Spark 2.7.0 beta 1

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1

Dear Community,

after some more weeks of testing, debugging and developing, we would like to ask for your support and publish the first beta of Spark 2.7.0. Ultimately, we would like to move Spark to Java 7, but that is currently not implemented via the installers. This will change in January after an update to the lastest version von Install4j provided by ej-Technologies.

You can find the nightly build for Windows here: http://bamboo.igniterealtime.org/browse/SPARK-INSTALL4J-543/artifact/JOB1/Instal l4j

About Java 7: Spark 2.7.0 will run with Java 7. Please interchange the bundled JRE (located at Spark-install-folder\JRE) against a Java 7 JRE or use the installer named spark_2_6_3_12555_online.exe and install Java 7 as default on Windows. Using Java 7 will stop Spark from stealing the focus, when a new message is received.

**Important Note: **Oracle has introduced a bug in Java 1.6.0 u 25-27 that prevents Spark from closing automatically during the log-off on the Windows plattform. This is not Spark related. This affects all users that install the Spark version without an included JRE.

**About file transfer: **Spark 2.7.0 beta 1 is fixing an big bug with file transfer. Spark 2.6.x has an programmatic error that was making IBB file transfer very unstable. Tim Jentz deserves a big credit for finding this after weeks of debugging. Great job Tim!!!

Spark 2.7.0 will also move to a standard implementation for IBB file transfer. As a result of moving to the standard IBB implementation, you may have issues with transfer between Spark 2.7.0 and Spark 2.5.8 on IBB. This is an unavoidable result of obeying the standard. IBB is the fall back implementation, if Bytestream is not an option. Hence IBB is not the regular transfer method as it is much slower than Bytestream.

About plugins: There were large scale changes in the way Spark is dealing internally with plugins/extensions. All Plugin developers are kindly ask to review, if their plugins are still working. This applies also to Fastpath. Feedback regarding issues with this are highly appreciated.

**About GUI: **The Spark developers are only supporting JTattoo Luna. There are several reports that other skins are not working properly. This applies especially to Substance. If you are experiencing any GUI bug, please check if JTattoo Luna is also having this issue and report it.

As a general statement, I would urge all professional users to use the customizing options of Spark to get rid of Substance in corporate environments. The dev team may ultimately decide to remove Substance for 2.7x in a future release.

About Mac and Windows7 64 bit: The next Mac release is NOT secured. We are looking for a developer who can provide a Mac beta release. The integration to Windows7 64 bit is ok, but the flashing notification in the tray may or may not work. A tester and developer (MS C++ Code) for this is also needed.

The change log for this beta is:

SPARK-1465 Checkboxes appear bigger then normal since the jtattoo update

SPARK-1464 When user accepts group chat invitation, status is always online

SPARK-1460 No group context menu on a right click

SPARK-1459 Update to the latest JTattoo version (Nov 2011)

SPARK-1452 If conferences tab is hidden, then Fastpath tab is hidden also

SPARK-1451 Vcard popup is not always showing up on mouse hover

SPARK-1450 When network connection is lost, chat window cannot be closed

SPARK-1449 UNC Path does not link to folder

SPARK-1445 Selecting ā€˜Start a chatā€™ in a group chat room opens an incomplete chat window

SPARK-1444 Subscription dialog shows the id value instead of the nickname

SPARK-1443 Privacy plugins cannot be accessed if we log into Spark through the IP address of the server

SPARK-1465 Checkboxes appear bigger then normal since the jtattoo update

SPARK-1464 When user accepts group chat invitation, status is always online

SPARK-1460 No group context menu on a right click

SPARK-1459 Update to the latest JTattoo version (Nov 2011)

SPARK-1452 If conferences tab is hidden, then Fastpath tab is hidden also

SPARK-1451 Vcard popup is not always showing up on mouse hover

SPARK-1450 When network connection is lost, chat window cannot be closed

SPARK-1449 UNC Path does not link to folder

SPARK-1445 Selecting ā€˜Start a chatā€™ in a group chat room opens an incomplete chat window

SPARK-1444 Subscription dialog shows the id value instead of the nickname

SPARK-1443 Privacy plugins cannot be accessed if we log into Spark through the IP address of the server

SPARK-1442 JabberVersion.java uses hardcoded value ā€œSpark IM Clientā€ for version name

SPARK-1441 ContactItem in shared group - right click popup menu performs copy when move is selected

SPARK-1440 Bug in ConferenceUtils.java that can break smack communication

SPARK-1439 Plugins are loaded in random order - plugins with no dependency has to be loaded first

SPARK-1438 Avatars are not scaled in user login/logout notification dialog

SPARK-1437 Bug in PrivacyManager that can break smack communication

SPARK-1429 Update French translation

SPARK-1427 Default Appearance/Colors cannot be overwritten through plugin;Group-Chat colors are hard-coded

SPARK-1423 typo error in LayoutSettings.java

SPARK-1422 persist vcard may throw file not found exception when jid is empty

SPARK-1421 Application version and application name are hardcoded

SPARK-1420 The messages in the set status message window is not getting deleted

SPARK-1419 Chat room configuration shows wrong roles for which presence is broadcast

SPARK-1418 Update simplified Chinese translation

SPARK-1414 Chat window is not flashing when receiving new message on Windows 7 64 bit

SPARK-1413 Update build.xml to check for Java 7

SPARK-1411 Sometimes file transfer indication is not updated on the receiving side

