Description

Init Chat Engine is a clean and minimal frontend chatbox plugin, designed for homepage or site-wide communication with comprehensive administrative controls.

This plugin is the core user system behind the Init Plugin Suite – optimized for frontend-first interaction, extensibility, and real-time gamification.

GitHub repository: https://github.com/brokensmile2103/init-chat-engine

Key Features:

Frontend Experience:
– Built with 100% REST API and Vanilla JS
– No jQuery, no bloat – blazing fast
– Fully embeddable via [init_chatbox] shortcode
– Guest messaging support (optional)
– Smart polling system (adaptive 3.5–10s based on activity)
– Browser notifications when new messages arrive
– Scroll-up to load history, scroll-down to auto-scroll
– Optimistic sending & “new message” jump button
– Clean UI with customizable themes
– Template override supported (chatbox.php)

Administrative Control:
– Complete Settings Panel – Basic, Security, and Advanced configurations
– Message Management – Search, view, delete messages with pagination
– User Moderation – Ban/unban users by IP or user ID with expiration
– Rate Limiting – Prevent spam with configurable message limits
– Word Filtering – Block messages containing prohibited words
– Statistics Dashboard – View chat activity, user engagement, and trends
– Cleanup Tools – Automatic and manual cleanup of old messages
– Custom CSS Support – Full styling customization options

Security & Moderation:
– IP-based and user-based banning system
– Configurable rate limiting (messages per minute)
– Word filtering with custom blocked word lists
– Message moderation queue (optional)
– Automatic cleanup of old messages and expired bans
– Admin override capabilities

Multilingual Ready:
– Translation-ready with full .pot file included
– Vietnamese translation included
– Easy to translate to any language

Perfect for community-based sites, forums, fanpages, manga readers, SaaS dashboards, customer support, or any interactive chat widget.

Shortcode Attributes

Shortcode [init_chatbox] supports the following attributes:

height – Set chat height (e.g., height="400px")
width – Set chat width (e.g., width="100%")
theme – Apply custom theme (e.g., theme="dark")
show_avatars – Override avatar setting (true/false)
show_timestamps – Override timestamp setting (true/false)
title – Add custom chat title
class – Add custom CSS classes
id – Set custom container ID

Example: [init_chatbox height="500px" title="Community Chat" theme="modern"]

Filters for Developers

This plugin provides filters and actions to allow developers to extend word filtering, message processing, and chat behavior without modifying core files.

init_plugin_suite_chat_engine_word_filter_strategy
Modify word filtering strategy (substring, word, regex).
Applies to: Message validation
Params: string $strategy, array $settings, string $message

init_plugin_suite_chat_engine_blocked_words
Modify the blocked-words list before validation.
Applies to: Message validation
Params: array $blocked_words, array $settings, string $message

init_plugin_suite_chat_engine_bypass_filter
Bypass filtering under custom conditions (VIP, internal users, etc.).
Applies to: Message validation
Params: bool $bypass, string $message, WP_User|null $user, array $settings

init_plugin_suite_chat_engine_word_block_hit (action)
Triggered when a word filter rule blocks a message.
Applies to: Message validation
Params: string $blocked_word, string $message, string $strategy

init_plugin_suite_chat_engine_enrich_message_row
Extend chat message data (add flags, metadata, user info, etc.).
Applies to: Backend DB JSON output
Params: array $message_row, WP_User|null $user

License

This plugin is licensed under the GPLv2 or later.
You are free to use, modify, and distribute it under the same license.

Screenshots

Admin settings panel – Basic configuration
Admin settings panel – Security and moderation
Admin settings panel – Advanced options and maintenance
Frontend chatbox interface with guest and user messages

Installation

Upload the plugin to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory.
Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress.
Configure settings under Settings → Chat Engine.
Add the [init_chatbox] shortcode anywhere you want the chatbox to appear.
Optional: Visit Chat Engine → Management to moderate messages and users.

