This project is not in development anymore (1998!), please use JavaSound
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-Chat

The inner working of MidiChat is based upon a normal chatbox like IRC (Internet Relay Chat). The only big difference is that there is not a central server which receives all text from everyone and sends it to everyone, but everyone has got a direct connection with everyone. To make this possible, a different approach was needed than the conventional client/server model.
Instead of re-inventing the wheel, several IRC standards were implemented. For example, there are several 'channels', in which you can meet other people. As more organisations or webmasters want to support MidiChat, it is also possible to have also several MidiChat-hosts online. This doesn't mean there still is a central server like IRC has. These MidiChat-hosts are only needed to find other users online, but not to have the midichat itsself.
You can also use MidiChat on a network that isn't connected to internet. It it called "Manually Connect".

IRC

To have a decent chat, some IRC-commands were needed. This is what you can see when you type /help:

** These commando's are available: **
/QUIT Disconnect from the channel. Same as BYE, EXIT.
/JOIN [channel] Join this channel (or none gives a dialog).
In a newer version you can join more than one channel.
/NICK [nickname] Change your nickname.
/LIST List all channels of the current host.
/WHOIS [nick] Give some information about [nick].
/IGNORE [nick] Start or stop ignoring [nick].
/AWAY {reason} Notify that you're not paying attention.
/AWAY You're back again.
/HELP Guess what...
.... and instead of channel operators:
/ERONGI [nick]. The reversed of ignore. Don't send your
output to [nick]. However, [nick] gets a notification.
/MAN [IPadres]. Make connection with [IPadres]. Only
valid when Manually Connecting (See "Select Host"
at the "Session" menu).
Your IP address is not known at this moment.

The command '/erongi' is not a regular IRC command. The implementation of Channel operators would make it possible to hack the system in a decent unix environment, so for security reasons, only /erongi has been implemented to replace channel-operator-like things (primarely /kick someone out of the channel).
When you are logged in, your IP address is shown when you type /help. Can be usefull when you are 'manually connecting'.