Chat App

A real-time chat application built using the MERN stack, featuring user authentication and a custom video call functionality.

live-project: Chat-app

Features

• User Authentication: Secure sign-up and login using JWT.
• Real-time Chat: Instant messaging powered by WebSockets.
• Video Calling: Custom-built video call functionality.
• User Profiles: Update profile pictures and user details.
• Media Sharing: Share images, videos, and links within chats.
• Responsive UI: Mobile-friendly interface.

Tech Stack

• Frontend: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, EJS
• Backend: Node.js, Express.js
• Database: PostgreSQL
• WebSockets: Socket.io for real-time communication
• Authentication: JWT for secure login

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/Manas-githu/A-chat-app-using-socket-and-react.git

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install

3. Set up environment variables: Create a .env file in the root directory and add:

   DATABASE_URL=your_database_url
   JWT_SECRET=your_secret_key

4. Run the development server:

   npm start

5. Open the app in your browser:

   http://localhost:3000 --backend
   http://localhost:5713 --frontend
   

Future Improvements

• Implement group chats
• Add end-to-end encryption for messages
• Improve UI/UX with React (optional upgrade)

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Feel free to open an issue or submit a pull request.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.