https:\/\/github.com\/brokensmile2103\/init-chat-engine<\/a><\/p>\n\nKey Features:<\/strong><\/p>\n\nFrontend Experience:<\/strong>\n- Built with 100% REST API and Vanilla JS\n- No jQuery, no bloat \u2013 blazing fast\n- Fully embeddable via [init_chatbox]<\/code> shortcode\n- Guest messaging support (optional)\n- Smart polling system (adaptive 3.5\u201310s based on activity)\n- Browser notifications when new messages arrive\n- Scroll-up to load history, scroll-down to auto-scroll\n- Optimistic sending & \"new message\" jump button\n- Clean UI with customizable themes\n- Template override supported (chatbox.php<\/code>)<\/p>\n\nAdministrative Control:<\/strong>\n- Complete Settings Panel<\/strong> - Basic, Security, and Advanced configurations\n- Message Management<\/strong> - Search, view, delete messages with pagination\n- User Moderation<\/strong> - Ban\/unban users by IP or user ID with expiration\n- Rate Limiting<\/strong> - Prevent spam with configurable message limits\n- Word Filtering<\/strong> - Block messages containing prohibited words\n- Statistics Dashboard<\/strong> - View chat activity, user engagement, and trends\n- Cleanup Tools<\/strong> - Automatic and manual cleanup of old messages\n- Custom CSS Support<\/strong> - Full styling customization options<\/p>\n\nSecurity & Moderation:<\/strong>\n- IP-based and user-based banning system\n- Configurable rate limiting (messages per minute)\n- Word filtering with custom blocked word lists\n- Message moderation queue (optional)\n- Automatic cleanup of old messages and expired bans\n- Admin override capabilities<\/p>\n\nMultilingual Ready:<\/strong>\n- Translation-ready with full .pot<\/code> file included\n- Vietnamese translation included\n- Easy to translate to any language<\/p>\n\nPerfect for community-based sites, forums, fanpages, manga readers, SaaS dashboards, customer support, or any interactive chat widget.<\/p>\n\n
Shortcode Attributes<\/h3>\n\n
Shortcode [init_chatbox]<\/code> supports the following attributes:<\/p>\n\n\nheight<\/code> - Set chat height (e.g., height=\"400px\"<\/code>)<\/li>\nwidth<\/code> - Set chat width (e.g., width=\"100%\"<\/code>)<\/li>\ntheme<\/code> - Apply custom theme (e.g., theme=\"dark\"<\/code>)<\/li>\nshow_avatars<\/code> - Override avatar setting (true<\/code>\/false<\/code>)<\/li>\nshow_timestamps<\/code> - Override timestamp setting (true<\/code>\/false<\/code>)<\/li>\ntitle<\/code> - Add custom chat title<\/li>\nclass<\/code> - Add custom CSS classes<\/li>\nid<\/code> - Set custom container ID<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\nExample: [init_chatbox height=\"500px\" title=\"Community Chat\" theme=\"modern\"]<\/code><\/p>\n\nFilters for Developers<\/h3>\n\n
This plugin provides filters and actions to allow developers to extend word filtering, message processing, and chat behavior without modifying core files.<\/p>\n\n
init_plugin_suite_chat_engine_word_filter_strategy<\/code><\/strong>
\nModify word filtering strategy (substring<\/code>, word<\/code>, regex<\/code>).
\nApplies to:<\/strong> Message validation
\nParams:<\/strong> string $strategy<\/code>, array $settings<\/code>, string $message<\/code><\/p>\n\ninit_plugin_suite_chat_engine_blocked_words<\/code><\/strong>
\nModify the blocked-words list before validation.
\nApplies to:<\/strong> Message validation
\nParams:<\/strong> array $blocked_words<\/code>, array $settings<\/code>, string $message<\/code><\/p>\n\ninit_plugin_suite_chat_engine_bypass_filter<\/code><\/strong>
\nBypass filtering under custom conditions (VIP, internal users, etc.).
\nApplies to:<\/strong> Message validation
\nParams:<\/strong> bool $bypass<\/code>, string $message<\/code>, WP_User|null $user<\/code>, array $settings<\/code><\/p>\n\ninit_plugin_suite_chat_engine_word_block_hit<\/code><\/strong> (action)<\/em>
\nTriggered when a word filter rule blocks a message.
\nApplies to:<\/strong> Message validation
\nParams:<\/strong> string $blocked_word<\/code>, string $message<\/code>, string $strategy<\/code><\/p>\n\ninit_plugin_suite_chat_engine_enrich_message_row<\/code><\/strong>
\nExtend chat message data (add flags, metadata, user info, etc.).
\nApplies to:<\/strong> Backend DB \u2192 JSON output
\nParams:<\/strong> array $message_row<\/code>, WP_User|null $user<\/code><\/p>\n\nLicense<\/h3>\n\n
This plugin is licensed under the GPLv2 or later.
