DSHub

Introduction

DSHub is currently the most used ADC hubsoft platform there is. Also has the greatest download count since its first open source release ( May 2007 ), over 10000. Written in Java, thus multiplatform, with multiple interface command possibilities and extensibility makes it a good choice for any user alike. DSHub was the first ADC hubsoft with a graphical user interface.

History

DSHub initially appeared as an idea of project of learning purposes only, as the developer wanted to learn Java programming language. At first, the software was freeware, but not open source. The initial alpha version was around 5 KB in size and supported almost nothing. It is available from the developer, Pietry, for enthusiasts. This happened around February 2007.

DSHub was presented at the Polytechnics University of Bucharest Distributed Systems Projects Session in May 2008 and won the Student's Organization's choice Award. ^[1]

May 2007: Since the Beta version, the program was registered on sourceforge.net and the source was published.

Summer 2007: Gamma and Delta version soon appeared, adding basic hub functionality.

Autumn 2007: Epsilon version was the first real usable version, with high performance and only a command line interface. It was still preferred by many of the users because of the performance (months of uptime, small memory usage).

The big problem with Epsilon was poor ADC implementation and lack of most features there are now on DSHub (also some bad bugs).

Winter 2007-2008: Since Zeta version (that followed Epsilon), DSHub started a basic GUI thanks to MAGY who patched in an initial GUI. Although it was completely changed since then, it was a good starting point.

Spring 2008-Autumn 2008: The following versions, Eta and Iota added a lot of features, improved GUI, a lot of tries to improve performance, which were mostly unsuccessful until Iota RC2 and Kappa RC1, which was the most stable version to date and the last one to be developed by the first (and only for now) developer of DSHub. According to the developer, perhaps the programming of DSHub will continue at some later date but very unlikely.

January 2009: Currently the project is looking for somebody to take over or let the flag to other software.

Advantages

• Being multiplatform widens the delivery and possible areas where DSHub can run, virtually everywhere a Java Virtual Machine can be installed (starting from PC to miniPC, Mac, mobile phones, PDA, and more)
• Having up to three different configuration interfaces for hub control : a simple GUI that runs on the server, a command line interface that supports commands in a shell-like mode, via an ADC client with the necessary rights when connected to the server.
• Unique accounts, each configurable at command level and options.
• Extensibility with Java plugins written specifically for DSHub (API and examples provided), and also with Python scripts.
• Chatcontrol allows defining forbidden regular expressions for main chat, private chat, searches, also client specific fields like e-mail or description.
• Unique regular expressions and field-based commands like kicking , mass messaging , redirecting or dropping.
• Initial internationalization ( i18n ) for primary used languages in the world.
  
• Special Windows build that includes an installer and an executable that auto detects the Java version installed.
• An unique logarithmic search spam scale that helps users search faster and without the problems a linear scale brings up.
• Very easy setup for ADCS making the server run in secure mode , with full encryption activated.
• Supports the PING extension so that hublists have all the necessary information about the hub.
• Full restriction capabilities starting from message lengths , user counts, nick matching, hub address (dns) self check, spam check support, and more.
• Multiple port server that allows adding and removing listening ports with no restart required.
• A full control panel for enabling/disabling each ADC command on every possible context, this makes the hub configurable at protocol level (enabling/disabling searches, private messages and more).

Disadvantages

• The lack of a temporary banning system
• The lack of high usercount tests makes it unstable for larger hubs ( over 1000 users )
• The lack of a flood protection mechanism
• The lack of text commands, like MOTD
• The lack of scripting api for python scripts
• Re-Occurring CID Bug
• Discontinued

DSHub Blueprints/Feature Tracker

Here are the ideas that will/might be implemented into DSHub in the future discussions are open upon reg in case you wanna add to the discussion on Launchpad or Sourceforge.

Pre ADC Support Removal

The purpose of this specification is to force older clients to update to ADC 1.0.

When user connects:

• adc version check (so that BASE is supplied not BAS0)
• upgrade msg (with instructions on how to upgrade)
• disconnect (mandatory)

Behavior System

If the client does not send BASE in it's initial support string but BAS0, then it's disconnected with an upgrade message. Any client who sends BASE ( meaning they do actually support or at least pretending to ) are being let in until they do something not according to ADC 1.0 specification.

Misc

• Contributors: Toast, MAGY
  

References

Links

• Official Website
• DSHub Feature Tracker
• DSHub Blueprint Tracker

Implementations