SPARK-1408 Remove ā€œ#ā€ character next to Accounts button on the login screen

SPARK-1405 Improved last activity recognition

SPARK-1403 Enhance ability to extend core classes like ContactItem, ContactGroup, etc through plugin

SPARK-1400 Update to latest version Exe4J

SPARK-1381 Group Chat - Actions/Start a conference menu: propose bookmarked room (if any) instead of adhoc (random) room name

SPARK-1379 Support for XEP-0147

SPARK-1326 Make tabs position optional: TOP or BOTTOM; make search input appearance optional

SPARK-1324 SparkToaster showing avatars in real size

SPARK-1313 Enhance ability to overwrite spark properties values through plugin

SPARK-1215 Log out doesnā€™t log out, it shuts down spark

SPARK-891 Typing notifications would be easier to see if also displayed near typing area

The beta release also includes a new Smack library that is based on Smack 3.2.1 plus the following bugfixes:

SMACK-362 smack throw NoSuchElementException if the muc#roominfo_subject has no values

SMACK-354 Provide milliseconds in timestamp colum debugwindow

SMACK-353 Thread leak in the FaultTolerantNegotiator

SMACK-350 Bytestream is not working in Spark 2.6.3 from XP to W7

SMACK-349 Smackā€™s IBB sends too much data in a packet

SMACK-348 Documentation error - broken link

SMACK-346 Bug in return code for rejection handling in FileTransferManager

SMACK-343 Make Smack jar an OSGi bundle.

SMACK-338 IBB filetransfer doesnā€™t work as expected

SMACK-336 There is an empty element in a SASL response

SMACK-335 Need to set file size and name for outgoing file transfer from input stream

SMACK-324 Investigate SASL issue with jabberd2 servers

SMACK-322 NPE in XMPPConnection

SMACK-263 Set file info in all send* methods

Expect a second beta in the first quarter 2012 that will include the latest final release of Smack

Please report issues in the Developer Forum

2 Likes
2

Getting a Page Not Found error when clicking the link to the nightly build.

3

Oh, thereā€™s just a space in the last word: should be http://bamboo.igniterealtime.org/browse/SPARK-INSTALL4J-543/artifact/JOB1/Instal l4j

4

Fixed the link, though it still shows the space, but now it works for me.

5

Btw, i use substance on a daily basis on XP and Win7 (x86) and i donā€™t have any big issues with it. JTattoo is the default ,so new users will use it mostly. I donā€™t see a problem leaving Substance in the bundle, if we can leave it, legally.

6

This version still has transport icons missing near the contacts and it restarts when i hover one of the transports contact. Unusable for me.

7

I donā€™t get itā€¦ the link that was posted on the first post and then the fixed link, none work to install the new betaā€¦

Is it possible to anyone tell me how and were I can get the real link for the 2.7 beta??

8

The link works for me. Hereā€™s another one: http://bamboo.igniterealtime.org/browse/SPARK-INSTALL4J-543/artifact/JOB1/Instal l4j

9

You must be jooking, right?!?!

That link (I already did managed to get that link) only points me to a directory with 3 instalation files that are the official 2.6.3 build (12555)

And yes, I already tried to install one of those files (downloaded the file and install it) to see if in reality it was the 2.7.0 beta or not, but as the files name points those are the 2.6.3 installation files

(file) spark_2_6_3_12555.exe
41174528 bytes
Dec 19, 2011 11:43:21 AM
(file) spark_2_6_3_12555.tar.gz
45009889 bytes
Dec 19, 2011 11:43:21 AM
(file) spark_2_6_3_12555_online.exe
24669184 bytes
Dec 19, 2011 11:43:21 AM

10

In the post it is mentioned, that you have to use 2_6_3_12555 installer. Maybe it needs more clarification, but this IS beta build. Just the build number hasnā€™t been changed and the version number in Spark as well. It involves manual job to change those numbers, so it is only done for the official releases. All beta fixes and features should be in that installer.

11

Ok, thkx for the clarificationā€¦

At least someone rename those files names to not confuse peopleā€¦

12

Well, this is an automated build systems and those links and file names are auto generated.

13

Usually it is better to report bugs in the forums. Anyway, i have filed your report as SPARK-1470. Canā€™t reproduce 3 one with Roar plugin or common toast popups. Text in the window and popup appears almost simultaneously.

14

Hi

Icons for the external chat partners should be fixed today http://bamboo.igniterealtime.org/browse/SPARK-INSTALL4J-547

Please check and confirm

Walter

15

Icons do appear now (sorry for the delay with answer), but i still get disconnecting after hovering my external contacts.

16

Could someone explain the install of this a little more? I have the current jre7, and have tried the builds referenced above, 543 and 547, using the *_online version. Iā€™m still prompted for a jre5 or 6, and cannot get around it. Using Win XP. Thanks.

1 Like
17

Any idea when 2.7.0 will be released? The MS Windows shutdown prevention and window focus issues in 2.6.3 are really annoying our usersā€¦

1 Like
18

Is this still alive? No updates in nearly 6 months, and all links to download are broken.

1 Like
19

Ping!

Looks like Spark is on its deathbedā€¦ Just like the Java 6.0 it relies on in order to function.

Please say it ainā€™t so!

20

Well, itā€™s not dead/buried. But currently there is nobody to push it forward here.