on that are here.
The more Jabber developers and users the better... it'll just keep getting faster and more stable!
The Army reading list
It bodes well for us gaim users!
And for users of other IM clients that use the GAIM libraries. I believe both Admium and Fire on the Mac make use of the GAIM libraries.
Jumpstart the tartan drive.
This is a little offtopic, but it is probably the most relevant article that I can post it in.
Google is looking for Mac developers. Signs of more cross platform software coming from the Googleplex?
i use to try to submit patches to GAIM. the guy not only did not accept the patches, he didn't even reply to me in any way whatsoever.
the code was a mess. complete and utter spaghetti.
and furthermore, the whole heavy lifting of interoperability depends on a library that the GAIM author didn't write. GAIM is simply a shoddy GUI on top of a hacked library that violates AOL's license agreement by its very existence.
i really have to wonder about the google people. did they even look at this code? did they even test the program to see how unusable and ugly it is? what kind of process did they go through when hiring this guy? id sell my stock now if i were a money man.