Bombus (software)
Encyclopedia
Bombus is a GPL
instant messaging
client
for the XMPP
protocol. It is written in Java
, and runs on Java ME
/MIDP capable cellphones, including Windows Mobile platform with installed Java ME virtual machine, or any other platform, where Java ME is available. It can also be used on Android handheld platform, with some minor code changes. There was successful compilations of Bombus for Android.
There are also early preview snapshots of the separate project called Bombus-NG made by the same author. Bombus-NG is a native Windows Mobile
XMPP client, which doesn't require the installation of .NET Framework
runtime.
/JAD
files for Java platform and CAB
for Windows Mobile
via OTA
feature of cellphones. Source code
of both Java and WM projects are available via Subversion
repository.
client for all mobile platforms supporting Java and/or Microsoft Win32 API
for Windows Mobile.
) from different volunteers, with some UI
improvements, additional XMPP features (such as Geolocation support, or SOCKS5 file transfer between users), etc. Most important features and bugfixes are merged
in main Bombus code after author's approval. Such modifications as BombusMod
have very large code and UI
improvements, this modification is widely used by a great number of active users.
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
instant messaging
Instant messaging
Instant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
client
Client (computing)
A client is an application or system that accesses a service made available by a server. The server is often on another computer system, in which case the client accesses the service by way of a network....
for the XMPP
Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol
Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol is an open-standard communications protocol for message-oriented middleware based on XML . The protocol was originally named Jabber, and was developed by the Jabber open-source community in 1999 for near-real-time, extensible instant messaging , presence...
protocol. It is written in Java
Java (programming language)
Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...
, and runs on Java ME
Java Platform, Micro Edition
Java Platform, Micro Edition, or Java ME, is a Java platform designed for embedded systems . Target devices range from industrial controls to mobile phones and set-top boxes...
/MIDP capable cellphones, including Windows Mobile platform with installed Java ME virtual machine, or any other platform, where Java ME is available. It can also be used on Android handheld platform, with some minor code changes. There was successful compilations of Bombus for Android.
There are also early preview snapshots of the separate project called Bombus-NG made by the same author. Bombus-NG is a native Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft that was used in smartphones and Pocket PCs, but by 2011 was rarely supplied on new phones. The last version is "Windows Mobile 6.5.5"; it is superseded by Windows Phone, which does not run Windows Mobile software.Windows Mobile is...
XMPP client, which doesn't require the installation of .NET Framework
.NET Framework
The .NET Framework is a software framework that runs primarily on Microsoft Windows. It includes a large library and supports several programming languages which allows language interoperability...
runtime.
Availability
Official website provides ready-to-install JARJAR (file format)
In software, JAR is an archive file format typically used to aggregate many Java class files and associated metadata and resources into one file to distribute application software or libraries on the Java platform.JAR files are built on the ZIP file format and have the .jar file extension...
/JAD
JAD (file format)
Java Application Descriptor files describe the MIDlets that are distributed as JAR files. JAD files are commonly used to package Java applications or games that can be downloaded to mobile phones...
files for Java platform and CAB
Cabinet (file format)
In computing, CAB is the Microsoft Windows native compressed archive format. It supports compression and digital signing, and is used in a variety of Microsoft installation engines: Setup API, Device Installer, AdvPack and Windows Installer.Though Cabinet was originally called Diamond, its .CAB...
for Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft that was used in smartphones and Pocket PCs, but by 2011 was rarely supplied on new phones. The last version is "Windows Mobile 6.5.5"; it is superseded by Windows Phone, which does not run Windows Mobile software.Windows Mobile is...
via OTA
Over-the-air programming
Over-the-air programming refers to various methods of distributing new software updates or configuration settings to devices like cellphones and set-top boxes...
feature of cellphones. Source code
Source code
In computer science, source code is text written using the format and syntax of the programming language that it is being written in. Such a language is specially designed to facilitate the work of computer programmers, who specify the actions to be performed by a computer mostly by writing source...
of both Java and WM projects are available via Subversion
Subversion
Apache Subversion is a software versioning and a revision control system distributed under a free license. Developers use Subversion to maintain current and historical versions of files such as source code, web pages, and documentation...
repository.
