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[gaim-migrate @ 1426] dum de dum dum, dum de dum dum duh! committer: Tailor Script <tailor@pidgin.im>
author Eric Warmenhoven <eric@warmenhoven.org>
date Sat, 20 Jan 2001 23:10:48 +0000
parents e1408fb04c36
children d33bf6548543
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1 GAIM: The Pimpin' Penguin IM Clone Thats Good For The Soul 1 GAIM: The Pimpin' Penguin IM Clone Thats Good For The Soul
2 2
3 Welcome to the GAIM FAQ. Please read this document to insure that you 3 1 The Basics
4 are not asking us a question that has already been answered. We will 4 1.1 What does 'gaim' stand for?
5 most likely become slightly irritated with you and will either point 5 1.2 Where are my log files stored?
6 you to this FAQ or ignore you. Of course, no harm is meant by this. 6 1.3 Will you be adding a log viewer?
7 We're two college aged kids, we both work and are very short on time. 7 1.4 What are GtkHTML and GtkIMHtml, and why not just use GNOME's
8 If you have any comments, praise, or ideas please don't hesitate to 8 GtkHTML?
9 contact us. But please, don't initiate a conversation with "Hi" or 9 1.5 How do I load plugins/perl scripts?
10 "Can I ask you a question?" We generally do not respond to these 10 1.6 I'm not a native English speaker and I would like a translated
11 comments because it takes too much time to get to the point of your 11 version of gaim.
12 statement. Simply say what you need to say and you'll more than 12
13 likely get a quick response :-). 13 2 Multiple Connections
14 14 2.1 What do you mean by "multiple connections"?
15 I. The Protocol 15 2.2 How do I sign on more than one account?
16 1. Is it the same protocol as the Windows client uses? 16 2.3 How do buddy lists work for multiple connections?
17 2. Where can I find info on TOC? 17 2.4 What's a PRPL?
18 3. What other clients use this protocol? 18 2.5 How do I use a different protocol?
19 4. TCP or UDP? 19
20 5. So the buddy list is stored on the server? 20 3 About the Protocols (what they support, and how to do things with them)
21 21 3.0 Introduction
22 II. The Client 22 3.1 TOC
23 1. What does 'gaim' stand for? 23 3.2 Oscar
24 2. How do I make multiple groups? 24 3.3 Yahoo!
25 3. How come there's no file transfer? 25 3.4 IRC
26 4. Why no AOL logo? 26 3.5 ICQ
27 5. Where are my log files stored? 27 3.6 MSN
28 6. Can I use my Windows 95 Buddylist with Gaim? 28 3.7 Jabber
29 7. I'm not a native English speaker and I would like a translated 29 3.8 Napster
30 version of gaim. 30
31 8. I've got a proxy, and I'd like to use GAIM. 31 4 Problems
32 32 4.1 Sound doesn't work
33 III. Multiple Connections 33 4.2 Clicking on URLs doesn't open Netscape
34 1. What do you mean by "multiple connections"? 34 4.3 I don't use Netscape
35 2. What's a PRPL? 35 4.4 I have a bug not described here
36 3. What happens when I load a new protocol? 36
37 4. So how do I add accounts? 37 5 Programming
38 5. This sucks. I want my old gaim back. 38 5.1 I have a patch for gaim!
39 39 5.2 I have a plugin/perl script for gaim!
40 IV. Problems 40 5.3 Can you teach me how to program GTK?
41 1. WAAAAAH! My sound doesn't work! 41
42 2. My buddy list disappeared! 42 6 Miscellaneous
43 3. I click on URLs, but Netscape doesn't popup! 43 6.1 Can I talk to you on IM?
44 4. I don't use Netscape. 44 6.2 I want to write an IM client. Will you help me?
45 5. I'm using the GNOME client. I have a bug. 45 6.3 I have money. I need software written. Can you help?
46 6. I have a bug not described here. 46 6.4 I have hardware here that's not being used. Can you use it?
47 7. I have Mandrake 6.0 and GAIM doesnt work! 47 6.5 I would like to send you beer.
48 48 6.6 Are you going to port this to Windows?
