KYOSHchat

Creating or Changing Your Chat Account

The KYOSHchat Config Tool (with Spark) will let you:

• create a new account,
• modify the password for a current account, or
• reinstall the chat client (Spark — not Pidgin).

You can download the newest KYOSHchat Config Tool from here. It doesn't matter where you choose to save it.  Just remember where you did so that you can find it to run it.  Or just choose the web browser's download option that lets you open the file directly from your browser window. As always, you can use whatever client you'd like once your account is setup.

Some of you may have noticed the change in the chat client included with the Config Tool, as it's no longer Pidgin. "Spark" is a client I'm hoping to move everyone to since it will aid in computer screen sharing and video chats — a great aid for any new IH's coming in since there are so few in the office. The newest KYOSHchat Config Tool includes Spark as the client. If you still want to download the previous Config Tool that had Pidgin, you can download that from here.

Once that's open, you'll see another file — KYOSHchat_Config_Tool.exe.  Double-click on that file.  This is where the fun begins.  Follow the prompts and let me know if there's anything that goes wrong.

IMPORTANT: If you're wanting to create an account, you need to be on your work computer and connected to the work network (either in the office or on the VPN).  The same applies for modifying your account password.  Once you have your account setup, you can connect from anywhere and from any device.

If you're just changing your password and still using Pidgin, make sure you change your password in Pidgin's account settings, as well, following these steps:

1. Open up the main Buddy List window
2. Click Accounts
3. Double-click your @kyoshchat account
4. Erase the password that's in the Password field
5. Enter the new password you entered in the Config Tool.
6. Click the Save button and hit Close.

Technical Info

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The chat server being used utilizes the XMPP/Jabber protocol.  The server is Ignite Realtime's Openfire and is being served from an AWS Ubuntu instance.  This server is not located on KY's network.  Your private messages should be encrypted between you and the person with whom you're chatting.  The chat server is utilizing an SSL certificate signed by Let's Encrypt.

Because this is an XMPP/Jabber protocol server, you don't have to use Spark or Pidgin!  You can use any XMPP client you prefer.  I'm providing the customized version here for simplicity's sake.  The easier it is for someone to setup and use a program, the more likely they are to actually use it. That being said, you can even download Pidgin yourself from their site and install their application and set it up exactly the way you want it.  Just ask me for the connection details if you can't get them from someone else's connection settings.  Below are a few examples of other clients you may want to try.  Remember though that, sometimes, there are differences between clients such that, even running on the same protocol, problems may arise.  Such issues may keep you from, for example, sending files back and forth.  For the most part, however, any modern XMPP clients will play well with others.

• Spark
• Pidgin
• Gajim (another one of my faves)
• Messages (for Apple's iPhone, iPad, and macOS)
• Trillian (they also have an Android app)
• Various Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android apps
• If you're feeling lucky, click here to search Google to find more options.

The Config Tool has undergone a great deal of change. The long and short of it is that the setup file no longer utilizes a key-clicking script to cycle through the client's account creation windows in an attempt to hopefully get everything typed in or selected correctly.  I knew from the get-go that it was a temporary measure ... and that it was not exactly neat and tidy.  This new method starts from the ground-up using .NET and the chat server's API calls.  It's probably not perfect, but it's certainly a lot more tame than the bucking bronco that was the previous script.