Instant messenger project

[cityStatic]

I have started a project of making an instant messenger (i.e. MSN, etc.). Do you have any ideas so I can make it more user-friendly?

 

[onso]

Hmm, well... IMHO the perfect IM app would be exactly like iChat, but with full compatibility with all the protocols Adium supports + IRC...

In any case... User friendly = iChat, by far the simplest I've used to date.

 

[David]

Start simple with a good design. Make a forum for suggestions and support and build on from user feedback.

As you build it up, also see if there has been more users.

 

[Justin M]

Interoperability with other major clients would be a big plus. Video and audio support as well.

 

[JamesD31]

Agreed, with above, and even Justin's idea. If you can use other major client's API's and work from there, that will give users a centralized location - hence making your IM used more widely due to the fact they don't have to use 5 IM clients, just yours.

Also, good luck on this project since it will contain LOTS of work including databases, and some far more advanced coding. 🙂

 

[Dark Takua]

You should make it for windows, mac, linux, etc. and make games such as checkers, chess, etc. and make it so you can add other emails and chat with them such as Yahoo! Messenger, MSN, etc.

 

[cityStatic]

I probably should stop procrastinating. 😛

 

[JamesD31]

Also, keep in mind the actual major IM clients, they have a whole team that spends their whole job dedicated to creating those. So, you being an individual won't make anything elaborate at first, I don't expect you to, so good luck. Start out small and you can always work up from there.

 

[fantanoice]

- Multi-platform (Windows/Mac/Linux)
- Video chat
- Audio chat
- Avatars. Can be animated (GIF/Flash) and can also be uploaded from webcam.
- Multi-IM (like, Yahoo/Hotmail/AOL accounts all available)

Just off the top of my head...