chatclient beta not looking good...other options?

[Dan]

So the question I have is --- gay.com absoluetly sucks and is totally
useless in its current form. - so the question I have is -- is there
anyone else out there that has programming knowledge (not me) - I'm a
server guy -- that could develop a program to work with the new gdc?
I know its been nearly impossible since they changed to the new system
- and are using some sort of AJAX system ? --

But if its a funding thing -- then lets start a fund for a it -- and
get some developers to work on it.. I am sure with all the gay guys
whom are geeks out there -- that there has got to be someone else out
there able to make a program that works with the new system?

I mean I'd pay $ for a program that works.. or goto a different site,
but I have yet to find a different chat alternative that has the
indivdual rooms by location that gdc does... I mean if the interface
just wasnt so damn frustrating -- I could stand to use the new GDC,
but its horrible and completely laking any features that the previous
version had...

I am willling to bet they lost 1/4 of their chatters! CRAZY move.

Dan

[Silica]

it is just time to let gay.com die... time to move on, gay.com's
premis is the web 2.0 experience. web 2.0 is really where the company
or organisation that is hosting their service has absolute control
over the users experience on how you access and participate.

I've given up on this concept and moved on.

Now if jean-guy opened up the code he has and made it available to
others to work on, you'd actually see some progress. There are plenty
of people with more time then he has to work on the project. A huge
plus to the users of his code.

[sirald66]

You can find whatever projects exist here: http://gayintellectuals.googlepages.com/software

The status of the projects as I understand are:
CHAT CLIENT for mac/windows/linux - author is is busy with his
startup company, but hopes to have a beta out soon if GDC stops making
changes.
GNATTER for java - author is too busy and has shelved the project,
but has not completely ruled out a future effort.
CHATLINQ for mac/iphone - author is working daily on it and has a
closed-beta group testing it
CHATBERRY for blackberry - commercial company that has shelved the
project, but has not completely ruled out a future effort

There were some 5 other Old GDC projects that have either specifically
closed or won't respond to questions.

JG of Chat Client had a very good point about doing a free as opposed
to commercial project; since he has no control of GDC, the project
will keep breaking and would be a support nightmare for a paid
product. The lack of official GDC cooperation is a deterrence to the
few gay geeks with the skills and interest to commit. On the point of
open source, JG was very enthusiastic about sharing his GDC to Chat
Client API to fellow programmers. So if he makes progress, it may
well result in a toolkit for all interested parties.

GDC runs IRC servers that were previously on the public net with Old
GDC using a java interface, but have been moved to their private
network with New GDC using an ajax interface.

[sirald66]

When the New GDC chat was on its way, I started looking around for a
comparable service and the closest I got was GayDar.CO.UK (not to be
confused with GayDar.COM). I didn't find the features or room
population very impressive, so decided to create channel two on
UserPlane/AOL as a backup (although it also features audio/video) and
recently made a page for direct IRC use on public networks -
http://gayintellectuals.googlepages.com/irc

I may be jaded, but my experience with general chat room users is they
are interested in sex, not conversation and not the quality or future
of the room. Most would settle for ManHunt and other instant-message
services for hookups.