49 V. Programming 49 6.7 Why no AOL logo?
50 1. I have a patch for gaim! 50 6.8 Why the GPL?
51 2. I have a plugin for gaim! 51 6.9 What is a wagii?
52 3. Can you teach me how to program GTK? 52 6.10 What window manager/distribution/other crap do you use?
53 53 6.11 Is XX a good hard drive, YY a good monitor and ZZ a good CPU?
54 VI. Miscellaneous 54 6.12 I want to contribute to the effort. Where can I send beer to?
55 1. Can I talk to you on IM? 55
56 2. I want to write an IM client. Will you help me? 56 ---
57 3. I have money. I need some software written. Can you help? 57
58 4. I have hardware here that's not being used, or money. Can 58 1 The Basics
59 you use it? 59
60 5. I would like to send you beer. 60 1.1 What does 'gaim' stand for?
61 6. Are you going to port this thing to Windows? 61
62 7. Why the GPL? 62 It's basically the letter 'g' tacked on to the beginning of 'AIM' (which is
63 8. I use *BSD and I hate the penguin! I want daemon images! 63 fairly obvious). G stands for all sorts of good things. Girls, Godzilla, GTK,
64 9. Can I design a logo for you? 64 graham crackers, whatever.
65 10. What is a wagii? 65
66 11. Speaking of the penguin, I heard a rumour you have a tattoo of 66 1.2 Where are my log files stored?
67 it. Is that true? 67
68 12. What Window Manager do you use? What distribution do you use? 68 Your logs are stored in $HOME/.gaim/logs/. They had previously been stored in
69 What other stupid things can you ask me that don't really matter 69 $HOME/.gaim/YourScreenName/ (e.g. $HOME/.gaim/EWarmenhoven).
70 but ya'll ask me anyway? 70
71 13. Is XX a good Harddrive, YY a good monitor and ZZ a good CPU? 71 1.3 Will you be adding a log viewer?
72 14. Who designed the new logo? 72
73 15. I want to contribute to the effort. Where can I send beer to? 73 Yes! As a matter of fact, we will be. Here's what needs to happen before then
74 74 though:
75 I. The Protocol 75 GtkIMHtml has to be finished and added to gaim
76 1. Is it the same protocol as the Windows client uses? 76 The option to not log, and to strip HTML from logs, will be removed
77 No. The Windows client uses Oscar, which is proprietary 77 HTML-matching must be done (e.g. if you get a message "<u>hi", it
78 and undocumented. Some people have used network tools and such to figure 78 should be logged as "<U>hi</U>" to prevent later logs from
79 it mostly out -- Look for 'faim'. We use TOC, which is completely open and 79 being underlined)
80 documented. 80
81 There is some support for libfaim now, which allows gaim to 81 1.4 What are GtkHTML and GtkIMHtml, and why not just use GNOME's GtkHTML?
82 use Oscar, and it's even becoming usable. Maybe one day it'll be the default 82
83 protocol, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen soon. 83 The widget GAIM had previously used to display HTML was called GtkHTML, and
84 84 was written by Mark and Jim specifically for GAIM. Over time, Rob and Eric
85 2. Where can I find info on TOC? 85 hacked at it (read: broke it) and it's gotten to be very fragile and fairly
86 In the document called PROTOCOL. It's the version that was 86 buggy.
87 published with AOL's TiK client version 0.75, which appears to be the last 87
88 one ever published. 88 One day Eric got pissed off at GtkHTML and decided to rewrite it, and called
89 89 it GtkIMHtml (IM to indicate that it should be used in IM clients). He made
90 3. What other clients use this protocol? 90 it its own separate project, so that other IM clients (like Jabber clients)
91 There are a few other Unix programs that use it, I think. I 91 could use it. He based it somewhat off of the old GtkHTML and GNOME's GtkHTML.
92 really couldn't tell you though. AOL used to keep a list of them, but no more. 92
93 I think some of them are Everybuddy and Jabber. Oh yeah, TiK is still around. 93 GNOME's GtkHTML is a very powerful HTML viewer. Because of this, it isn't
94 94 well-suited for GAIM. It wouldn't be very good if we let you have IFrames in
95 4. TCP or UDP? 95 your conversation, for example. Also, GNOME's GtkHTML depends on a lot of
96 TCP. 96 GNOME libraries that we don't want to force people to use in GAIM. (There is
97 97 a strip-down version, CSCHTML, which doesn't use the GNOME libraries; but the
98 5. So the buddy list is stored on the server? 98 first objection (that it supports too many tags) still applies.)