FAQ

Can guests send messages?: Yes, if enabled in the plugin settings under Basic Settings. Guests will be asked to enter a display name before sending messages.
How do I moderate messages and users?: Go to Chat Engine → Management 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.
Does it support real-time messaging?: This plugin uses REST API with smart polling (3.5-10 second intervals) for broad compatibility. No WebSocket setup required, works on any hosting.
How many messages are stored?: Configurable 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.
Can I customize the chat appearance?: Yes, multiple ways:
– Use the Custom CSS field in Advanced Settings
– Override the template by placing chatbox.php in your theme’s init-chat-engine/ folder
– Use shortcode attributes for basic styling
– Disable plugin CSS entirely and use your own
How does the ban system work?: Administrators 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.
Can I limit message frequency?: Yes, use the Rate Limiting setting to control how many messages users can send per minute (1-100 messages). This helps prevent spam and abuse.
Is it translation-ready?: Yes, the plugin is fully translation-ready with Vietnamese translation included. All text strings use proper WordPress internationalization functions.
How do I backup chat data?: Chat messages are stored in your WordPress database in the wp_init_chatbox_msgs table. Use any WordPress backup plugin or database backup tool.

Reviews

There are no reviews for this plugin.

ডেভেলপার এবং কন্ট্রিবিউটর

“Init Chat Engine – Real-Time, Community, Extensible” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.

Hao Nguyen

Translate “Init Chat Engine – Real-Time, Community, Extensible” into your language.

ডেভেলপমেন্ট এ আগ্রহী?

Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.

Changelog

1.2.8 – November 11, 2025

Hotfix: fixed Load More (history pagination) message order becoming inconsistent
- API (before_id): changed ORDER BY id from ASC DESC
- Frontend (Load More): removed .reverse(), now directly prepend() using API DESC order
- Frontend (Initial load): unchanged — reverse initial batch then append() (old new)
- Frontend (Realtime / after_id): unchanged — API returns ASC, frontend append()
Result: timeline in the DOM remains strictly old new
Minimal change — no DB schema changes, no UI changes

1.2.7 – November 10, 2025

Fixed Load More / Pagination logic returning messages in reversed order
API now consistently outputs messages in chronological ASC order across:
- Initial load
- History pagination (before_id)
- Realtime polling (after_id)
No frontend sorting required — FE only append/prepend based on mode
Ensures smooth timeline continuity when fetching older batches
Internal change only; does not affect DB schema or UI behavior

1.2.6 – October 20, 2025

Overhauled Word Filter Engine with hardened validation lifecycle
Default strategy is now aggressive substring detection (catches https://, domains, encoded text, spam links, etc.)
Fully respects existing Security settings:
- Enable Word Filtering toggle
- Blocked Words textarea (one per line, supports Unicode)
- Word Filter Exceptions (role-based whitelist: Administrators always bypass)
Introduced new developer extension hooks (no new UI options):
- init_plugin_suite_chat_engine_word_filter_strategy — switch filter logic (substring, word, regex)
- init_plugin_suite_chat_engine_blocked_words — modify blocked word list programmatically
- init_plugin_suite_chat_engine_bypass_filter — bypass filtering based on custom logic (VIP, IP ranges, etc.)
- init_plugin_suite_chat_engine_word_block_hit — event fired when a blocked word triggers
Improved unicode normalization and internal cleanup of blocked-word lists (removes empty lines and #comments)
Fully backwards-compatible — no disruption to existing settings or workflows
Strengthened message security layer; prevents all major spam patterns (URL, Discord invite, Telegram link, obfuscated characters)

1.2.5 – October 18, 2025

Added new “Delete All Messages” button under Quick Actions in the management panel
Feature permanently removes all chat messages from the database with a single click
Protected by full security stack: admin-only capability, nonce verification, and SQL transaction safety
Resets all chat statistics (total_messages, messages_today, active_users_today, etc.) post-deletion
Includes detailed WP_DEBUG logging for admin audit trail (who, when)
UX-consistent with existing “Run Cleanup Now” button — executes instantly without JS dependency
Designed as a “nuclear cleanup” option for administrators managing public chat environments
No other functional or visual changes; this update focuses solely on administrative maintenance tools

1.2.4 – October 18, 2025

Rebuilt FX Keyword Engine for per-message precision and zero-DOM overhead
Replaced global TreeWalker scanning with on-demand inline FX application during message render
Introduced new internal helpers: getCompiledFXRules() and applyFXInMessageContainer()
Rules are now compiled once and reused, ensuring stable performance even with large message histories
Removed redundant functions initChatboxReplaceFXKeywords(), safeReplaceFXKeywordsInDOM(), and runFXIfHasMessages()
Eliminated repeated DOM traversals after message batch rendering (initial load, polling, or history fetch)
Maintained full compatibility with external runEffect() logic and FX_KEYWORDS data structure
Improved keyword detection accuracy using unified regex alternation with named groups
Achieved significant runtime gains — messages now apply FX instantly upon creation
Internal optimization only; no visual or behavioral changes for end users

