Open Source Resources for Web Application Developers

Everyone loves the Gmail and Facebook inline chat modules. This Gmail/Facebook Style jQuery Chat Module enables you to seamlessly integrate Gmail/Facebook style chat into your existing website.

You can see the chat box displays at the bottom right hand corner of the screen. You can keep the chat boxes open and stores state (data) even when pages are browsed/refreshed. It will display “Sent at…” after 3 minutes of inactivity. You can also minimize and close chat boxes easily.

This chat script can be used for free under LGPL-style license for non-commercial purposes. However, you need to purchase a license for commercial purposes.

Requirements: jQuery Framework
Demo: http://anantgarg.com/2009/05/13/gmail-facebook-style-jquery-chat/
License: LGPL License

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Web Messenger is an open-source live support software allowing visitors of your site to chat with your operators. It makes easier to communicate with existing and potential clients. It will significantly increase conversion rates and online sales of your web site.

You can place the button of Web Messenger at your site. Your visitors click the button and chat with your operators who help them. This program and the accompanying materials are made available under the terms of the Eclipse Public License v1.0.

Requirements: PHP 5.0+, MySQL 5.0+
Demo: http://openwebim.org/demo.php
License: Eclipse Public License v1.0

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toksta* is a free instant messenger, which is easy to implement and customize. toksta* IM enables your users to chat via text chat or webcam in real time - without having to switch to programs like Skype, MSN or ICQ! The toksta* IM runs directly in the web browser and each user can be chatted with via his profile - no matter what he is doing in your social networking site at the time. Since the IM opens in a new window, your users can also continue to surf on your site while chatting.

The toksta* IM can be integrated into any social networking site based on PHP, Ruby or JSP. No installations or additional logins of any kind are necessary on the part of your users. It is absolutely free of charge. Hosting and traffic costs are assumed in total by toksta* and you will not be liable for any licensing or usage fees.

Requirements: -
Demo: http://www.toksta.com
License: License Free

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JibberBook is an easy-to-use, open-source guestbook built with PHP5 and JavaScript. It aims to create a pleasant user experience while giving you much flexibility. JibberBook is open source under an MIT license so you’re free to use it where ever you want. It has the following major features.

Spam Protection
Stop spammers in their tracks with extra protection from Akismet. Spend more time doing what you want and less time managing your guestbook without the use of an ugly Captcha box.

Storage Options
If you don’t like the quick and easy default XML storage, you can switch to MySQL. Simply replace a file and fill out your database information.

Usable Interface
Users with JavaScript will experience a user-friendly interface enhanced by the light-weight library, Mootools. The interface gracefully degrades, and functionality will remain the same for users without JavaScript so you don’t miss a comment.

Requirements: Mootools Framework
Demo: http://jibberbook.com/demo/
License: MIT License

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Do you have a blog, online profile, or some other personal web page? Would you like to communicate more with your visitors? Google has launched a new Google Talk feature that lets visitors to your web site chat with you. They call it chatback because instead of you doing all the talking on your blog, your visitors can talk back to you. Sure, they could leave comments, but those are public and hard to use for a real conversation. With chatback, it’s a real instant message session.

To use chatback, you must have a Google Talk account, but your visitors don’t have to! You can use it on any web page that you can add HTML content to. To get started, visit the chatback start page. Then just copy the provided HTML snippet to your web site. Visitors will then see a badge on your site indicating your availability, and can click to start a chat with you.

Requirements: -
Demo: http://www.google.com/talk/service/badge/New
License: License Free

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ShoutMix is a Fee shoutbox or tagboard widget, which is an easy to use messaging system that allows you to interact with others instantly. A shoutbox can be placed on your blog or website. Your visitors can then easily post comments in it. They can also use the shoutbox to chat with you and other visitors at the same time. You will be able to customize the sizes, styles, fonts, colors, labels and more when you get your own ShoutMix too. The basic version is Free, however you have to pay in order to upgrade to premium version.

Requirements: -
Demo: http://www.shoutmix.com
License: License Free

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XHTML Chat is barely more then a single html page + CSS + javascript. The server side bit is as small as it can be and could be accomplished with almost any available technology (down to php + textfile). This looks very well revolutionise the way the web looks and feels today.
Apart from this being a chat you can use XHTML Chat as:

• An advanced comment function for blogs offering immediate communication between users.
• An advanced shoutbox.
• A live single/multi-user publishing system.
• A XHTML Broadcasting tool for live coverage of events.

All of these could degrade gracefully if javascript is not available. XHTML Chat (including XHTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, all images) ,is licensed under a Creative Commons License as well.

Requirements: -
Demo: http://chat.plasticshore.com/
License: Creative Commons License

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Now you can chat with visitors to your website instantly using text or even voice! ChatStat provides every website owner, and eCommerce store with live interaction and tracking technology, making every dialog with their prospects and customers as effective as if they walked into a storefront and were greeted by their most talented staff. ChatStat’s innovative Live Customer Interaction system applies the Web 2.0 paradigm to instant ‘live’ human interaction and web analytics. There are many exciting features e.g. Live Translation for text chat in up to 40 languages and get Website Analytics displayed using MovingGraph Technology. Proactive 2-way live chat is free for up to two operators!

Requirements: No Requirements
Demo: http://www.chatstat.com
License: License Free ( Up to 2 Operators )

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Plugoo enables you to chat directly from your Instant Messenger with any visitor of your blog, personal webpage, e-sales site or even your web application. When you’re logged into your Instant Messenger (Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, AIM, GoogleTalk, Jabber or ICQ), you can receive in real time all the comments of your visitors or any question they might ask, and answer instantly!You can also change colors, title of your Plugoo, and visitors can choose a nickname to contact you.

Requirements: Any Modern Browsers
Demo: http://www.plugoo.com
License: License Free

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YShout is a lightweight yet full-featured package that allows you to easily add an interactive shoutbox to your website. So that you can communicate with your visitors in real time, and also provide a great chat room for the visitors to discuss on your website or web application. You can tailor YShout’s appearance to fit your website perfectly by using CSS. YShout 5 features a completely rebuilt control panel. It contains some new preferences, as well as a lot of returning favorites.

Requirements: PHP and Javascript
Demo: http://geekchat.net/yshout5/example/
License: Donationware

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