First of all, git it from github:
https://github.com/Buggaboo/android_xmpp_client
The features
- GreenDao, database access. Say goodbye to e.g. SQL injection exploits, crap manual data type conversions;
- Smack library (xmpp), modified for Android, with bugs, but not crashworthy;
- It vibrates messages to morse code; (3 june 2012: WIP)
- The messages can be translatable to different languages, just by leveraging the xml resources;
- Multiple provider support, i.e. connect with google, microsoft, meebo, whatever you want;
- Licence: GPLv3;
- Support for android api levels 10 thru 15 (from gingerbread to ice cream sandwich due to compatibility library, 80% of the android market);
- Support for android api level 15 (pure ice cream sandwich, less than 10%);
- Support for fragments (12 june 2012: WIP);
- Support for android Notifications;
The general design
- Sharing data between Contexts via the database: A context alpha (e.g. Activity or Service) pokes another context beta with an Intent with a Bundle payload containing the record id of a certain database table.
- To prevent competition for the same database resource, certain services take randomized naps, aka Thread.sleep(Long);
- A message entity has a buddy entity has a connection entity, i.e. I use foreign keys, to sort and group data etc., GreenDao generates all the code you need;
- BroadcastReceivers and ArrayAdapters work together to refresh your ListViews.
Known Issues
- There are no bounds on how much data is pulled from the database and rendered as a view, the ListViews are potential memory hogs;
- There are no arbitrary limits on data input, which could eat all your memory;
- I have not stress-tested how many connections can be kept alive at the same time, before thread-related issues arise;
- I suspect that the smack library has its own issues with regard to Presence;
- I have not checked for memory leakages, I use nested classes for my BroadcastReceivers, I haven't checked for cyclical references, I don't understand fully how garbage collection on android works;
- The vibrator notification can get annoying, or fun, depending on your mood.
