CnCNet Client WebSocket Support

[GrantBartlett]

CnCNet Client WebSocket Support

About the task

Add WebSocket support to the XNA CnCNet client as a replacement to IRC for officially supported games & mods, keeping IRC optional for other mods or forks of the client so it does not effect existing infrastructure.

Goals

WebSockets to replace all IRC client communications in the CnCNet Client.
IRC to remain as an option to use for existing mods, forks and non officially supported games & mods.

Future considerations

Whilst this may not be directly related while implementing this, please keep a design in mind that allow user account functionality to be displayed through the lobbies and in-game lobbies.

• Users being be able to login to their CnCNet accounts via an Accounts API. They would pick their CnCNet username(s) and login. (Prevents impersonation). This username would appear in the lobby (and other users/guests would see this)
• User profiles would showing other profile stats, such as ladder ranks, achievements, badges in the lobby driven from the API.
• Friends list would be managed in their accounts, not stored in a file.

OpenCollective for funding: https://opencollective.com/cncnet/projects/cncnet-websockets