Duckways: Shoutbox | Realtime using NodeJS & Socket.io
What is this mod all about?
A lot of forums come with a shoutbox. However, we've seen so many resource eating shoutbox versions that we thought it would be cool to release one based on NodeJS and Socket.io.
This shoutbox does not refresh it's content every X seconds for every user. Instead, it pushes the new message to all users using a websocket. Blazing fast with less resource consumption.
(!!) To use this plugin you need to have NodeJS/NPM installed on your webserver. This requires some server knowledge, so if you can't do it yourself please contact your hosting company or use our installation service (Email us at [email protected]).(!!)
(!!) We now also offer a hosted node version, which you can run right away without installing anything server-side. This comes at the price of $4,95 a month. Contact us on [email protected] for more info or to buy.(!!)
Features free version
- Parses bbcode/smiley's
- Set usergroup permissions to view the shoutbox
- Set usergroup permissions to post in the shoutbox
- Users can edit their own shouts
Features pro version
- Parses bbcode/smiley's
- Set amount of shouts to display
- Set usergroup permissions to view the shoutbox
- Set usergroup permissions to post in the shoutbox
- Set usergroup permissions to edit shouts (moderator)
- Set usergroup permissions to delete shouts (moderator)
- Users can edit their own shouts
- Shoutbox archive in AdminCP to read back (including deleted shouts & who deleted them!)
Buy the pro version
- Lifetime license for 1 website ( $24,95 )
- Lifetime license for unlimited website ( $74,95 )
- Installation service ( $65 )
- We now also offer a hosted node version, which you can run right away without installing anything server-side. This comes at the price of $4,95 a month. Contact us on [email protected] for more info or to buy.
About Duckways
We're a company with a team of developers who have been working a lot on a vBulletin 4 system for two of our customers. The largest one with over 200,000 users and 4 million posts.
This one migrated to vBulletin 5 recently and we've faced quite some issues in vBulletin 5 which we'll fix by writing custom modifications. Some of those, which are worth sharing, will be added here on vBulletin.org. If you're missing a feature or add-on, please feel free to contact us.
How to install:
- Upload all files from the "upload" folder to your forums directory.
- Log in on SSH and navigate to the folder {forumroot}/core/packages/duckwaysshout/node
- Run the command "npm install" (Make sure you have NodeJS / NPM installed on your server!
- Start your node server using the command "node server.js", it should now start listening on the port that is set in the server.js file. Please make sure your firewall doesn't block this port. If you want to keep the server running while you leave the terminal, please use one of the many solutions written on StackOverflow:
- In AdminCP -> Plugins & Products -> Manage Products -> Add/Import Product in the "OR import the XML file from your server" and fill in: ./core/packages/duckwaysshout/xml/product_duckwaysshout.xml
- Go change every usergroup you have and set the permissions for the shoutbox.
- Final step: Go to your homepage and open de website editor. You'll find a new widget you can drag onto your page: Duckways Shoutbox. Save the page after you gave the shoutbox a nice spot and you're ready to go!
Version history
- 1.0.0 - BETA release
- 1.0.1 - Fixed a few bugs, updated node and changed ports. Added setting for socket URL. Added new features in PRO version.
Support
Please use this thread to ask questions or to report bugs. PRO version users can email us at [email protected] for quick support.