99 Yep. Fortunately for you, when the server decides to *not* store 99
100 it any more, gaim keeps a cached copy. 100 1.5 How do I load plugins/perl scripts?
101 101
102 102 Plugins you had loaded when you quit gaim are loaded again when you start
103 II. The Client 103 gaim. To load a new plugin, either click 'Plugins' on the login screen, or
104 1. What does 'gaim' stand for? 104 select 'Plugins' from the 'Tools' menu in the buddy list. From there, you
105 It's basically the letter 'g' tacked on to the beginning of 105 can load and unload plugins, and configure certain ones. If you click on
106 'AIM' (which is fairly obvious). G stands for all sorts of good things. 106 the 'Load Plugin' button, it will present you with a file dialog, asking
107 Girls, Godzilla, GTK, graham crackers, whatever. 107 which file you want to load; it will default to looking for a .so file in
108 108 the directory plugins get installed to, though you don't have to load a .so
109 2. How do I make multiple groups? 109 file, and you don't have to load it from that directory.
110 There are two ways: Click the "Group" button in the Edit Buddies 110
111 tab of the buddy list; or click the "Add" button and simply enter a new group 111 When you start gaim, all the .pl files in ~/.gaim will be loaded
112 name. 112 automatically. You can also load new scripts from the 'Perl' menu in 'Tools'.
113 113 From that menu, you can load a new script (similarly to how you loaded a
114 3. How come there's no file transfer? 114 plugin above), unload all your loaded scripts, and list which scripts you have
115 There is, it's just that you can't request for the transfer to 115 loaded.
116 take place. Only people who use the Oscar protocol can, so you're out of luck 116
117 there. At least you can get and send files. 117 1.6 I'm not a native English speaker and I would like a translated version of
118 118 gaim.
119 4. Why no AOL logo? 119
120 AOL's legal staff told us no-no. 120 Gaim currently has a few translations (French, Spanish, Korean, and Simplified
121 121 Chinese); however, most of them are out of date. If you would like to update
122 5. Where are my log files stored? 122 or add a translation of gaim, email or IM either Rob or Eric and they can tell
123 After you select `log all conversations' you may be wondering 123 you how to go about it.
124 where your log files are stored. Well, they are currently, by default, stored 124
125 under $HOME/.gaim/YourScreenName/. If your screen name is Zilding then you 125
126 will find your logs under: $HOME/.gaim/Zilding/. This will eventually become 126 2 Multiple Connections
127 configurable. 127
128 128 2.1 What do you mean by "multiple connections"?
129 6. Can I use my Windows 95 buddylist with Gaim? 129
130 Yes. Thanks to a couple great people (S D Erle and BMiller), 130 Multiple Connections means that it's possible to connect to the AOL servers
131 gaim can import your Win95 buddylist. Simply select "Import Buddy List" from 131 using more than one screenname at a time. It's just a way of not having to run
132 the buddy list window. 132 three copies of gaim for each of your screennames.
133 133
134 7. I'm not a native English speaker and I would like a translated 134 2.2 How do I sign on more than one account?
135 version of gaim. 135
136 There are a few translations of gaim. If you can do a 136 The Account Editor controls all of your accounts, and lets you add, delete,
137 translation for us, I'd greatly appreciate it! Just let me know and I'll 137 modify, and sign on/off accounts. It is accessible from the login window or
138 give you detailed instructions on how to do it. 138 from the 'Tools' menu in the buddy list as 'Accounts'. Simply highlight the
139 139 account you want to sign on, and click the 'Sign On/Off' button. To sign on
140 8. I'm behind a proxy, and I'd like to use GAIM. 140 another account, highlight it and click the 'Sign On/Off' button. There is a
141 HTTP, Socks 4, and Socks 5 proxying should be working now. 141 column labeled 'Currently Online' to let you know if the account is online or
142 None of them support authentication yet though. 142 not.
143 143
144 144 2.3 How do buddy lists work for multiple connections?
