Large scale web chat application

With this project we want to explore different existing techniques to implement a large scale web chat. In web development, Comet describes a web application model in which a long-held HTTP request allows a web server to push data to a browser, without the browser explicitly requesting it. In contrast to Facebook that released a chat developped in Erlang, we want to build such an application using push technologies. The student will have to investigate many concepts (Comet, Bayeux protocol, push technology, …) as well as available implementations (Jetty’s continuation, Meteor Server, Cometd, …). He will have to propose a valid (linear-) scalable architecture, and provide a robust implementation of the application. At the end of the project, the application will be released under GPL.

• Becoming familiar with (reverse) AJAX, Bayeux protocol, Push technologies, …
• Practical experience in state of the art Web development, using many programming languages (Javascript, PHP, Perl, Java, Scala)
• Gaining experience in large scale applications

12h/week project

LSIR Guidelines for Student Projects

• Good networking skills.
• Very good web programming skills (Ajax, PHP, Perl, Javascript, …) and general programming skills (Java, Scala, …).