.. _development:
===========
Development
===========
.. contents:: Table of Contents
:depth: 2
:local:
If you want to work with the non-minified Javascript and CSS files you'll soon
notice that there are references to a missing *components* folder. Please
follow the instructions below to create this folder and fetch Converse's
3rd-party dependencies.
.. note::
Windows environment: We recommend installing the required tools using `Chocolatey `_
You will need Node.js (nodejs.install), Git (git.install) and optionally to build using Makefile, GNU Make (make)
If you have trouble setting up a development environment on Windows,
please read `this post `_
in the mailing list.:
Install the development and front-end dependencies
==================================================
We use development tools (`Grunt `_ and `Bower `_)
which depend on Node.js and npm (the Node package manager).
If you don't have Node.js installed, you can download and install the latest
version `here `_.
Also make sure you have ``Git`` installed. `Details `_.
.. note::
Windows users should use Chocolatey as recommended above.:
.. note::
Debian & Ubuntu users : apt-get install git npm nodejs-legacy
Once you have *Node.js* and *git* installed, run the following command inside the Converse.js
directory:
::
make dev
On Windows you need to specify Makefile.win to be used by running: ::
make -f Makefile.win dev
Or alternatively, if you don't have GNU Make:
::
npm install
bower update
This will first install the Node.js development tools (like Grunt and Bower)
and then use Bower to install all of Converse.js's front-end dependencies.
The front-end dependencies are those javascript files on which
Converse.js directly depends and which will be loaded in the browser.
If you are curious to know what the different dependencies are:
* Development dependencies:
Take a look at whats under the *devDependencies* key in
`package.json `_.
* Front-end dependencies:
See *dependencies* in
`bower.json `_.
.. note::
After running ```make dev```, you should now have a new directory *components*,
which contains all the front-end dependencies of Converse.js.
If this directory does NOT exist, something must have gone wrong.
Double-check the output of ```make dev``` to see if there are any errors
listed. For support, you can write to the mailing list: conversejs@librelist.com
With AMD and require.js (recommended)
=====================================
Converse.js uses `require.js `_ to asynchronously load dependencies.
If you want to develop or customize converse.js, you'll want to load the
non-minified javascript files.
Add the following two lines to the ** section of your webpage:
.. code-block:: html
require.js will then let the main.js file be parsed (because of the *data-main*
attribute on the *script* tag), which will in turn cause converse.js to be
parsed.
Without AMD and require.js
==========================
Converse.js can also be used without require.js. If you for some reason prefer
to use it this way, please refer to
`non_amd.html `_
for an example of how and in what order all the Javascript files that converse.js
depends on need to be loaded.
Before submitting a pull request
================================
Please follow the usual github workflow. Create your own local fork of this repository,
make your changes and then submit a pull request.
Before submitting a pull request
--------------------------------
Please read the `style guide `_ and make sure that your code follows it.
Add tests for your bugfix or feature
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Add a test for any bug fixed or feature added. We use Jasmine
for testing.
Take a look at `tests.html `_
and the `spec files `_
to see how tests are implemented.
Check that the tests pass
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Check that all tests complete sucessfully.
Run ``make check`` in your terminal or open `tests.html `_
in your browser.
Developer API
=============
.. note:: The API documented here is available in Converse.js 0.8.4 and higher.
Earlier versions of Converse.js might have different API methods or none at all.
In the Converse.js API, you traverse towards a logical grouping, from
which you can then call certain standardised accessors and mutators, such as::
.get
.set
.add
.remove
This is done to increase readability and to allow intuitive method chaining.
For example, to get a contact, you would do the following::
converse.contacts.get('jid@example.com');
To get multiple contacts, just pass in an array of jids::
converse.contacts.get(['jid1@example.com', 'jid2@example.com']);
To get all contacts, simply call ``get`` without any jids::
converse.contacts.get();
**Here follows now a breakdown of all API groupings and methods**:
initialize
----------
.. note:: This method is the one exception of a method which is not logically grouped
as explained above.
Initializes converse.js. This method must always be called when using
converse.js.
The `initialize` method takes a map (also called a hash or dictionary) of
:ref:`configuration-variables`.