145 III. Multiple Connections 145
146 1. What do you mean by "multiple connections"? 146 "The same as they did before" is the simple answer. Each account you have will
147 Multiple Connections means that it's possible to connect to 147 have its own buddy list, which you can add buddies to and remove from. In the
148 the AOL servers using more than one screenname at a time. When you connect 148 'Edit Buddies' tab of your buddy list, you'll see the name of each of your
149 using more than one screenname, each name will have their own buddy list. Each 149 online accounts (unless if you only have one), with its buddy list nested
150 will be able to send messages and do all the normal things. It's just a way of 150 underneath it.
151 not having to run 3 copies of gaim for each of your screennames. 151
152 152 2.4 What's a PRPL?
153 2. What's a PRPL? 153
154 PRPL stands for PRotocol PLugin. It's a way to dynamically add 154 PRPL stands for Protocol Plugin. It's a way to dynamically add new protocols
155 new protocols to gaim. This allows you to use gaim as your AIM client, ICQ 155 to gaim. This allows you to use gaim as your AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, and even IRC
156 client, Yahoo, client, and even IRC client, all at the same time. Loading a 156 client, all at the same time. Loading a PRPL is just like loading any other
157 PRPL is like loading any other plugin - simply load the file from the plugins 157 plugin - simply load the .so file from the plugins dialog.
158 dialog. Then simply add an account using the Account Editor and have it use 158
159 that protocol. 159 2.5 How do I use a different protocol?
160 160
161 3. What happens when I load a new protocol? 161 In the Account Editor, click the 'Add' button to add a new account. Below the
162 Gaim keeps track of all the protocols that it knows about. 162 password entry, you should see a menu labeled 'Protocol', with a list of the
163 When you load a new protocol, it lets you add a new account that uses that 163 protocols available for you to use. (If you don't see the protocol you want to
164 protocol. If you loaded the protocol as a plugin, and remove that plugin, gaim 164 use, make sure you have the proper PRPL loaded.) Enter in your username (for
165 then signs off any connections that were using that protocol, and forgets 165 ICQ this should be your UIN) and password, and you're set. You can then sign
166 about it. If you load a protocol that has already been loaded, it will unload 166 the account on by clicking the 'Sign On/Off' button when the account is
167 the original one and load the new one. 167 highlighted.
168 168
169 4. So how do I add accounts? 169
170 There is an Account Editor that is accessible from the main 170 3 About the Protocols (what they support, and how to do things with them)
171 signon window, and also from the Buddy List Tools menu. This brings up a 171
172 window that lets you add and remove accounts, modify them, and sign them on 172 3.0 Introduction
173 independently of each other. 173
174 174 This really only describes the protocol, and how gaim is able to use it. For
175 5. This sucks. I want my old gaim back. 175 a listing of what gaim has implemented with each protocol, please read the
176 Relax, there's a configure option, --disable-multi, that will 176 STATUS file.
177 remove any way of having multiple connections from the UI. This gives gaim the 177
178 old familiar UI, and allow only one connection at a time. It will also benefit 178 3.1 TOC
179 from all of the features added that are not related to multiple connections 179
180 (like reporting idle times based on X usage). 180 TOC is an open protocol (meaning that there's open documentation from the
181 181 people who developed it), developed by AOL, for clients to use to connect to
182 182 the AIM server. It has stopped being supported by AOL (though they do still
183 IV. Problems 183 make changes to the TOC server). It is a strip-down and simplified version of
184 1. WAAAAAH! My sound doesn't work! 184 their "real" protocol, Oscar.
185 ./configure should autodetect whether or not you have ESD 185
186 libraries. If you have them it _WILL_ compile with them, if not it won't. 186 TOC is a TCP protocol, and will only ever make one TCP connection (unless if
187 If it compiles with them, you don't need to be running the ESD daemon, it'll 187 you accept a file transfer request). Your buddy list is stored on the server,
188 automatically fallback to using /dev/dsp. Make sure that gaim has proper 188 and gaim keeps a locally cached copy as well. When you sign on the server and
189 permissions to talk to /dev/dsp and /dev/audio though! 189 local lists are merged.