1.2.3 – October 14, 2025

Added safe integration hook for cross-plugin Init FX Engine keyword replacement
Chat engine now auto-invokes external DOM keyword highlighter (replaceFXKeywordsInDOM) only when new messages are loaded
Added conditional wrapper with typeof check to prevent errors if the external plugin is not active
Introduced new internal helper: safeRunFX() for async idle execution (avoids blocking UI on message bursts)
Implemented new scoped function initChatboxReplaceFXKeywords() — optimized DOM scanning limited to .init-chatbox-text only
Rewrote FX keyword parser with TreeWalker for deep text traversal and regex stability
Eliminated duplicate link generation and ensured idempotent behavior (no double replacements)
Performance improved significantly when many messages are rendered or refreshed in batch
Internal enhancement only — no UI changes; improves plugin compatibility and runtime stability

1.2.2 – October 7, 2025

Hotfix Release: removed redundant ban check inside [init_chatbox] shortcode
Eliminated secondary init_plugin_suite_chat_engine_check_user_banned() call (already handled by shortcode controller)
Prevented duplicate banned-message rendering and minor timezone mismatches
Simplified shortcode logic for better maintainability and consistency with ban middleware
No user-facing behavior change — internal backend cleanup only

1.2.1 – October 7, 2025

Added role-based word filter exceptions in Security settings
New UI option: “Word Filter Exceptions” allows selecting user roles that can bypass blocked-word restrictions
Default exempt role: Administrator (others can be toggled via checkboxes)
Enhanced backend sanitization with strict role validation against existing WordPress roles
Updated message validation logic: users in exempt roles can send blocked words without triggering filter
Preserves security for guests and non-exempt roles (still subject to normal word filtering)
Improved localization: added Vietnamese translations for all new settings strings

1.2.0 – October 2, 2025

Introduced new filter init_plugin_suite_chat_engine_enrich_message_row for extending message rows with custom user metadata
Enables themes/plugins to attach extra flags (roles, VIP status, moderation rights, etc.) without touching core logic
Improves flexibility and forward-compatibility of the chat engine API, allowing richer integrations and UI features downstream

1.1.9 – October 1, 2025

Added optional support for user profile links in chat messages
Introduced profile_url field in API responses for registered users
Provided frontend hook (initChatEngineMessageElementHook) to linkify display names if desired
Feature is opt-in only; by default, names remain plain text for backward compatibility

1.1.8 – September 13, 2025

Hardened /send security for logged-in users: strictly validate X-WP-Nonce and block cross-site POST attempts
Sanitized inputs on the server before storage: apply wp_strip_all_tags() to both message and display_name (logged-in and guest paths)
Rejected empty or non-visible messages: now fails fast on whitespace-/zero-width-/control-character–only content
Enforced length limits server-side (pre-insert) to prevent oversized payloads; behavior matches UI constraints
Kept output defense-in-depth: responses continue to use wp_kses_post() for message rendering
Tightened server-side anti-abuse: permission callback rate-limit check remains authoritative (in addition to any client throttling)

1.1.7 – September 13, 2025

Updated URL auto-linking logic to only apply when the link matches the current site domain
Prevented external or mismatched-domain links from being auto-converted into <a> tags
Reduced risk of spammy or malicious links being injected into formatted content
Maintained full support for existing markdown-style text formatting features
Improved overall content safety and formatting reliability

1.1.6 – September 1, 2025

Updated codebase to fully comply with WordPress Coding Standards (WPCS)
Refactored inline documentation and formatting for better readability and maintainability
Improved code consistency to align with official WordPress best practices
Minor internal cleanups to enhance long-term stability

1.1.5 – August 4, 2025

Enhanced text formatting logic with smarter boundary detection for markdown-style syntax
Improved formatting rules to require whitespace boundaries OR string start/end positions
Fixed formatting conflicts in code identifiers (e.g., init_live_search no longer formats “live”)
Resolved mathematical expression formatting issues (e.g., 1*2*3 = 6 no longer bolds “2”)
Updated regex patterns to use OR logic: format when either start OR end has whitespace boundary
Enhanced support for edge cases like *start* and *end* now properly formats both words
Maintained strict content validation: no spaces immediately after opening or before closing markers
Added comprehensive capture group handling for multiple regex patterns
Improved formatting accuracy while preserving backward compatibility
Enhanced user experience with more intuitive and predictable text formatting behavior