Example:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.initialize({
allow_otr: true,
auto_list_rooms: false,
auto_subscribe: false,
bosh_service_url: 'https://bind.example.com',
hide_muc_server: false,
i18n: locales['en'],
keepalive: true,
play_sounds: true,
prebind: false,
show_controlbox_by_default: true,
debug: false,
roster_groups: true
});
The "archive" grouping
----------------------
Converse.js supports the *Message Archive Management*
(`XEP-0313 `_) protocol,
through which it is able to query an XMPP server for archived messages.
See also the **message_archiving** option in the :ref:`configuration-variables` section, which you'll usually
want to in conjunction with this API.
query
~~~~~
The ``query`` method is used to query for archived messages.
It accepts the following optional parameters:
* **options** an object containing the query parameters. Valid query parameters
are ``with``, ``start``, ``end``, ``first``, ``last``, ``after``, ``before``, ``index`` and ``count``.
* **callback** is the callback method that will be called when all the messages
have been received.
* **errback** is the callback method to be called when an error is returned by
the XMPP server, for example when it doesn't support message archiving.
Examples
^^^^^^^^
**Requesting all archived messages**
The simplest query that can be made is to simply not pass in any parameters.
Such a query will return all archived messages for the current user.
Generally, you'll however always want to pass in a callback method, to receive
the returned messages.
.. code-block:: javascript
var errback = function (iq) {
// The query was not successful, perhaps inform the user?
// The IQ stanza returned by the XMPP server is passed in, so that you
// may inspect it and determine what the problem was.
}
var callback = function (messages) {
// Do something with the messages, like showing them in your webpage.
}
converse.archive.query(callback, errback))
**Requesting all archived messages for a particular contact or room**
To query for messages sent between the current user and another user or room,
the query options need to contain the the JID (Jabber ID) of the user or
room under the ``with`` key.
.. code-block:: javascript
// For a particular user
converse.archive.query({'with': 'john@doe.net'}, callback, errback);)
// For a particular room
converse.archive.query({'with': 'discuss@conference.doglovers.net'}, callback, errback);)
**Requesting all archived messages before or after a certain date**
The ``start`` and ``end`` parameters are used to query for messages
within a certain timeframe. The passed in date values may either be ISO8601
formatted date strings, or Javascript Date objects.
.. code-block:: javascript
var options = {
'with': 'john@doe.net',
'start': '2010-06-07T00:00:00Z',
'end': '2010-07-07T13:23:54Z'
};
converse.archive.query(options, callback, errback);
**Limiting the amount of messages returned**
The amount of returned messages may be limited with the ``max`` parameter.
By default, the messages are returned from oldest to newest.
.. code-block:: javascript
// Return maximum 10 archived messages
converse.archive.query({'with': 'john@doe.net', 'max':10}, callback, errback);
**Paging forwards through a set of archived messages**
When limiting the amount of messages returned per query, you might want to
repeatedly make a further query to fetch the next batch of messages.
To simplify this usecase for you, the callback method receives not only an array
with the returned archived messages, but also a special RSM (*Result Set
Management*) object which contains the query parameters you passed in, as well
as two utility methods ``next``, and ``previous``.
When you call one of these utility methods on the returned RSM object, and then
pass the result into a new query, you'll receive the next or previous batch of
archived messages. Please note, when calling these methods, pass in an integer
to limit your results.
.. code-block:: javascript
var callback = function (messages, rsm) {
// Do something with the messages, like showing them in your webpage.
// ...
// You can now use the returned "rsm" object, to fetch the next batch of messages:
converse.archive.query(rsm.next(10), callback, errback))
}
converse.archive.query({'with': 'john@doe.net', 'max':10}, callback, errback);
**Paging backwards through a set of archived messages**
To page backwards through the archive, you need to know the UID of the message
which you'd like to page backwards from and then pass that as value for the
``before`` parameter. If you simply want to page backwards from the most recent
message, pass in the ``before`` parameter with an empty string value ``''``.
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.archive.query({'before': '', 'max':5}, function (message, rsm) {
// Do something with the messages, like showing them in your webpage.
// ...
// You can now use the returned "rsm" object, to fetch the previous batch of messages:
rsm.previous(5); // Call previous method, to update the object's parameters,
// passing in a limit value of 5.