190 190
191 2. My buddy list disappeared! 191 3.2 Oscar
192 You didn't back up your buddy list, did you? You never back 192
193 anything up! Oh well. The TOC server loses lists from time to time, it 193 Oscar is the protocol that the Windows version of AIM uses (and actually,
194 happens to me as well. (And no, I never have a backup ;). Gaim should have 194 ICQ2000 uses it too). It's a closed protocol, meaning that in order for gaim
195 kept a cache of your buddy list, though, so you shouldn't have this problem any 195 to use it, someone had to reverse-engineer it. For gaim, the libfaim authors
196 more. 196 did this, and wrote a library so that we could use it.
197 197
198 3. I click on URLs, but Netscape doesn't popup! 198 Oscar is a TCP protocol, but it makes several connections: the authorizor (the
199 Netscape either needs to be running on the current display 199 initial connection, who you send your screenname/password to), the BOS (which
200 (gaim should handle remote netscape windows OK.), or 'netscape' needs to be 200 is the "main" connection, through which all your messages go), ChatNav (which
201 in your path. 201 lets you join chat rooms), as well as one for each chat room you join. Oscar
202 202 does let you store your buddy list on the server, but libfaim hasn't added
203 4. I don't use Netscape. 203 that functionality yet.
204 I'm very interested in supporting other web browsers. Do 204
205 send me information on how to send a URL to your browser remotely (or point 205 3.3 Yahoo!
206 me at the source to the browser, I might be able to figure it out.). 206
207 207 Yahoo! uses a closed protocol; the authors of libyahoo reverse-engineered it
208 5. I'm using the GNOME client. I have a bug. 208 and gaim uses that library. It is a TCP protocol, and makes several
209 GNOME bugs should be reported to Eric Warmenhoven (IM: 209 connections, though I'm not entirely sure at which points. It stores your
210 EWarmenhoven (how original)), who is now maintaining that part of the code. If 210 buddy list on the server, and gaim keeps a locally cached copy. When you sign
211 you ask the other guys about it, they'll just point you at him. 211 on the server and local lists are merged.
212 212
213 6. I have a bug not described here. 213 3.4 IRC
214 Well, it could be a few things. Firstly, you MUST HAVE GTK+ 214
215 VERSION 1.2.3 installed! Please state in any bug report that you ARE using 215 IRC is an open protocol (though I've heard that some servers deviate slightly
216 1.2.3, otherwise you have a chance of being ignored. With that said ;) 216 from it). It's a TCP protocol, and will only ever make one connection (outside
217 head over to our page on Sourceforge, http://sourceforge.net/projects/gaim/. 217 of DCC connections).
218 218
219 7. I have Mandrake 6.0 and GAIM doesnt work! 219 3.5 ICQ
220 220
221 Bob Meyer <meyer_rm@yahoo.com> writes: 221 ICQ is a closed protocol, though there have been several groups of people who
222 222 have reverse-engineered it, and there are several libraries available. Gaim
223 Here's the solution: 223 uses icqlib (which supports multiple connections, as opposed to libicq, which
224 * Get esound-0.2.12-4mdk.i586.rpm and 224 does not). It is a mix of UDP and TCP: the connection to the server is UDP,
225 esound-devel-0.2.12-4mdk.i586.rpm from any Mandrake mirror. 225 and conversations are TCP unless if they are sent through the server. This
226 * rpm --upgrade esound-0.2.12-4mdk.i586.rpm 226 means you'll make one UDP connection, and possibly very many TCP connections.
227 * rpm -- upgrade esound-devel-0.2.12-4mdk.i586.rpm 227
228 228 3.6 MSN
229 Don't use EVIL 'updates' tool. It's broke.. really bad. 229
230 230 Rob?
231 Mandrake 6.1, with its newer libraries, appears to fix this problem. 231
232 232 3.7 Jabber
233 V. Programming 233
234 1. I have a patch for gaim! 234 Jabber is an open protocol, developed by the Jabber team, and is XML-encoded.
