SgtSpike

Network Programming 101

Ok, it's time for all you programmers to show what you're made of. I need a simple program made.

I don't know a thing about network programming, and don't have the time to figure it out, otherwise I'd write this myself.

Anyway, all I need is a resizeable window that I can type in, and someone else on another computer on a network could also type in, and we would both be editing the same text. Somehow, two (or even more would be great) computers need to be able to connect to each other, and update the other's form instantly when something is changed. It will not be anything more than a small amount of text, so it would probably be fine to send an update of the entire text for each change made (i.e. a letter typed).

So, if any of you are up to it, and feel like helping me out, that would be awesome. Serious props to anyone who can get one working!

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version2

Lol. The PHP non-gui approach cannot be ignored: Can it be browser-based? As in, open your browser, and type in the url, and someone else can access it? You would be able to resize your browser, and the chat window would scale (size-wise). Requirements would be a simple apache and php (and maybe mysql) software. This approach would use "Ajax" which would refresh the text on ever keystroke or form change...

This is basically a remote note taking program right?

SgtSpike

Basically, yes it is a remote note taking program - for notes from two or more users. A browser-based version would work, but it'd have to be with no toolbars, menus, etc. I know you can easily get rid of most of that with javascript, but even better would be to get rid of the "x" in the corner, and only have exiting by a link, to further save on space.

Also, information must be retained even if all users exited from the program.

Thanks for the reply! Are you thinking about taking this on?

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kyotejones

what kind of network connection exists between the two computers? Are they both local? or are you talking about computers that are across the country?

What type of resources do we have available to us? Is there a network share? domain controller? A database engine like MySQL, MSSQL or Oracle? Is the .Net Framework installed? Web server of any kind? Are all the computers the same OS or are they a different OS?

version2

The problem I see with this program idea is that if you have multiple users "editing" the text, then each will have different versions they are editing...

Ex: Currently it has this text: "Put your text here." User 1 changes it to "Put your text here. Okay, I will." and User 2 changes it to "Don't put text here." Get my gist? Only the last saved version of the text will be visible, the other will be gone -- unseen by the other user.

SgtSpike

@kyotejones - It'd just be over a local area network, just working on 192.168.1.xxx static ip addresses at the moment as well. Not sure what you mean by a network share or domain controller.

We do have the mysql database engine available and currently running on one of our servers. Not sure if we've got any others, but if they're simple to set up, then it wouldn't be a problem to set a new one up for the program.

.NET framework should be installed, but is easy to install if it is not, so it's not a problem to develop on .NET.

Webservers (local intranet and internet) are set up and running, so we could use that as something to work off of as well.

All computers that we would be using this software on would be Windows XP Pro. At least for now, as we may be looking to upgrade to Vista Business in 6mo - 2yrs.


@version2 - The goal of this project is to avoid that type of situation. They will not have different versions of the text that they are editing, because as soon as one letter is typed in, it is shown on all users displays. It's not like you type in a sentence, and click "Save", and then it sends it to the other users, it'll be constantly updating when a user is typing.

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