Changes to talk/ytalk or alternative chat in the Linux terminal

-1

While looking for a piece of software that provides chat between 2 Linux server users logged in the terminal, I tried talk/ytalk. Unfortuntaley it provides chat between users on separate walls (each user has its own wall) and the messages lack timestamps. Is it possible to set it up so that at least timestamps are provided?

Alternatively, is there any other software that could provide one wall on which users write messages prepended with time? Simple chat with messages listed in the order of submission would be ideal:

13:05:48 [bridgekeeper@...]: What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?
13:06:28 [cascaval@...]: What do you mean? An African or European swallow?

I already tried wall and write but they don't fit the bill.

OS: Debian 6.0

tmt

Posted 2012-11-14T14:55:36.987

Reputation: 101

1Have you tried 'write' ? – PJC – 2012-11-14T15:13:45.877

I noticed write in my search but haven't tried it. Now I gave it a shot and it seems to be similar to wall though the messages go to only one user. Still it's not really a chat wall with timestamped messages. – tmt – 2012-11-14T15:21:45.190

Now when I think of it, I could get by with the split window of ytalk if each message had the timestamp prefixed. – tmt – 2012-11-14T15:27:20.013

I tweaked the question as some people seem to be unhappy about it. – tmt – 2012-11-14T16:29:27.603

I suspect the answer is going to come down to "No". – PJC – 2012-11-14T17:02:32.180

@PJC: Yes, I'm afraid I'll have to consider some more complicated options as already before I posted the question the Google results didn't bring anything that would match. – tmt – 2012-11-14T17:06:38.157

Answers

You may accuse me of overkill, but I think an XMPP (Jabber) server would fit the bill. ejabberd is a world-class Jabber server that's very easy to set up on Linux.

Once you have a Jabber server, you can create two or more accounts, then use any instant messaging program to chat. For the Linux console, I recommend mcabber. I personally use it. It has timestamps, logging, presence notifications, and you can even set up ad-hoc chat rooms for three or more people.

Philip

Posted 2012-11-14T14:55:36.987

Reputation: 1 295

Yes, a bit more complicated in my opinion in the same way as in ekaj's answer but it would certainly be an option to consider so thank you and +1 for your input. Another option that I already know about is the use of finch + avahi. – tmt – 2012-11-14T17:01:39.963

Look up irssi. You can customize it to your needs.

cutrightjm

Posted 2012-11-14T14:55:36.987

Reputation: 3 966

That would require IRC server to be set up on the machine, right? – tmt – 2012-11-14T16:05:09.003

I see. I was hoping for some simpler solution but if not found, I'll consider something more complicated and this would surely be one of the options so thanks and +1 for the answer. – tmt – 2012-11-14T16:54:04.490

It's easy to use but I would have to set up an IRC server as I don't want the communication to go through a 3rd party server. – tmt – 2012-11-15T14:55:37.127

Yes, with some GPG based plugin I could get the security. The thing is, why to run it through the 3rd party server at all (well apart from not having to install/setup local IRC server)? It looks like an extra link in the chain that might thus bring extra issues. – tmt – 2012-11-16T06:41:03.453

But that's the thing. Why to run the communication between 2 local users through a 3rd party server and thus have the security concern? – tmt – 2012-11-16T10:58:14.723

If your hiding something THAT secretive, people will just hack into your server... I doubt anything you're doing is that sensitive if you're discussing how to do it on an internet help site – cutrightjm – 2012-11-16T15:30:08.377