This article was originally published at https://www.pubnub.com/docs/release-notes/2024/september
September may bring a chill in the air, but it hasn't slowed us down at PubNub.
We've launched Kotlin and Swift Chat SDKs, completing our chat SDK coverage for web, gaming, and mobile platforms.
Based on your feedback, we're also simplifying our offerings by phasing out Chat Components and Highlights & Alerts, allowing us to focus on the features that matter most.
In gaming chat SDKs, we've enhanced user presence tracking and typing indicators. Plus, our PHP SDK now supports file sharing and improved message history management.
Lastly, our BizOps Workspace now features Word Lists, making it easier for moderators to spot inappropriate content.
Can't wait to see how you'll use these updates!
SDKs 📦
New mobile chat SDKs
Type: New Feature
As you may remember, last month we released new gaming SDKs, including two SDKs for building chat apps (Unity & Unreal).
One of the biggest highlights this month is the release of the two mobile SDKs for the chat use case: Kotlin Chat SDK and Swift Chat SDK.
Thanks to these new releases, PubNub now offers full coverage for chat SDKs letting you build web chat applications (JavaScript Chat SDK), gaming chats (Unity & Unreal), and mobile chats for Android and iOS devices (Kotlin & Swift).
Sunsetting chat components
Type: Deprecation
Two years ago, we released Chat Components to help you create chat apps with ready-to-use UI and data building blocks for web and mobile applications. However, following the feedback and adoption data, we decided to develop bare Chat SDKs, leaving the choice of UI up to you.
With this month's release of the mobile chat SDKs that completes the chat use case coverage, we decided to sunset the remaining Chat Components for React and React Native apps and will stop supporting them on January 1, 2025.
If you currently use Chat Components, read the migration guide to learn how to update your application code to use the JavaScript Chat SDK instead.
Breaking release of Java/Kotlin SDKs
Type: New feature
The new 10.0.0 release of Java and Kotlin SDKs unifies the codebases of both SDKs and lets you use both within a single application. Other changes include updated Java SDK package names, removed mutable PNConfiguration, and more.
This release requires you to make a few changes in your application code when migrating to the Java or Kotlin SDK in version 10.0.0.
To help you migrate from 9.x.x to 10.0.0, we prepared a migration guide that details all significant differences between the two versions.
PHP support for files and message history
Type: Enhancement
As of this month, the PHP SDK extends its offering for message history (Message Persistence) and supports file sharing.
Thanks to the new methods, you can now easily send, list, download, and delete files from messages. As for message history improvements, the new fetchMessages() method lets you:
- Fetch messages from multiple channels (up to 500).
- Include message actions with messages using the
includeMessageActionsflag. - Specify additional options such as message metadata, message type, and the sender's UUID.
Updates in gaming chat SDKs
Type: Enhancement
We extended the configuration of both gaming chat SDKs to match the scope of the other chat SDKs for:
- Tracking user global presence and checking whether (and when) a user has recently been active in the chat app based on their last activity timestamp and a configured interval (Unity & Unreal)
- Configurable timeout after which the typing indicator automatically stops when no typing signals are received (Unity & Unreal)
Insights 📊
Retired Highlights & Alerts
Type: Retirement
Following the feedback and adoption data, we discontinued the Highlights & Alerts feature as of September 3.
BizOps Workspace 🏢
Word lists
Type: New feature
Channel Monitor is not slowing down. This month, we released another feature that makes the lives of chat moderators easier.
Instead of scrolling through messages in search of specific words that are inappropriate or violate community guidelines, you can let Channel Monitor do it for you through word lists.
Select word lists to highlight restricted words during active moderation events on all channels.
Create a list, use a pre-made one (with English swear words), upload, or drag and drop your own list.
Internal moderators will see the words from the list as highlighted in messages published on the monitored channels.
Users or messages are unaffected in any way — you decide whether to mute or ban any of them or modify or delete the problematic message.