235 Nice. Think about your patch though. First, does it have 235 It is a TCP protocol, and you will only ever make one TCP connection. Jabber
236 to do with AIM? I won't apply patches for stock tickers, search engines, 236 has a feature it calls 'transports', where the server tells you which services
237 etc. Rewrite it as a plug-in if you really want bloat like that. 237 it has available (such as AIM or ICQ), and you tell it which service you would
238 Second, is it useful? A lot of patches I get are horribly unuseful except 238 like to use. This way you can have only one connection, but be connected to
239 in very specific situations (ie YOUR situation). Thirdly, your code 239 AIM and ICQ (among others) several times. Anyone who gives a damn about Open
240 will not retain your copyright. All code submitted must be protected by 240 Source, especially open messaging, should use Jabber. They have the only Open
241 the GPL and the copyright will be given to Mark Spencer. If you don't 241 Source IM server.
242 like this, don't send me your patches. You will be given authorship credit, 242
243 don't worry -- I just want a homogenous copyright on the program. Lastly, 243 3.8 Napster
244 does your code match the coding style already present in gaim? I like my 244
245 brackets where I like them. I do NOT like, in fact I positively HATE, I 245 Rob?
246 DESPISE, with a PASSION, the convention of variablesLikeThis. And 246
247 functionsLikeThis. If you do that, fine. It's great. But guess what? 247
248 This is C. C programmers don't write like that. I don't write like that. 248 4 Problems
249 I don't want to READ code like that. I want a homogenous coding style 249
250 on this program, and it's gonna be MY coding style. :) 250 4.1 Sound doesn't work
251 Now, if you've managed to get through all that and I haven't 251
252 discouraged you entirely, send your patches to Rob Flynn (rob@linuxpimps.com). 252 ./configure should autodetect whether or not you have ESD libraries. If you
253 253 have them it will compile with them; if not it won't. If it compiles with them
254 2. I have a plugin for gaim! 254 you don't need to be running the ESD daemon; it'll automatically fall back to
255 Cool. Before you release it to anyone though, make sure you 255 using /dev/dsp. Make sure gaim has the proper permissions to talk to /dev/dsp
256 understand that if it does anything useful, it is necessarily licenced under 256 and /dev/audio though!
257 the GPL. It's that whole "code that uses GPL'ed code is thus GPL'ed" clause. 257
258 Also, don't send it to us. It's not that we don't want it, but there are 258 4.2 Clicking on URLs doesn't open Netscape
259 better places to put it. Head over to sourceforge.net and submit it there 259
260 <http://sourceforge.net/patch/?group_id=235>. It'll be available more quickly 260 Netscape either needs to be running on the current display (though gaim should
261 that way. 261 handle remote netscape windows OK), or 'netscape' needs to be in your path.
262 262
263 3. Can you teach me how to program GTK? 263 4.3 I don't use Netscape
264 Yes, I can. But no, I'm not going to. There's a really 264
265 nice tutorial at http://www.gtk.org. If you're a fairly experienced 265 There's the option to manually enter which browser you'd like to use. We're
266 programmer, and you get stuck on something odd, IM me, I'm usually happy to 266 interested in supporting browsers other than Netscape though; send us some
267 help. If you had a little BASIC experience in high school and are having 267 information about how to send a URL to your browser (source is nice :) ).
268 trouble making a button widget do anything when you click it, buy a book on 268
269 C and read the damn GTK tutorial, I'm a busy person. 269 4.4 I have a bug not described here
270 270
271 271 We have a page at http://sourceforge.net/projects/gaim/, and from there you
272 VI. Miscellaneous 272 can report your bug.
273 1. Can I talk to you on IM? 273
274 Sure. My IM name is RobFlynn. The rest of the crew's IM names 274
275 can be found in various places. Keep in mind though, I'm a very busy person. 275 5 Programming
276 This IM name is used for friends as well as for gaim (I don't just log this 276
277 guy in when I want to talk to gaim people). So please, don't IM me just to 277 5.1 I have a patch for gaim!
