APIs/Strategy to be used in developing web-based chat Application using Servlets.

[Jack Numen]

I am developing a Chat Application that is similar to Gmail Chat and also want to add feature like Chat rooms.
I came to know that some firewalls do not accept Socket Connections so i want to develop using Servlets.
Is my approach right if not,Can anyone help me by suggesting the strategy to implement the Web-based Chat application using Servlets.
Please suggest which APIs will be used to develop the web-based Commercial Chat Application.

Thank you.

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

Jack,
Welcome to CodeRanch!

You'll want to explore AJAX so you can get new chats/send out chats without refreshing the page.

[Miku Ranjan]

Hi,
You can google ajax icepush that may be usefull for creating chat application using servlet.

[Jack Numen]

Thanks Jeanne,
The issue is not about refreshing the Page/using AJAX.Its about sending messages to a specified user on selection(just like GMAIL) from a user-List.
I explored socket programming where for each user a thread is created and the user is also assigned with a port number internally.This model limits the number of connections.
So i am thinking of exploring in JMS since Scoket Programming has its own limitations.
So i request if anyone could help me in building a Chat application (similar to Gmail one- one)using JMS(if feasible commercially).

Thanks and Regards
Jack.

[Tim Moores]

What kind of client do you have in mind - web browser? Java desktop app? Native app? Something else?

[Jack Numen]

Hi Tim,
Currently Its Web Browser in future we develop native App of the same.

Thank you,
Jack

[Jack Numen]

Hi,
Can anyone suggest which API to use for a Chat Application among these.
1.Java Mail API
2.Sockets
3.RMI
4.JMS

I am looking for a Chat application that has the same features as that of Gmail /Facebook Chat (i can handle Ajax/Jquery post calls but i need which api to use)...but i wanna develop it using Java.


Thanks
Jack

[Tim Moores]

How (and why) would you use any Java APIs (like the ones you mention) if the client is a web browser?

[Jack Numen]

Hi Tim,
I need to embed the Chat in one of my Java(portal) Application so i prefer using Java Apis like those i mentioned to send Chat messages from one user to another user.
On top of that i am still not clear how to proceed developing my chat application for my web/portal application.

Thank you,
Jack