I've been working on adding lots of features to Commento, a privacy-first FOSS comments plugin that I'm using on my static-ly hosted blog.
I've submitted all my merge requests upstream, but in the meantime, here's a list of features:
- Privacy first, one click deploy to launch it on your own free heroku instance (keep it alive all day long with kaffeine (https://kaffeine.herokuapp.com/))
- WebSocket functionality to get pushed when someone makes a new comment/edits/delete and have it updated without needing to reload the page. I was particularly happy with integrating a DOM-diffing technique (morphdom) into the comment update function :)
- 11KB of javascript, perfect for keeping your website performance high
- Anonymous comments can be enabled, and guests can optionally leave their name to their comments without needing to register
Yeah it doesn't need to be long (short is actually better as more chance of people reading it through)
1. The app requests permission to view your camera
2. Your video stream is displayed and a local js script will run facial recognition (not against a database, just a binary "is this a face") and only then will it allow you to join the chat.
3. When you join the chat, your video and audio will be transmitted but will not be stored.
some people likely won't even read it and just click anyway, but for the curious and/or paranoid it will definitely be reassuring.
It uses your face to make the little avatar to show to people as you move around the map! (as well as to animate the little emoji that follows you around!)
I honestly don't know if a show-your-face policy is the best to prevent people being mean to each other online - I'd love to hear your thoughts! You can read my code though, nothing gets saved anywhere and the video calling functionality is all peer-to-peer!
You can turn your camera off once you're in a room too - I actually made this to try and host my birthday party next month where it would be nice to see everyone :)
I think the idea is really great for private parties. Zoom and similar conferencing systems don't work well because either everyone is the same volume and it is just loud noise, or it mutes everyone but the loudest person, which kills lively conversations.
I really like the idea of being able to mingle, and "walk" around to chat with different groups, all at the same party.
Thanks! I've only added in a map for London at the moment but will be sure to add different places soon! I've actually also made it open source too at https://github.com/souramoo/party - it uses standard ecmascript and webpack for the client, nodejs for the backend hosted on heroku and webrtc peer-to-peer for video :)
Made this to try and simulate real world interactions - normally I found on large video calls, only one person gets to speak. With this you can dip in and out of conversations with groups of people just by moving your avatar towards or away from them!
It also uses modern web technologies and does not even need a login, just show it your face and it will try and use emojis to tell people what you're doing even if you're not in a call with them
I've submitted all my merge requests upstream, but in the meantime, here's a list of features:
- Privacy first, one click deploy to launch it on your own free heroku instance (keep it alive all day long with kaffeine (https://kaffeine.herokuapp.com/))
- WebSocket functionality to get pushed when someone makes a new comment/edits/delete and have it updated without needing to reload the page. I was particularly happy with integrating a DOM-diffing technique (morphdom) into the comment update function :)
- 11KB of javascript, perfect for keeping your website performance high
- Anonymous comments can be enabled, and guests can optionally leave their name to their comments without needing to register
- Upvotes, downvotes, permalinks, nested replies
- No adverts or any funny business
Source code: https://github.com/souramoo/commentoplusplus