Project status in a nutshell

The current client algorithm can log on to a server when it runs behind just about any type of home modem/router, with the notable exception of some 3G connections which purposefully use port-hopping algorithms in an attempt to make persistent P2P connections impossible (a partial solution to this problem exists, but implementing it is very low on my priority list).

In terms of connectivity, a client can currently connect to another client directly (i.e. P2P, without any relays) if at least one of the client's connections is BEHAVE-compliant; specifically, if both connections are BEHAVE-compliant, then the connection is quasi-instantaneous, while if one of the clients uses a Non-BEHAVE connection then the BEHAVE client will perform a port-scan on the Non-BEHAVE client and will find the P2P connection port.

The image below shows a simulation of a BEHAVE-to-Non-BEHAVE P2P connection.

• note: in order to simulate the BEHAVE-to-Non-BEHAVE connection, the automatically-detected connection settings on the clients had to be manually overridden, and this is the reason for the warnings in the clients' main windows.

Currently a client can only have one active P2P connection, i.e. a client cannot connect to two (or more) other clients simultaneously. Eliminating this limitation is the next planned milestone.

On the server side, the current server algorithm is very basic and only aims at supplying the clients with the information required for them to establish a P2P connection. The identity-related functionality (e.g. user registration, login authentication, etc) as well as any other advanced features (e.g. server-side contact lists, offline message buffers, third-party services integration API, etc) are not implemented, but the server software framework has been designed with these functionalities (as well as expandability) in mind from day one, such that incorporating new features (when the time comes) should be rather straight-forward.