Mission Statement
The goal of Bombus project is to create full-featured XMPPExtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol
Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol is an open-standard communications protocol for message-oriented middleware based on XML . The protocol was originally named Jabber, and was developed by the Jabber open-source community in 1999 for near-real-time, extensible instant messaging , presence...
client for all mobile platforms supporting Java and/or Microsoft Win32 API
Windows API
The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on...
for Windows Mobile.
Features
- Bombus uses available network connection to connect to XMPP server for transferring data to server and users. It can use WAP/GPRSGeneral Packet Radio ServiceGeneral packet radio service is a packet oriented mobile data service on the 2G and 3G cellular communication system's global system for mobile communications . GPRS was originally standardized by European Telecommunications Standards Institute in response to the earlier CDPD and i-mode...
provided by mobile network operatorMobile network operatorA mobile network operator , also known as mobile phone operator , carrier service provider , wireless service provider, wireless carrier, or cellular company, or mobile network carrier is a telephone company that provides services for mobile phone subscribers.One essential...
as well as WiFiWi-FiWi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
network connection on suitable mobile devices. - Bombus completely implements XMPP Core specifications and a lot of XMPP extensions, as major desktop XMPP clients. It also provides Stream Compression extension - the most essential feature for GPRS users - it can reduce network traffic costs up to 10 times comparing with plain XMPP connection. Secured server connection is also available, if cellphone support it.
- User interface can be easy customized with skins, emoticonEmoticonAn emoticon is a facial expression pictorially represented by punctuation and letters, usually to express a writer’s mood. Emoticons are often used to alert a responder to the tenor or temper of a statement, and can change and improve interpretation of plain text. The word is a portmanteau word...
s, which are compatible (or easy to convert) with desktop clients such as PsiPsi-Alphabetic letters:* Psi 23rd letter of the Greek alphabet* Psi , a letter of the early Cyrillic alphabet, adopted from Greek-Mathematics:* Tangential angle of a curve*Chebyshev function*Dedekind psi function*Digamma function...
, GajimGajimGajim is an instant messaging client for the XMPP protocol which uses the GTK+ toolkit. The name Gajim is a recursive acronym for Gajim's a jabber instant messenger. Gajim runs on GNU/Linux, BSD and Microsoft Windows. Released under the GNU General Public License, Gajim is free software...
, TkabberTkabberTkabber is a GPL instant messaging client for the XMPP protocol which uses the Tk toolkit for the GUI. It runs on anything to which Tcl/Tk is ported: almost any X-based system , Microsoft Windows, and Mac OS X....
, QIPQuiet Internet PagerQIP is a multiprotocol instant messaging client. It is a closed source freeware program originally developed by Ilgam Zyulkorneev. In 2008 it was bought by RosBusinessConsulting media group and named most popular RBC service in 2009.- Features :...
, etc. Official website offers a web application called online constructor, which allows to choose graphical skinsSkin (computing)In computing, a skin is a custom graphical appearance achieved by the use of a graphical user interface that can be applied to specific software and websites to suit the purpose, topic, or tastes of different users....
and emoticons packs, and builds ready-to-install JAR file with customized interface.
Third-party modifications
Due to opensource nature, Bombus has custom modifications (or forksFork (software development)
In software engineering, a project fork happens when developers take a legal copy of source code from one software package and start independent development on it, creating a distinct piece of software...
) from different volunteers, with some UI
User interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
improvements, additional XMPP features (such as Geolocation support, or SOCKS5 file transfer between users), etc. Most important features and bugfixes are merged
Merge (revision control)
Merging in revision control, is a fundamental operation that reconciles multiple changes made to a revision-controlled collection of files. Most often, it is necessary when a file is modified by two people on two different computers at the same time...
in main Bombus code after author's approval. Such modifications as BombusMod
Bombusmod
Bombusmod is a modified version of the Bombus instant messaging client for mobile phones. As does the official version, it works with the XMPP protocol. Bombusmod by nature being a XMPP client allows the user to connect to any server of the public XMPP servers including Google Talk, FaceBook Chat,...
have very large code and UI
User interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
improvements, this modification is widely used by a great number of active users.