[Erc-help] Re: ERC nicklist update

[Lawrence M. <s01...@sm...>]

Hi there,

I've copied the erc list (erc...@li...) to see if they have any=20
input as well.

Edgar Gon=E7alves wrote:
> Hi! I've made some changes to your erc-nicklist.el, in order to suite m=
y needs
> (bitlbee with MSN and ICQ accounts). I liked your list, but it still is=
 a bit
> far from a "regular" list, either on mirc, miranda or other IM out ther=
e. So I
> added a few information to it.
>=20
> I still have a few wishes, and I think they are somehow doable:
> - Make the nick faces according to the nick state and/or pal/danger sta=
tus
> - Put a small pic besides each nick, to indicate connection and/or away
>   state. This could be done easily, I think!

Yes, one would have to create icons, but then it would be as simple as=20
adding a little text-property.  Speedbar does something similar when=20
displaying files/directories, so it might be worth looking at that.

> - Put the buddy icon before the nick. This will be possible when bitlbe=
e
>   supports that feature, only.

Similarly, this seems quite doable.  One would have to devise a way for=20
ERC to be notified when buddy status changes, I presume bitlbee then=20
sends some kind of IRC message which we could intercept and interpret=20
accordingly.

> - Yet more info on the tooltip. The most striking one is the MSN nick, =
wich is
>   extracted by erc-bbdb on a /whois, but I haven't figured out how, so =
far.
> - Make the query command work. either on the menu, or with a keystroke,=
 or a
>   double-click, or something. It's crucial in order for the list to be =
REALLY
>   usefull, imho!

Yes, as mentioned in the TODO near the top of the file, it was more of a=20
proof-of-concept than anything else.  Making menus work properly should=20
be too hard, it's just a bit laborious I think (or so I seem to recall).

> These would make my day. I'll try to evolve in some of these (the ones =
I find
> easier). I wanted to know how you feel about my upgrading your code: do=
 I need
> to start another erc module, or are you like me and appreciate others h=
elp? :).

I think the best way is to submit patches and suggestions/requests to=20
the erc-help list (whom I've cc'd here).  Then you'll get input from=20
more than just me.  But certainly, I'd be very happy if other people=20
added improvements to erc-nicklist.

> Besides that, I wanted to know if you're planning to do some of your TO=
DO you
> wrote in the file, or some other evolution to it.

Real life has caught up in the last 6 months or so.  I doubt, therefore,=20
that I'll get round to anything very ERC related in the forseeable=20
future :P.

Lawrence