Hello.
Basically put, I am trying to make a software that can manage clients that connect to it. A server if you will. Basically put, this program would be able to list the IP's of the clients it connects to and manage them in different ways.
Background wise, there is a program that acts like a chat room, it allows people to talk to each other and move to different rooms within the "server" It also can dictate backgrounds for each "room" and allow people to change ambient music. All connected clients can see the set background for that area and all people can hear the music. People can also choose differing avatars.
Now I'm not trying to make that program.
I'm trying to make the "server" for it. I.E : The program that handles the clients that connect using this program. This program will basically dictate...
The amount of "songs" and which songs a user can select in their list.
The amount of areas and which areas a user can switch between.
The amount of avatars and which avatars the user can choose.
More importantly however, it will allow people to connect to it, and it will allow the administrator, the one using the program, to perform certain moderation actions, like kicking a client, muting them, moving them to different areas, or making the server ignore their inputs, even denying them access to the server entirely if needs be.
Now obviously, unless I am wrong, I have to use a Winsock or similar protocol.
But beyond making a skeleton for the program interface and knowing I have to use a net-protocol, I am a bit confused. Because if I use such a thing, then people would have to use the program itself that I am making, wouldn't they?
I.e : I'm not trying to make a chat server client so much as a chat server manager, if that makes any sense.
This is mainly for hobby work, so any help is appreciated.
Edit:
I realize I did not quite give a clear picture, so I'll ad some additional info.
I don't need to call the actual files for music, backgrounds and rooms. Ideally I will have these in a text file as lines that dictate to the client side to use x music file or y avatar files. I.E : None of this is locally store, only the text files for configuration are.
Further more, These clients and what they say Ideally will appear in a list box. ((I have three separate list boxes, one for the clients list, one for what they say and do as a log file, and one for whatever is said in a separate text chat that I am currently not too concerned with, ideally, clients connecting, what they say and do in either section is recorded in one log file.))
Optionally, I might like for the administrator to send messages directly from this program as well, not necessarily as an avatar, but that is optional for the time being.