Pidgin (software)
Pidgin [ pɪʤɪn ] (formerly Gaim, not to be confused with Gajim ) is a free multi-protocol client that was originally written by Mark Spencer for unix -like systems (Linux, BSD), but now also runs on Microsoft Windows and with plug can be greatly extended -ins.
On 6 April 2007, announced that Gaim has been renamed due to legal problems with AOL regarding the trademark " AIM " in Pidgin. The name Pidgin is a play on words between the concept of pidgin languages, and the similar-sounding term " pigeon " (English dove, pigeon ) - hence the purple pidgin pigeon ( " pidgin- pigeon ").
- 2.1 Gaim 1.x
- 2.2 Pidgin 2.x
Functions
Supported protocols
Pidgin is a multi-protocol client, which allows to use the same program for various instant messenger services. This capability is made possible by plug-ins that implement the respective protocol for Pidgin at least partially. Apart from the official plug- ins for the officially supported protocols there while still specially provided by other developers or projects to make Pidgin to these networks compatible plug-ins. Currently, there are plug-ins for the following, among other protocols:
- AIM ( OSCAR )
- Bonjour
- Gadu -Gadu
- ICQ ( OSCAR )
- IRC
- Lotus Sametime
- MSNP (. NET Messenger service, used by Windows Live Messenger (formerly MSN Messenger) )
- MXit
- MySpaceIM
- Novell GroupWise
- SILC
- SIMPLE
- XMPP (also Facebook, Google Talk)
- YMSG (Yahoo! Messenger ( YIM ) )
- Zephyr (not on Windows)
Since version 2.6.0, Pidgin also supports voice and video calls over XMPP ( Jabber), but not on Windows.
Encoding
Messages can be encrypted with the plugins pidgin -encryption and Off- the-Record Messaging ( OTR), which work with different encryption standards.
More plug-ins
In addition to support additional protocols Pidgin can also be equipped with plug-ins that extend the functionality. These range up to plug- ins that provide cryptographic functions to encrypt messages. Currently, there are, in addition to official protocol plug -ins, a total of more than 200 additional plug -ins for Pidgin.
Development
Some features such as audio - and video telephony or theming developed under projects funded in the Google Summer of Code.
Gaim 1.x
The last declared as stable version before renaming to pidgin was Gaim 1.5.0, which was released on 11 August 2005.
Pidgin 2.x
After seven beta versions, the last was already wearing the new name Pidgin, and nearly one and a half years after the release of the first beta version, the final version 2.0.0 was released on 3 May 2007. Since then, however, there were some changes, so that on July 2, 2008, version 2.4.3 was released, in which the problem has been resolved with the changed ICQ protocol. 2.6 brought the ability to audio and video calls, which began Mike Ruprecht implement in Google's Summer of Code 2008.
Derivatives
The core of Pidgin is a programmer, a C library libpurple under the name available. The following programs are based on Pidgin or libpurple:
- Adium is an on libpurple based instant messenger for Mac OS X ( GPL)
- Finch is the command line version of Pidgin (GPL )
- Instant Bird uses XULRunner runtime environment
- Meebo was an instant messenger that runs within web browsers ( proprietary)
- Proteus is similar to Adium messenger for Mac OS X, but which is currently not under active development (GPL )
- PhoneGaim based on Pidgin and supports VoIP using SIP (GPL )
- ScatterChat support an improved encryption
- QuteCom (formerly WengoPhone ) supports VoIP using SIP and normal instant messaging (GPL )
- Pidgin Portable, that is, must not be installed on the computer, but can be started eg from a USB stick: Pidgin Portable for Microsoft Windows Portable Apps
- Pidgin Portable as an official workaround to create a portable version of Pidgin for Windows ( GPL)