// Now we query again, to get the previous batch.
converse.archive.query(rsm, callback, errback);
}
The "user" grouping
-------------------
This grouping collects API functions related to the current logged in user.
logout
~~~~~~
Log the user out of the current XMPP session.
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.user.logout();
The "status" sub-grouping
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Set and get the user's chat status, also called their *availability*.
get
^^^
Return the current user's availability status:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.user.status.get(); // Returns for example "dnd"
set
^^^
The user's status can be set to one of the following values:
* **away**
* **dnd**
* **offline**
* **online**
* **unavailable**
* **xa**
For example:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.user.status.set('dnd');
Because the user's availability is often set together with a custom status
message, this method also allows you to pass in a status message as a
second parameter:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.user.status.set('dnd', 'In a meeting');
The "message" sub-grouping
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The ``user.status.message`` sub-grouping exposes methods for setting and
retrieving the user's custom status message.
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.user.status.message.set('In a meeting');
converse.user.status.message.get(); // Returns "In a meeting"
The "contacts" grouping
-----------------------
get
~~~
This method is used to retrieve roster contacts.
To get a single roster contact, call the method with the contact's JID (Jabber ID):
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.contacts.get('buddy@example.com')
To get multiple contacts, pass in an array of JIDs:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.contacts.get(['buddy1@example.com', 'buddy2@example.com'])
To return all contacts, simply call ``get`` without any parameters:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.contacts.get()
The returned roster contact objects have these attributes:
+----------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Attribute | |
+================+=================================================================================================================+
| ask | If ask === 'subscribe', then we have asked this person to be our chat buddy. |
+----------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| fullname | The person's full name. |
+----------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| jid | The person's Jabber/XMPP username. |
+----------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| requesting | If true, then this person is asking to be our chat buddy. |
+----------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| subscription | The subscription state between the current user and this chat buddy. Can be `none`, `to`, `from` or `both`. |
+----------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| id | A unique id, same as the jid. |
+----------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| chat_status | The person's chat status. Can be `online`, `offline`, `busy`, `xa` (extended away) or `away`. |
+----------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| user_id | The user id part of the JID (the part before the `@`). |
+----------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| resources | The known resources for this chat buddy. Each resource denotes a separate and connected chat client. |
+----------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| groups | The roster groups in which this chat buddy was placed. |
+----------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| status | Their human readable custom status message. |
+----------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| image_type | The image's file type. |
+----------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| image | The Base64 encoded image data. |
+----------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| url | The buddy's website URL, as specified in their VCard data. |
+----------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| vcard_updated | When last the buddy's VCard was updated. |
+----------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
add
~~~
Add a contact.
Provide the JID of the contact you want to add:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.contacts.add('buddy@example.com')
You may also provide the fullname. If not present, we use the jid as fullname:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.contacts.add('buddy@example.com', 'Buddy')
The "chats" grouping
--------------------
get
~~~
Returns an object representing a chat box.
To return a single chat box, provide the JID of the contact you're chatting
with in that chat box:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.chats.get('buddy@example.com')
To return an array of chat boxes, provide an array of JIDs:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.chats.get(['buddy1@example.com', 'buddy2@example.com'])
To return all open chat boxes, call the method without any JIDs::
converse.chats.get()
open
~~~~
Opens a chat box and returns an object representing a chat box.
To open a single chat box, provide the JID of the contact:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.chats.open('buddy@example.com')
To return an array of chat boxes, provide an array of JIDs:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.chats.open(['buddy1@example.com', 'buddy2@example.com'])
*The returned chat box object contains the following methods:*
+-------------+------------------------------------------+
| Method | Description |
+=============+==========================================+
| endOTR | End an OTR (Off-the-record) session. |
+-------------+------------------------------------------+
| get | Get an attribute (i.e. accessor). |
+-------------+------------------------------------------+
| initiateOTR | Start an OTR (off-the-record) session. |
+-------------+------------------------------------------+
| maximize | Minimize the chat box. |
+-------------+------------------------------------------+
| minimize | Maximize the chat box. |
+-------------+------------------------------------------+
| set | Set an attribute (i.e. mutator). |
+-------------+------------------------------------------+
| close | Close the chat box. |
+-------------+------------------------------------------+
| open | Opens the chat box. |
+-------------+------------------------------------------+
*The get and set methods can be used to retrieve and change the following attributes:*
+-------------+-----------------------------------------------------+
| Attribute | Description |
+=============+=====================================================+
| height | The height of the chat box. |
+-------------+-----------------------------------------------------+
| url | The URL of the chat box heading. |
+-------------+-----------------------------------------------------+
The "rooms" grouping
--------------------
get
~~~
Returns an object representing a multi user chat box (room).
