Analysis and Refactoring of the Chat Architecture in EVE Online

Abstract: In most commercial software systems the development cycle is a balance between time and code quality. With systems that grow in complexity and usage over time, the need to refactor or completely replace modules of code might arise for a variety of reasons. This thesis focuses on the feasibility of completely overhauling the aging chat architecture in EVE Online. A prototype was developed using Python, C and Ejabberd that could serve as a replacement system using the open XMPP protocol -- enabling bandwidth savings, increasing scalability and allowing the chat system to be easily extended with new functionality in the future.