278 chat, or to answer various Linux questions. I'd like to be able to answer 278
279 everyone's questions on whatever (I usually do know the answer, or at least 279 Great! Send it over to the Patches section on our sourceforge page,
280 where to find it!) but I just don't have time. Things like this will 280 http://sourceforge.net/projects/gaim/. From there we'll take a look at it (no
281 usually be ignored. Other things to keep in mind when talking to me: Don't 281 promises that it'll get in, but we'll at least take a look at it).
282 start off with 'I have a gaim question', 'Can I ask a question?', 'Hello?', 282
283 'Are you there?', 'Is this the gaim guy?', 'gaim doesn't work', 'I can't get 283 5.2 I have a plugin/perl script for gaim!
284 gaim to compile' or anything else like that. Why? If you'll notice in all 284
285 of the above statements, nothing useful has been said. I'm often away from 285 Great! Post it to the Patches section on our sourceforge page, and mark it as
286 my computer. I suggest if you are having a serious problem or you have a 286 a plugin. Then other people will be able to see it and use it. (Make sure that
287 question, just ASK THE QUESTION, right off, I don't require any preliminary 287 you understand that your plugin is necessarily GPL'd, and you must provide
288 stuff. Simply sending me "gaim segfaults when I do 'blah blah click blah'" 288 source to your plugin.)
289 to start a conversation is fine -- I don't consider it rude, please just ask 289
290 the question. If I don't answer within a few minutes, leave your email 290 5.3 Can you teach me how to program GTK?
291 address, I will get back to you sooner or later. Lastly, do NOT abbreviate 291
292 'you' as 'u', 'are' as 'r', 'to' as '2', 'for' as '4', or any of those other 292 Actually, I can't. I'm a very bad teacher. I'm much too impatient. There is a
293 annoying AOLisms. They bother me greatly, and as I work long hours and am 293 really great tutorial and API reference on the GTK website though,
294 an insomniac (probably because I'm such a mean bastard ;), I'm likely to 294 http://www.gtk.org/. That's how I learned, anyway.
295 make fun of you, or more likely ignore you completely. I don't require 295
296 perfect English but it'd be nice. 296
297 297 6 Miscellaneous
298 2. I want to write an IM client. Will you help me? 298
299 No, unless you're writing one commercially. Email me for 299 6.1 Can I talk to you on IM?
300 rates -- I'm not all that expensive. :) 300
301 301 Sure. Our IM names can be found in the AUTHORS file. Keep in mind though that
302 3. I have money. I need some software written. Can you help? 302 we're busy people. We use those screennames as our main screen names, not just
303 Oh yes. My email address is rob@blueridge.net and my 303 to talk to gaim users. So please, don't IM us for us to answer questions about
304 screen name is RobFlynn. 304 Linux. We'd like to be able to answer everyone's questions, but we just don't
305 305 have the time. We aren't paid to hack gaim; we do have other jobs.
306 4. I have hardware that's not being used, or money. Can you use it? 306
307 Almost always. I'm a broke college student. We're all 307 6.2 I want to write an IM client. Will you help me?
308 broke here. Flat busted. Money would always help. If you have some useful 308
309 equipment (or even useless equipment! I like old mainframes and 309 I'll give you advice, but other than that, no (unless you'd like to pay me).
310 workstations ;), do send it to us! I might be able to scratch together 310
311 shipping money even. :) 311 6.3 I have money. I need software written. Can you help?
312 312
313 5. I would like to send you beer. 313 Oh yes. My email address is warmenhoven@yahoo.com and my screen name is
314 OK. 314 EWarmenhoven.
315 315
316 6. Are you going to port this thing to Windows? 316 6.4 I have hardware here that's not being used. Can you use it?
317 I've been mulling it over and playing with cygwin on the 317
318 tiny Windows partition I do have on my laptop (It's required for school), 318 Most certainly. IM me or email me and I'll tell you where you can ship it to
319 but I'm not sure yet. I actually do have a version of gaim running on it 319 (I might be able to scratch together shipping money even).
320 now, as of 7/20. However, the Win32 port of GTK has some issues that need 320
321 to be resolved before I can even attempt to release this. Some of my WIN32 321 6.5 I would like to send you beer.
322 patches are included in this release, usually under an #ifdef _WIN32 (which 322
323 cygwin and I think other windows compilers set). 323 OK.
