About Project
A real-time chat application built using React, Socket.io, Redux, Node.js and MongoDB.
Key Features
- Real-Time Messaging: Users can chat in real-time thanks to the integration of Socket.io.
- User Authentication: Secure login and registration with encrypted passwords.
- Redux for State Management: Efficient and scalable state management using Redux.
- MongoDB for Data Storage: Persistent storage of user data and chat messages.
- Responsive UI: Fully responsive design for seamless usage on both desktop and mobile devices.
Technologies Used
- Frontend: React, Redux, Socket.io-client, CSS
- Backend: Node.js, Express, Socket.io
- Database: MongoDB
- Authentication: JWT (JSON Web Token) for secure authentication
Setup and Installation
1. Clone the repository:
- git clone https://github.com/yourusername/chat-app.git
- cd chat-app
2. Install dependencies:
For the server:
- cd server
- npm install
For the client:
- cd client
- npm install
3. Environment Variables:
Create a .env file in both the server and client directories with the required environment variables: Server .env:
- FRONTEND_URL=your_frontend_url
- MONGODB_URI=your_mongodb_uri
- JWT_SECRET_KEY=your_jwt_secret
- SOCKET_PORT=your_socket_port
Client .env:
- REACT_APP_CLOUDINARY_CLOUD_NAME=your_cloudinary_name
- REACT_APP_BACKEND_URL=your_backend_url
4. Run the application:
Start the server:
- cd server
- npm run dev
Start the client:
- cd client
- npm start
5. Access the application:
Open your browser and go to http://localhost:3000.
Usage
- Register a new account or log in with existing credentials.
- Start a new chat by selecting a user or group from the list.
- Send and receive messages in real-time.
- Create group chats and add participants.