MyHAL: a Jabber bot

I've created an open-source project on SourceForge: MyHAL (remember HAL in 2001: a space odyssey? )
MyHAL is a robot that you can install on your(s) computer(s), configure it, and you can chat with it from anywhere using a Jabber client (no, not MSN Messenger because the Microsoft protocol is closed). But you can also execute commands remotely or create alerts to be warned when your disk lacks free space, when a download is finished etc. (the only limit is our imagination )

The chat engine is the same as Virtual Secretary's one.
It's an open-source project so anybody can participate (developer, tester, or just for giving ideas ).

From a technical point of view, MyHAL is implemented in C# on Mono (so it will run on Windows and Linux) using SharpDevelop and TortoiseSVN.

MyHAL has a blog

http://myhalbot.blogspot.com/

This looks really great
I'm gonna try it out as soon as I get some time

Ok I've installed it
I'm new to jabber, I've installed Exodus to try it, and the installation of the program and mono both went right
The first thing is that I have to type "mono MyHal.Console.exe" in mono command prompt to start the bot
I'm getting this when double clicking the exe:

Quote :

To run this application, you first must install one of the following version of the .net framework: v2.0.50727
Contact your application publisher for instructions about obtaining the appropriate version of the .net framework.

Then I can interact with the bot, but his answers appear only in the command prompt, not in exodus
I'm also searching for a good jabber client for java mobile phone if you know any
Thanks

Did you modify the config file? (especially the "user" key)
http://myhalbot.blogspot.com/2007/01/installation-part-2-install-and.html

In fact double clicking the exe works only if .NET 2.0 is installed, but launching it with the mono command is fine.

I've installed Exodus and it works for me...

allright everything works now
I've installed .net 2.0, and changed the config file, I had wrote "jaber" instead of "jabber" in the user line :p

I've just tried with "cmd" command (cmd program.exe)
works great!

I've modified the code (not yet released) so that you receive an "unauthorized access" in case of you're trying to send messages from an unknown account (or mispelled your account name )

good idea, I was wondering what would happen if anyone could launch a command on the bot's server, formatting things and all these happy stuff
I didn't see the "cmd" function on the blog page, is there any other commands you haven't talk about yet?

It would be nice to be able to set custom commands, on a config file, or directly in the chat window, for exemple:

Quote :

setcmd tv c:\Program Files\adsltv\adsltv.exe
"setcmd" + "command name" + "program to launch"

then you just have to type "tv" next time to start tv recording remotely on your computer

Quote :

I didn't see the "cmd" function on the blog page, is there any other commands you haven't talk about yet?

I don't know if I'll keep the "cmd" command because it can be dangerous (from a security point of view, and for beginner end-users)

I've released version 0.2:
- First usable version of FileWatcher (you receive a message when a file is created in a directory)
- System commands: cd, ls, pwd, ps
- File transfers ("file" command to download a file)

See the blog for more details.

Quote :

It would be nice to be able to set custom commands, on a config file, or directly in the chat window, for exemple:

Quote:
setcmd tv c:\Program Files\adsltv\adsltv.exe
"setcmd" + "command name" + "program to launch"

then you just have to type "tv" next time to start tv recording remotely on your computer

Great suggestion , I've added it to the tasks list

the "cmd" function was exactly what I needed, although it's dangerous
or maybe you could only let active predefined commands in a config file as I suggested, though it would be less fun and adaptable

I just have a lil problem with the upload (I sent you the log in mp)
but the new commands are pretty cool

Keep it up!

version 0.3 is released
You can now add your own commands using the "alias" command.
(see here for more details, I used your "tv" example )

thanks =)
the alias command works great, I like the easy-access xml file too

Quote :

alias /action:a /name:tv "command"

I think the line is a bit complicated however, is the following harder to code?
alias a tv "command"
this looks more simple (for me at least :p)

it would be fun to have an icon for the program, for exemple ,
and why not a way to minimize it in the task bar

Quote :

it would be fun to have an icon for the program, for exemple ,
and why not a way to minimize it in the task bar Rolling Eyes

I've just released a Windows setup that installs MyHAL as a service, so it will be launched as soon as the machine starts (and so there is no console anymore)

Version 0.4 released.

I've added a "help" command to display all available commands and a "logwatch" command to monitor the Windows EventLog.

works all fine
the only problem of the service version is that myHal uses 18mo of memory (on my computer), so I prefer launching occasionally when needed the console version by now
any chance to reduce memory level one day ?

I'm now checking how to use the wake on lan for a complete remote solution
-power on: http://www.remotewakeup.com/en/index.php
-myHal
-power down: shutdown (alias /action:a /name:shutdown C:\windows\system32\shutdown.exe -s)

edit: can you add wake on lan to virtual secretary?

I don't think I can reduce the memory consumption ; I've just added a windows service project, and all the code is the same...
the drawback of .NET applications...