The Gaim Instant Messaging Client [LWN.net]

GnomeDesktop has an announcement for version 0.60 of Gaim, a multi-platform internet messaging client. "Almost 10 months in the making, Gaim 0.60 is finally released, and I'm confident it's the best IM client ever released" [Gaim]

As is common in the open-source world, another version, number 0.61, came out shortly afterward with fixes for some newly discovered bugs. The ChangeLog file lists the changes in both versions.

Gaim is described as multi-protocol and multi-platform, it runs on Linux, BSD, MacOS X, and Windows. Gaim runs under GNOME and KDE, and features new GTK2 support. Gaim supports a wide range of chat protocols: AIM, ICQ, MSN Messenger, Yahoo, IRC, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu, and Zephyr networks. In addition, multiple protocols are supported sumultaneously.

A few popular features are Buddy Pounces, which give the ability to notify you, send a message, play a sound, or run a program when a specific buddy goes away, signs online, or returns from idle; and plugins, consisting of text replacement, a buddy ticker, extended message notification, iconify on away, and more.

As with most GUI-based software, the screenshots go a long way in illustrating the capabilities of the software.

See the Gaim FAQ for help with installation and use as well as a description of current and future features. Gaim may be downloaded here.

(Log in to post comments)