1.1.4 – August 3, 2025

Added extensible hook system for enhanced message formatting and customization
Introduced window.initChatEngineFormatHook for custom text formatting (supports sticker display and theme extensions)
Added window.initChatEngineMessageElementHook for post-processing message elements after creation
Enhanced message rendering pipeline to support external plugins and theme customizations
Improved integration capabilities with Init Manga sticker system and other theme features
Maintained backward compatibility while providing flexible extension points for developers
Optimized hook execution with proper error handling to prevent chat interruptions

1.1.3 – August 01, 2025

Advanced request management system with AbortController to prevent duplicate API calls
Real-time timestamp updates: message timestamps now refresh automatically (e.g., “5 minutes” “6 minutes”)
Enhanced network error handling with exponential backoff and smart retry mechanism
Improved connection stability for slow/unstable networks with intelligent polling intervals
Request deduplication system prevents message loading conflicts and UI inconsistencies
Network status monitoring with automatic reconnection when connection is restored
Better error recovery with consecutive error tracking and adaptive polling frequency
Performance optimizations: reduced unnecessary API calls and improved memory management
Enhanced user experience with clearer loading states and connection status indicators
Robust offline/online detection with proper fallback handling for network interruptions

1.1.2 – July 30, 2025

Complete dark mode system overhaul with comprehensive theme support
Enhanced CSS variables system with dedicated light/dark theme variable sets
Full component coverage: dark mode now applies to all elements (messages, inputs, buttons, scrollbars, modals)
Smart theme detection: auto-detect system dark mode preference with @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark)
Improved color contrast and accessibility with proper contrast ratios for dark theme
Smooth theme transitions with 0.3s transition animations when switching between themes

1.1.1 – July 29, 2025

Resolved infinite scroll loop bug causing chat interface crashes
Fixed load more button toggle conflicts in middle scroll positions (50-200px from top)
Implemented debounced scroll handling with 100ms stabilization timer
Added scroll direction tracking to prevent unnecessary auto-load triggers
Improved scroll zone boundaries: auto-load (<30px), manual button (30-200px), hide (>300px)
Enhanced state management to prevent redundant UI updates and layout thrashing
Added proper timer cleanup on page unload to prevent memory leaks
Optimized scroll performance with passive event listeners and reduced DOM queries
Fixed scroll button visibility logic to prevent flickering during rapid scrolling
Strengthened error handling for edge cases in scroll position calculations
Added support for utility classes (uk-hidden, hidden, .ice-hidden)
Automatic CSS framework detection and appropriate hide/show class usage
Fixed character counter not working for guest users due to duplicate ID names
Improved “Load more” button display logic to be more generous but still safe (expanded zone to 400px)
Faster UI response time: reduced debounce to 80ms, auto-load delay to 150ms

1.1.0 – July 29, 2025

Major admin panel upgrade with tabbed interface (Basic, Security, Advanced)
Added full message management system with search and pagination
Introduced user ban/unban system with support for IP and user restrictions
Built statistics dashboard with activity charts and engagement metrics
Implemented rate limiting control (messages per minute) to prevent spam
Added word filter system with custom blocked word list
Included auto/manual cleanup tools for old messages
Redesigned admin UI with professional styling and responsive support
Added connection status indicators and improved error handling
Introduced REST API endpoints for admin moderation actions
Implemented caching and nonce verification for all admin operations
Added full settings validation and sanitization
Full i18n support with .pot file and Vietnamese translation included

1.0.3 – July 20, 2025

Added support for inline message formatting: *bold*, _highlight_, ~strike~, ^mark^, and italic
Reused highlight style .init-fx-highlight-text from Init FX Engine (no duplicated CSS)
Improved message rendering with safe HTML output
Removed redundant escapeHTML() call to enable formatting
Minor refactor of formatting logic

1.0.2 – July 19, 2025

Added user avatar rendering with fallback support
Introduced blinking document title when new messages arrive
Added anti-spam cooldown and click-lock on send button
Refined guest name workflow and improved avatar integration
Enhanced message HTML structure and cleaned up code

1.0.1 – July 19, 2025

Implemented smart polling system with adaptive intervals
Added browser notification API support for new messages
Improved scroll behavior and scroll-to-bottom logic
Enhanced typing state detection and guest name handling
Fixed message prepending offset issue and made UI tweaks

1.0.0 – July 18, 2025

Initial release
Core chat functionality using REST API (no WebSocket)
Guest messaging support with basic identity system
Admin settings for message limits and guest permissions
Shortcode support with template override
Scrollable history with smooth auto-scroll
Optimistic message sending with fallback retry