SuM Chat

=== SuM Chat – Live Chat ===
Contributors: sehenundmachen
Tags: live chat, chat, support, real-time, customer chat
Requires at least: 5.8
Tested up to: 6.7
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 1.0.0
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Lightweight live chat for WordPress — go live and chat with your visitors in real-time.

== Description ==

SuM Chat adds a simple, lightweight live chat to your WordPress site. No accounts needed, no third-party services, no monthly fees. Everything runs on your own server.

**How it works:**

1. You click **GO LIVE** in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Visitors see a live button on your site and can start a chat.
3. You chat in real-time — directly from your dashboard or the frontend.

**Features:**

* One-click live toggle from admin bar or dashboard
* Real-time chat with visitors (polling-based, no external dependencies)
* Queue system — one active chat at a time, others wait in line
* Nickname prompt — visitors enter their name before chatting
* Sound notifications for new messages
* Fully customizable labels, button position, and display name
* Fallback notice with optional link when you are offline
* Automatic cleanup of old messages and stale sessions
* Lightweight — no jQuery dependency on the frontend, no external scripts
* GDPR-friendly — no cookies, no tracking, no external requests
* Works with any theme

**Privacy:**

SuM Chat does not use cookies, does not track visitors across pages, and does not send any data to external servers. All chat data is stored in your own WordPress database and automatically cleaned up.

== Installation ==

1. Upload the `sum-chat` folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`.
2. Activate the plugin through the **Plugins** menu in WordPress.
3. Go to **SuM Chat** and configure your display name and preferences.
4. Click **GO LIVE** to start chatting with visitors.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Does this plugin require any external service? =

No. Everything runs on your WordPress installation. No API keys, no third-party accounts.

= How does the real-time chat work without WebSockets? =

SuM Chat uses lightweight AJAX polling via the WordPress REST API. Messages are checked every 3 seconds during an active chat. This keeps things simple and works on any hosting.

= Can multiple visitors chat at the same time? =

One chat is active at a time. Additional visitors are placed in a queue and see their position. Once the current chat ends, the next visitor in line is connected automatically.

= Is this plugin GDPR compliant? =

SuM Chat does not set cookies, does not use external services, and does not track visitors. Chat messages are stored temporarily in your database and automatically deleted after 7 days. Visitor tokens are random IDs stored in the browser localStorage.

= Can I change the button text and position? =

Yes. Go to SuM Chat settings to customize the online/offline text and button position.

== Screenshots ==

1. Dashboard with live toggle and visitor stats.
2. Live chat panel in the admin area.
3. Visitor chat bubble on the frontend.
4. Settings page with customization options.

== Changelog ==

= 1.0.0 =
* Initial release.

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 1.0.0 =
Initial release of SuM Chat.