\nYou are free to use, modify, and distribute it under the same license.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n- Upload the plugin to the
\/wp-content\/plugins\/<\/code> directory.<\/li>\n- Activate the plugin through the 'Plugins' menu in WordPress.<\/li>\n
- Configure settings under
Settings \u2192 Chat Engine<\/code>.<\/li>\n- Add the
[init_chatbox]<\/code> shortcode anywhere you want the chatbox to appear.<\/li>\n- Optional: Visit
Chat Engine \u2192 Management<\/code> to moderate messages and users.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\nCan guests send messages?<\/h3><\/dt>\nYes, if enabled in the plugin settings under Basic Settings. Guests will be asked to enter a display name before sending messages.<\/p><\/dd>\n
How do I moderate messages and users?<\/h3><\/dt>\nGo to Chat Engine \u2192 Management<\/code> to view recent messages, ban\/unban users, and see chat statistics. You can search messages, delete inappropriate content, and ban users by IP or user account.<\/p><\/dd>\nDoes it support real-time messaging?<\/h3><\/dt>\nThis plugin uses REST API with smart polling (3.5-10 second intervals) for broad compatibility. No WebSocket setup required, works on any hosting.<\/p><\/dd>\n
How many messages are stored?<\/h3><\/dt>\nConfigurable in settings (default: 1000 messages). Old messages are automatically deleted when the limit is reached. You can also set up automatic cleanup based on age.<\/p><\/dd>\n
Can I customize the chat appearance?<\/h3><\/dt>\nYes, multiple ways:\n- Use the Custom CSS field in Advanced Settings\n- Override the template by placing chatbox.php<\/code> in your theme's init-chat-engine\/<\/code> folder\n- Use shortcode attributes for basic styling\n- Disable plugin CSS entirely and use your own<\/p><\/dd>\nHow does the ban system work?<\/h3><\/dt>\nAdministrators can ban users by IP address or user account from the Management panel. Bans can be temporary (with expiration date) or permanent. Banned users see a clear message explaining their restriction.<\/p><\/dd>\n
Can I limit message frequency?<\/h3><\/dt>\nYes, use the Rate Limiting setting to control how many messages users can send per minute (1-100 messages). This helps prevent spam and abuse.<\/p><\/dd>\n
Is it translation-ready?<\/h3><\/dt>\nYes, the plugin is fully translation-ready with Vietnamese translation included. All text strings use proper WordPress internationalization functions.<\/p><\/dd>\n
How do I backup chat data?<\/h3><\/dt>\nChat messages are stored in your WordPress database in the wp_init_chatbox_msgs<\/code> table. Use any WordPress backup plugin or database backup tool.<\/p><\/dd>\n\n<\/dl>\n\n\n1.3.3 \u2013 March 30, 2026<\/h4>\n\n\n- Added expand\/collapse support for pinned message content in banner<\/li>\n
- Allows viewing full pinned message without jumping to original message<\/li>\n
- Stores full message content via
dataset<\/code> to avoid additional queries or requests<\/li>\n- Updated pinned banner to use absolute positioning to eliminate layout shift (CLS)<\/li>\n
- Ensures stable layout when banner appears or updates<\/li>\n
- Refined animation and interaction for smoother realtime UX<\/li>\n
- No changes to API, database, or existing chat flow<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
1.3.2 \u2013 March 30, 2026<\/h4>\n\n\n- Introduced Pin Message feature for chat moderation (admin only)<\/li>\n
- Allows pinning a single message to the top of the chat box (auto-replaces previous pin)<\/li>\n
- Added hover-based Pin\/Unpin button on messages for admins with dynamic state handling<\/li>\n
- Implemented pinned message banner with jump-to-message and highlight animation<\/li>\n
- Added REST endpoints: POST \/pin and DELETE \/pin (nonce-verified, admin only)<\/li>\n
GET \/messages<\/code> now includes pinned_message<\/code> for real-time sync across clients<\/li>\n- Pin state cached (5 minutes) with immediate invalidation on update<\/li>\n
- Uses existing database (
init_chatbox_stats<\/code>) \u2014 no schema changes required<\/li>\n- Fully translation-ready via
InitChatEngineData.i18n<\/code><\/li>\n- Fully backwards-compatible and does not affect existing chat flow<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
1.3.1 \u2013 March 26, 2026<\/h4>\n\n\n- Performance optimization: added object caching for frequently called checks<\/li>\n
init_plugin_suite_chat_engine_has_messages()<\/code> now cached (24 hours) to reduce redundant DB queries during render<\/li>\ninit_plugin_suite_chat_engine_check_user_banned()<\/code> now uses 10-minute cache with multi-key strategy (user ID + IP)<\/li>\n- Implemented proper cache invalidation on ban\/unban actions to ensure real-time accuracy<\/li>\n
- Added negative caching to eliminate repeated queries for non-banned users<\/li>\n
- Internal optimization only \u2014 no UI or database changes<\/li>\n
- Improves scalability and reduces database load under high traffic chat environments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
