[jdev] File Transfer Interoperability

[Justin Karneges]

On Sunday 05 August 2007 8:49 am, Michael Laukner wrote:
> Hi,
> I have been reading the discussions about Basic/Intermediate Client 2008
> because I was interested in file transfer interoperability. Although
> there is a standard (XEP-96) file transfer does not work properly
> within the XMPP famliy of clients.
>
> http://www.igniterealtime.org/forum/thread.jspa?messageID=152457#152457
> http://forum.psi-im.org/thread/4174
> http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.network.jabber.standards-jig/10468
>
> Wouldn't it be nice if file transfer worked as seamless as an e-mail
> attachment? I would love if at least the main players (recommended
> clients in jabber.org) could agree on an implementation guideline.

The igniterealtime thread has a post containing compatibility test data 
between Spark, Pidgin, Psi, and Pandion.  Here is my explanation of the 
results:

Pandion doesn't support XEP-96, and Pidgin/Gaim is notoriously buggy for file 
transfer.  The problem with these two has nothing to do with a lack of an 
implementation guideline.  Someone just needs to step up and fix things.

Spark uses a special variant of XEP-96 that apparently breaks compatibility 
with every other client, most likely due to x:data ambiguity.  I'd suggest 
the Spark guys make an extension that is less prone to misinterpretation.

As far as I can tell, Psi works properly.

Keep in mind that these are not the only clients.  Gajim, iChat, and Trillian 
are also popular clients that support file transfer, and they may not have 
any of the problems described in the igniterealtime thread.  The situation 
may not be as bad as you think.

-Justin