OS X is missing), multi-protocol instant messaging client. Out of the
box Pidgin supports AIM, ICQ, Google Talk, Jabber/XMPP, MSN
Messenger, Yahoo!, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, IRC, Novell GroupWise Messenger, QQ,
Lotus Sametime, SILC, SIMPLE, MySpaceIM, and Zephyr. To add facebook and skype to the list, you have to install plug-ins.
Download the latest Pidgin versions for a Debian GNU/Linux distribution:
Ubuntu Jaunty 32 bits - 2.6.1
Ubuntu Jaunty 64 bits - 2.6.1
| Before installing the plug-ins, make sure that you shutdown pidgin first, otherwise the protocol options (facebook and skype) will not appear in the list. Installing Facebook plug-in: Navigate to http://code.google.com/p/pidgin-facebookchat/downloads/list. Download the .deb file to your desktop and install with GDebi (right-click and then open with GDebi). After installing you can add your facebook account by using the menu option <accounts>,<managing accounts>, <add>. You should have a facebook option under protocol that you can pick. Installing Skype plug-in: Make sure you have skype installed first,as the skype plug-in cannot function on its own. Navigate to http://eion.robbmob.com/. Download the .deb file (you can choose between 32 bit and 64 bit). Follow the same instructions as for the Facebook plug-in. When you configure the Skype plug-in don't use the auto-start Skype option - this only works if you run Pidgin as super user - not the recommended way to do things. |
After installing and adding your accounts to Pidgin, you should have your Skype and Facebook contacts appear as separate sections in your buddy list. The Facebook plug-in also has the ability to notify you when a message arrives in your facebook inbox. In addition, when you mouse over the Facebook contacts you can see the last status update.
Notes:
If you have installed the Skype plug-in and Pidgin refuses to start, try running it in the command line (terminal). Enter pidgin -d in the command line to execute Pidgin with the debugging option. If you get segmentation fault, the likely cause is that pidgin does not have the authority to start Skype when you have selected the 'auto-start Skype when not running' option in the Skype plug-in configuration.
Other possible causes for segmentation fault in Pidgin:
- if you configured your network proxy to use manual, but you haven't configured the proxy.
- You are running out of space in your home folder
- Encryption plug-in misbehaving.
Disabling misbehaving plug-ins in Pidgin
Try starting Pidgin with super user: sudo pidgin and then disabling the plug-in in Tools, plug-ins. If that fails, try editing the configuration file in: $HOME/.purple/prefs.xml
