Well the new server on which I was doing testing was down all day. I talked with customer service reps but they weren't sure when the problem would be soon but informed me that they hoped that it would be soon. So I filled out an application for another server that I can use to further develop the system. I am hoping with the first paycheck that I get from my new job (hopefully this weekend), I will pay for atleast a month of my 'personal' server to hold me over for another paycheck or two and then I can pay in advance as I always had. This will end all of these other problems as my server host guarantees 99.99% uptime.

I thought that I would take the time to give some background information on the system since I was unable to make technical advances today.

The Name: the system is named of Mercury the god that was the messenger of other gods. Because of his speed and wit, he was used by gods to send messages to other gods. The system takes his name for the speed and reliability with which it delivers its messages.

As stated in the introduction... the system is being developed because there are no full-featured browser-based IM systems. The most common IM systems that people use now are high-cost systems that require a 'chat' server be hosted from a web server AND the users have to download and install software on their computers to be able to use the system.

The Mercury System is PERL/CGI based (and it's reasonable to expect a PHP version at some point in the future) that requires the use of flat-file databases for message storage and a browser's normal functions to send messages. This does many things for both ends of the system:

The Mercury System is comprised of a number of small PERL files which in all is much smaller than the software/chat server that other IM systems use. It also uses less server resources so it makes it much more economical, and in many cases possible at all, for any "webmaster" to be able to provide an Instant Messaging service to the members/visitors of their site.

Since it is PERL-based, it requires software that every user should already have...a browser. No multi-megabyte programs need to be downloaded and installed which may not even be possible depending upon where you want to use the IM system (ie: at work or at school). And since it will be run by "allowed" sites, you won't have to worry about either the site being blocked (many site blockers used by schools and the like will block certain sites such as AOL.com we AIMexpress could be accessed)...or even if the site isn't blocked, it may raise suspicions that you might be chatting by IM when you shouldn't. But anyone reading through visited URL's would simply see the URL of whatever site you visit to access the IM system such as NuTang.com and there would be no proof of your IM'ing activities.

The Mercury System will include every single feature that is possible that you will find on the 'big-time' IM services such as AIM and YahooIM, etc.. They won't all be exactly the same, but nearly. And not every service will be included..but all those that are possible, will be.

The first version of the system will include every feature possible but definitely not all of them. Some features will be held off for eventual versions that I will create shortly after the first version is tested and then released.

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Originally I was going to wait until the system was ready to be tested before making mention of it. I was hesitant on releasing too much information and keep it under wraps to protect the integrity of the project. But then I figured this would help. This tech log would help serve as proof (as well as all of the comments left and readers that view these entries) that I, myself developed this system and when I developed it. I am adding safeguards to try to deter those that might try to change some of the program and sell it off on their own. But if anyone takes the time to try it, I have more proof that I was the originator.

That's it for now...and here's hoping that the next update will have technical advances on the system.

If you're serious about it, buy a patent for it. They're only like $55-$75 or something for a cheap patent.
» le_battement on 2004-07-19 09:43:42

what's your job?
well, whatever it is, god luck with gettin' more server money!
that sounded kinda odd, but... oh well.
» invisible on 2004-08-03 01:02:33

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