324 Update, 8/16/2000, more than one year later: No. The simple 324
325 answer is this will never be ported to Windows. I simply dislike windows 325 6.6 Are you going to port this to Windows?
326 too greatly. 326
327 327 No. If you'd like to work on a port help yourself; but I really really dislike
328 7. Why the GPL? 328 Windows (in all its closed-source evilness).
329 I like the GPL. 329
330 330 6.7 Why no AOL logo?
331 8. I use *BSD and I hate the penguin! I want daemon images! 331
332 Quit your complaining! They're there already! I still don't 332 AOL's legal staff told us no-no.
333 understand why ya'll hate the penguin though, maybe it's just jealousy cause 333
334 our OS gets all the media attention? I kinda like the daemon :) 334 6.8 Why the GPL?
335 335
336 9. Can I design a logo for you? 336 I like the GPL.
337 Sure! Do your best. Entries may be emailed to: 337
338 gaimlogo@blueridge.net. After we get a nice supply of entries we'll sort 338 6.9 What is a wagii?
339 through them and pick the winner. 339
340 340 Interesting question that you ask, there. 'Wagii' is the official celebratory
341 10. What is a wagii? 341 cry of gaim. Anytime you are feeling happy or excited, just remember all of
342 Interesting question that you ask, there. `Wagii' is the 342 the hard work that we have done to provide you with this wonderful, free piece
343 official celebratory cry of gaim. Anytime you are feeling happy or excited, 343 of software -- as the pure, raw, emotion flows through you, maybe you too will
344 just remember all of the hard work that we have done to provide you with 344 let out the cry of -- Wagii.
345 this wonderful, free piece of software -- as the pure, raw, emotion flows 345
346 through you, maybe you too will let out the cry of -- Wagii. 346 It is also the sound a Penguin Samurai makes :)
347 Its also the sound a Penguin Samurai makes :) 347
348 348 6.10 What window manager/distribution/other crap do you use?
349 11. Speaking of the penguin, I heard a rumour you have a tattoo of 349
350 it. Is that true? 350 Rob uses Red Hat, with Ximian GNOME on top. Rob?
351 Hehe. Yes, that is true. He's on my left upper arm. If 351
352 you'd like to see a picture, visit <http://www.woodsoup.org/~sbaker/tux/doc/>. 352 Eric uses debian woody. He uses Enlightenment as his window manager; though
353 It's a 'history of Tux' and there's a pic of my tattoo at the bottom. A pic 353 the only reason it would seem that Eric uses X at all is to support having
354 of my tattoo is also in the LIMP, and linux.remotepoint.com. There's also a 354 his 20 Eterms and 4 Mozilla windows open. Oh yeah, and gaim_applet.
355 picture of the two matching Tux tattoos that a husband and wife have in 355
356 there. I've heard a rumour someone at Red Hat has one as well. BTW -- no, 356 6.11 Is XX a good hard drive, YY a good monitor and ZZ a good CPU?
357 it really didn't hurt, and yes, I was sober ;) 357
358 358 You could send us one and we could tell you... :)
359 12. What Window Manager do you use? What distribution do you use? 359
360 What other stupid things can you ask me that don't really matter 360 6.12 I want to contribute to the effort. Where can I send beer to?
361 but ya'll ask me anyway? 361
362 I use WindowMaker, without any GNOME or KDE bits. I don't 362 IM RobFlynn or email him at rflynn@blueridge.net.
363 really use a distro, per se, as it used to be a Red Hat distro a long time
364 ago, but since then I've custom-installed by hand from one hard drive to
365 another, so it really doesn't resemble Red Hat anymore, and I've written
366 most of the rc. scripts from scratch. Please don't ask me Red Hat
367 questions, also I hate it when people assume that Red Hat == Linux.
368
369 13. Is XX a good harddrive, YY a good monitor, and ZZ a good CPU?
370 Hmm, we're kinda poor so we cant be positive... if you wanna
371 send us some hardware we'll use it though and tell you how good it is *wink*
372
373 14. Who designed the new logo?
374 A good guy named Naru Sundar.
375
376 15. I want to contribute to the effort. Where can I send beer to?
377 IM RobFlynn or email him at rflynn@blueridge.net