[Mldonkey-users] Server interfacing

[Chris Chabot]

Hi Ya'll

I've just finished implimenting a mldonkey interface toolkit (in php) 
which uses the .ini files, and telnet connection to collect all the 
information.

Even so, i can not shake the feeling that with the fast-changing layout 
of the telnet output, it could be 'wise' to put a XML based interface on 
mldonkey? A full-fledged xml parser would not be required, since the 
input is quite limited, and output doesn't need any fancy xml-parsing or 
validaring either.. just output a string, with the correct xml tags 
around it?

This way, i and other developers, can develop Web frontends and GUI's 
for mldonkey, without having to wurry about monthly breakage and 
incompatibilities.. Also i would hope the amount of information 
available to external toolkits would benifit from this. (like: how do i 
get the current up&download speeds? all i can do now is add the speeds 
from 'vd', and get an average upload speed in 'cs')

Preferably such an interface would listen to some port, and accept XML 
'commands' in a form of:

(connect to server with id '1')
<donkey>
        <auth>password</auth>
        <command>c</command>
        <id>1</id>
</donkey>


responce (no errror, otherwise message would hold error msg)
<donkey>
        <error>0</error>
        <message>Connecting to server</message>
</donkey>


..etc. Do this for most basic commands (download, upload info, client 
stats, servers, connect, speeds, etc) and you could build a solid 
interface to mldonkey. The benifit would also be that a lot of ppl are 
used to this type of XML interface (lots of web & payment services use 
it) so would allow more ppl to play with it.

Anyways.. just pleading, since i know i'll spend to many hours of my 
life keeping my current telnet based interface compatible ;-)

ps, pls include my email addr in replies, i'm not subscribed to the list

        -- Chris Chabot