Similar to chats.get API
open
~~~~
Opens a multi user chat box and returns an object representing it.
Similar to chats.get API
To open a single multi user chat box, provide the JID of the room:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.rooms.open('group@muc.example.com')
To return an array of rooms, provide an array of room JIDs:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.rooms.open(['group1@muc.example.com', 'group2@muc.example.com'])
To setup a custom nickname when joining the room, provide the optional nick argument:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.rooms.open('group@muc.example.com', 'mycustomnick')
The "settings" grouping
-----------------------
This grouping allows you to get or set the configuration settings of converse.js.
get(key)
~~~~~~~~
Returns the value of a configuration settings. For example:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.settings.get("play_sounds"); // default value returned would be false;
set(key, value) or set(object)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Set one or many configuration settings. For example:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.settings.set("play_sounds", true);
or :
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.settings.set({
"play_sounds", true,
"hide_offline_users" true
});
Note, this is not an alternative to calling ``converse.initialize``, which still needs
to be called. Generally, you'd use this method after converse.js is already
running and you want to change the configuration on-the-fly.
The "tokens" grouping
---------------------
get
~~~
Returns a token, either the RID or SID token depending on what's asked for.
Example:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.tokens.get('rid')
The "listen" grouping
---------------------
Converse.js emits events to which you can subscribe from your own Javascript.
Concerning events, the following methods are available under the "listen"
grouping:
* **on(eventName, callback)**:
Calling the ``on`` method allows you to subscribe to an event.
Every time the event fires, the callback method specified by ``callback`` will be
called.
Parameters:
* ``eventName`` is the event name as a string.
* ``callback`` is the callback method to be called when the event is emitted.
For example:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.listen.on('message', function (event, messageXML) { ... });
* **once(eventName, callback)**:
Calling the ``once`` method allows you to listen to an event
exactly once.
Parameters:
* ``eventName`` is the event name as a string.
* ``callback`` is the callback method to be called when the event is emitted.
For example:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.listen.once('message', function (event, messageXML) { ... });
* **not(eventName, callback)**
To stop listening to an event, you can use the ``not`` method.
Parameters:
* ``eventName`` is the event name as a string.
* ``callback`` refers to the function that is to be no longer executed.
For example:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.listen.not('message', function (event, messageXML) { ... });
Events
======
.. note:: see also the `"listen" grouping`_ API section above.
Event Types
-----------
Here are the different events that are emitted:
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Event Type | When is it triggered? | Example |
+=================================+===================================================================================================+======================================================================================================+
| **callButtonClicked** | When a call button (i.e. with class .toggle-call) on a chat box has been clicked. | ``converse.listen.on('callButtonClicked', function (event, connection, model) { ... });`` |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **chatBoxOpened** | When a chat box has been opened. | ``converse.listen.on('chatBoxOpened', function (event, chatbox) { ... });`` |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **chatRoomOpened** | When a chat room has been opened. | ``converse.listen.on('chatRoomOpened', function (event, chatbox) { ... });`` |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **chatBoxClosed** | When a chat box has been closed. | ``converse.listen.on('chatBoxClosed', function (event, chatbox) { ... });`` |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **chatBoxFocused** | When the focus has been moved to a chat box. | ``converse.listen.on('chatBoxFocused', function (event, chatbox) { ... });`` |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **chatBoxToggled** | When a chat box has been minimized or maximized. | ``converse.listen.on('chatBoxToggled', function (event, chatbox) { ... });`` |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **contactStatusChanged** | When a chat buddy's chat status has changed. | ``converse.listen.on('contactStatusChanged', function (event, buddy, status) { ... });`` |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **contactStatusMessageChanged** | When a chat buddy's custom status message has changed. | ``converse.listen.on('contactStatusMessageChanged', function (event, buddy, messageText) { ... });`` |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **message** | When a message is received. | ``converse.listen.on('message', function (event, messageXML) { ... });`` |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **messageSend** | When a message will be sent out. | ``storage_memoryconverse.listen.on('messageSend', function (event, messageText) { ... });`` |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **noResumeableSession** | When keepalive=true but there aren't any stored prebind tokens. | ``converse.listen.on('noResumeableSession', function (event) { ... });`` |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **initialized** | Once converse.js has been initialized. | ``converse.listen.on('initialized', function (event) { ... });`` |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **ready** | After connection has been established and converse.js has got all its ducks in a row. | ``converse.listen.on('ready', function (event) { ... });`` |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **reconnect** | After the connection has dropped. Converse.js will attempt to reconnect when not in prebind mode. | ``converse.listen.on('reconnect', function (event) { ... });`` |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **roomInviteSent** | After the user has sent out a direct invitation, to a roster contact, asking them to join a room. | ``converse.listen.on('roomInvite', function (event, roomview, invitee_jid, reason) { ... });`` |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **roomInviteReceived** | After the user has sent out a direct invitation, to a roster contact, asking them to join a room. | ``converse.listen.on('roomInvite', function (event, roomview, invitee_jid, reason) { ... });`` |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **roster** | When the roster is updated. | ``converse.listen.on('roster', function (event, items) { ... });`` |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **statusChanged** | When own chat status has changed. | ``converse.listen.on('statusChanged', function (event, status) { ... });`` |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **statusMessageChanged** | When own custom status message has changed. | ``converse.listen.on('statusMessageChanged', function (event, message) { ... });`` |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **serviceDiscovered** | When converse.js has learned of a service provided by the XMPP server. See XEP-0030. | ``converse.listen.on('serviceDiscovered', function (event, service) { ... });`` |
+---------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Writing a converse.js plugin
============================
Converse.js exposes a plugin mechanism which allows developers to extend and
override its functionality.
You register a plugin as follows:
.. code-block:: javascript
converse.plugins.add('myplugin', {
// Your plugin code goes in here
});
Security and access to the inner workings
-----------------------------------------
The globally available ``converse`` object, which exposes the API methods, such
as ``initialize`` and ``plugins.add``, is a wrapper that encloses and protects
a sensitive inner object.
This inner object contains all the Backbone models and views, as well as
various other attributes and functions.
Within a plugin, you will have access to this internal
`"closured" `_
converse object, which is normally not exposed in the global variable scope. The
hiding of this inner object is due to the fact that it contains sensitive information,
such as the user's JID and password (if they logged in manually). You should
therefore make sure NOT to expose this object globally.
An example plugin
-----------------
.. code-block:: javascript
(function (root, factory) {
if (typeof define === 'function' && define.amd) {
define("myplugin", ["jquery", "strophe", "utils", "converse"], factory);
}
}(this, function ($, strophe, utils, converse_api) {
// Wrap your UI strings with the __ function for translation support.
var __ = $.proxy(utils.__, this);
// Strophe methods for building stanzas
var Strophe = strophe.Strophe;
$iq = strophe.$iq;
$msg = strophe.$msg;
$build = strophe.$build;
// The following line registers your plugin.
converse_api.plugins.add('myplugin', {
myFunction: function () {
// This is a function which does not override anything in
// converse.js itself, but in which you still have access to
// the protected "inner" converse object.
var converse = this.converse;
// Custom code comes here
// ...
},
overrides: {
// If you want to override some function or a Backbone model or
// view defined inside converse, then you do that under this
// "overrides" namespace.
// For example, the inner protected *converse* object has a
// method "onConnected". You can override that method as follows:
onConnected: function () {
// Override the onConnected method in converse.js
// You have access to the protected converse object via the
// _super attribute.
var converse = this._super.converse;
// Your custom code comes here.
// ...
// You can access the original function being overridden
// vai the _super attribute.
this._super.onConnected();
},
XMPPStatus: {
// Override converse.js's XMPPStatus Backbone model so that we can override the
// function that sends out the presence stanza.
sendPresence: function (type, status_message, jid) {
var converse = this._super.converse;
// Custom code can come here
// ...
this._super.sendPresence(type, status_message, jid);
}
},
}
});
}));