Jitsi/XMPP
I tried to create accounts on jitsi via XMPP (one for me, ad a few for my contacts).
Let's be honest, having so much supported networks is cool, but it isn't helpful at all. This program seriously needs a beginner guide.
I had to make some research to find out that XMPP is working fine is easy to setup. Well at least the first account creation went smoothly.
But for the other ones, even through the assistant/wizard, it says "add", then "sign in", then nothing, still have only one account.
at random, it tells me something about the server not configured or something when I try to create an account.
It's like everything is broken all of a sudden.
I have no idea about the status of those accounts, besides that they're not in my list of created accounts.
Any help appreciated.
Ok, I can't even log in to my first account anymore, and the software itself doesn't start anymore, only the multi-login window appears.
That does it, back to Skype...
I am a member!
Did you use their client? It could be that they do things different than normal xmpp.
I have no idea. I just downloaded Jitsi from synaptic.
Isn't that their client?
I'm completely lost, I don't understand a thing about where to register, and why.
So I'll try their IRC channel and post my fix when I'm done.
Here's a thread I opened a while ago (https://trisquel.info/en/forum/your-privacy-strategytodo-list-minimal-install).
I intend to write a short guide about making all these findings of mine about privacy/anonymity/security
simple to understand and apply.
I intend to list a series of alternative software (including jitsi)
with a guide to make them work when needed (including their counterparts on Windows and Mac, in order to communicate with them).
This matters because time is of the essence.
I would never want a new user to waste (or even spend) as much time as I do just to have a functional free software computer.
I think this should include a simplified Libreboot guide.
And a basic GNU/Linux guide.
So, I'm gonna work on that.
I just downloaded Jitsi from synaptic.
Like mYself told you, you should install the latest (2.8) version from https://download.jitsi.org/jitsi/debian/
I'm completely lost, I don't understand a thing about where to register, and why.
You need an XMPP account on any XMPP server. It is like email where you need an email account on any email server to send/receive messages to/from any other user.
I intend to write a short guide about making all these findings of mine about privacy/anonymity/security simple to understand and apply.
And you use Skype (the worst ever) as soon as you face a difficulty?! If you do not care about encryption (like Jitsi provides), you can use Firefox Hello, which is shipped with Firefox/Abrowser/Iceweasel/etc. since version 34. It cannot be simpler: the software is already installed on most GNU/Linux systems and there is no need to create an account. And it works very well (including video chats with several interlocutors).
I know, hence my reply to mYself.
I'd rather compile from source, and since I'm not yet fully comfortable with that,
I tried Pidgin first. After finding a server address to write down, it worked.
I have yet to make another account and try the audio+video.
So, I'm not giving up, I was just venting off my frustration.
Skype is temporary.
I was frustrated because it seemed to work just right, then when trying to set up an account for someone else, it didn't work.
And from there, not even my first account worked. Nothing worked.
And there wasn't enough feedback from Jitsi for me to clearly understand what's going on.
Even the Mac version of Jitsi was not working well (or there wasn't enough feedback) for account creation,
so that's another reason to feel frustrated.
Specially at the crucial moment when it's supposed to convince other users.
It should be much more accessible.
Thanks for the XMPP explanation, and Firefox Hello.
I am a member!
Yeah, that schould be their client, I thougth you used pidgin or another xmpp client.
I just installed their newest release.
I saw the first screen and yes I am as confused as you...
Have you tried Pidgin? That is the client I use, and it has worked pretty well for me.
Pidgin has audio+video? I had no idea, thanks!
well, what's left is making it work :
I learned that XMPP is the only supported protocol for video+audio.
And that I should right-click on a contact to enable the audio+video.
Ticked the box at the bottom to create an account on the server.
im.apinc.org is the domain name I used.
But I struggled to find such info, even on the pidgin website.
What's left is to try it on Windows/Mac, for my contacts.
Sorry I didn't know you wanted audio+video. Technically Pidgin does have support for those features, but I have never managed to get it working.
For video chatting I use Tox right now, which is completely different than XMPP.
No worries, thanks for letting me know.
If Tox is easier to setup, I'll try it as well, or get back to Jitsi.
You have to download the official package from https://jitsi.org/. The last time I checked, the version available in Trisquel 7.0 had some connection issues (i.e. the global status was always "Offline").
Either that or compile from source I guess, for added safety.
Thanks for the info, I'll try it if Pidgin fails.
I'm not yet comfortable with compiling.
I am a translator!
compile the latest source. Jitsi works but yeah, it is not as straight forward as the proprietary skype. You need to spend a little time and effort.
I don't mind the time and effort on my part that much,
but I'm afraid my contacts do mind.
The obvious solution is that I need to test everything completely before
attempting to make others switch/create an account for them and configure their clients.
Here I thought I got it working, but that was still too early.
Thank you all for your help and patience with me today.