1.3.0 \u2013 March 2, 2026<\/h4>\n\n\n- Introduced new Minimum Account Age Requirement<\/strong> (Security setting)<\/li>\n
- Administrators can now require users to have an account older than X days<\/strong> before participating in chat<\/li>\n
- Rule only applies when guest chatting is disabled<\/strong> (login required mode)<\/li>\n
- Fully integrated across backend and frontend:\n\n
\n- REST
\/send<\/code> endpoint now enforces account age validation via centralized security check<\/li>\n- Shared reusable function
init_plugin_suite_chat_engine_check_account_age_requirement()<\/code> ensures single source of truth<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/li>\n- Frontend UI enhancement:\n\n
\n- Chat input is automatically disabled (
pointer-events: none; opacity: 0.6<\/code>) when account is too new<\/li>\n- Context-aware warning message displayed directly under the input area<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/li>\n
- No impact on guest mode \u2014 public chats remain unaffected when guests are allowed<\/li>\n
- Backwards-compatible with existing settings and database schema<\/li>\n
- Security-focused enhancement to mitigate spam, clone accounts, and coordinated war activity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
1.2.9 \u2013 February 13, 2026<\/h4>\n\n\n- Overhauled User Ban System<\/strong> with timezone-aware logic and optimized detection flow<\/li>\n
- Fixed timezone inconsistency<\/strong> across ban creation, validation, and display layers\n\n
\ninit_plugin_suite_chat_engine_ban_user()<\/code>: now uses DateTime<\/code> with WordPress timezone for precise expires_at<\/code> calculation<\/li>\ninit_plugin_suite_chat_engine_check_user_banned()<\/code>: replaced NOW()<\/code> (GMT) with current_time('mysql')<\/code> for accurate expiration checks<\/li>\ninit_plugin_suite_chat_engine_render_banned_message()<\/code>: switched to date_i18n()<\/code> to prevent double timezone conversion<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/li>\n- Improved ban detection priority<\/strong> \u2014 user accounts are now checked first, IP fallback only when user is not banned\n\n
\n- Prevents trivial IP-based bypass when logged-in users are banned<\/li>\n
- Guest users (no
user_id<\/code>) continue to rely on IP-only detection<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/li>\n- Eliminated redundant dual-condition SQL queries (
user_id OR ip_address<\/code>) in favor of sequential checks<\/li>\n- Ban expiration timestamps now remain consistent across creation \u2192 validation \u2192 display (e.g., 48-hour ban created at 8:57 AM expires exactly at 8:57 AM, not 3:56 PM)<\/li>\n
- Enhanced WP_DEBUG logging with detailed timestamp comparisons for admin troubleshooting<\/li>\n
- Fully backwards-compatible with existing ban records and database schema<\/li>\n
- Internal security hardening only; no UI or frontend behavioral changes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
1.2.8 \u2013 November 11, 2025<\/h4>\n\n\n- Hotfix: fixed Load More (history pagination)<\/strong> message order becoming inconsistent\n\n
\n- API (
before_id<\/code>)<\/strong>: changed ORDER BY id<\/code> from ASC \u2192 DESC<\/strong><\/li>\n- Frontend (Load More)<\/strong>: removed
.reverse()<\/code>, now directly prepend()<\/code> using API DESC order<\/li>\n- Frontend (Initial load)<\/strong>: unchanged \u2014 reverse initial batch then
append()<\/code> (old \u2192 new)<\/li>\n- Frontend (Realtime \/ after_id)<\/strong>: unchanged \u2014 API returns ASC, frontend
append()<\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/li>\n- Result: timeline in the DOM remains strictly old \u2192 new<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Minimal change \u2014 no DB schema changes, no UI changes<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
1.2.7 \u2013 November 10, 2025<\/h4>\n\n\n- Fixed Load More \/ Pagination<\/strong> logic returning messages in reversed order<\/li>\n
- API now consistently outputs messages in chronological ASC<\/strong> order across:\n\n
\n- Initial load<\/li>\n
- History pagination (
before_id<\/code>)<\/li>\n- Realtime polling (
after_id<\/code>)<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/li>\n- No frontend sorting required \u2014 FE only append\/prepend based on mode<\/li>\n
- Ensures smooth timeline continuity when fetching older batches<\/li>\n
- Internal change only; does not affect DB schema or UI behavior<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
1.2.6 \u2013 October 20, 2025<\/h4>\n\n\n- Overhauled Word Filter Engine<\/strong> with hardened validation lifecycle<\/li>\n
- Default strategy is now aggressive substring detection<\/strong> (catches
https:\/\/<\/code>, domains, encoded text, spam links, etc.)<\/li>\n- Fully respects existing Security settings:\n\n
\nEnable Word Filtering<\/code> toggle<\/li>\nBlocked Words<\/code> textarea (one per line, supports Unicode)<\/li>\nWord Filter Exceptions<\/code> (role-based whitelist: Administrators always bypass)<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/li>\n