Garage & Updates

I am still working my way though all your emails, I am down to the last few so almost there. I still aim to get back to everyone, so my apologies if you are still waiting to hear back from me.

I have to say that you guys are doing some really fantastic things with Skype, having read your emails I am really amazed with the applications you are writing. Skype is just a fantastic tool (but you know that already). On Wednesday I had a chat with the MD from an eLearning company that I work with, I persuaded the MD to install Skype and add me to his contact list. I have to admit it was tough sell but nether the less he installed and brought himself a pair of headphones. By 11am he had spoken to a friend in Australia and made several SkypeOut calls. By the time I received my call after lunch he was buzzing about wanting to set up Skype at home so his wife can chat to friends and family around the world, and also about using Skype for all their out going calls in the office.

I would now say that he is a Skype convert and a pretty typical one at that. Once you have started to Skype it’s hard to go back to normal telephone conversations, which is good for Skype and good for you guys as more and more people will be hungry for the hardware and service that you are developing.

My job of course is to make it easier to write Skype enabled applications, so for the last few days I have been playing around with the API to get a feel for the problems you face.

If like me you have been wondering where to start with the Skype API, then take look at the excellent Learning Skype’s Plug-In Architecture from Skype Journal, you’ll find it in the developer section in the extras gallery on Skype.com. It’s a fantastic document that will have you writing applications in no time.

They have even taken the time to localise the document into Chinese, Dutch, English, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian and Spanish. With lots of sample code get you started. I have found it very useful so a big thank you to the Skype Journal team that put this resource together.

Having spent just a few days playing around with the API I am beginning to understand the enormity of the problem you face. Coming from Microsoft I only use to worry about producing samples/documentation in C# and VB. For Skype we have around 6 different programming languages spanning 4 operating systems for which we need to provide documentation so it’s a big challenge.

I figure that you guys know more than me, most of you are Skype developer veterans, so shortly I will be offering you a deal, you write some content and submit it to me so we can get the documentation up and running and I’ll make it worth your while by offering you Skype goodies in return

I’ll work out the finer points on how you can submit your sample code, hints tips, etc, and of course tell you how you get your hands on the goodies shortly, until then, keep any interesting sample code you have written, useful tips etc to one side.