Chat Application

This project implements a simple chat application comprising a C++ server and a C++ client. The server is capable of handling multiple client connections simultaneously, facilitating real-time message exchange between connected clients. The application uses sockets for communication between the server and clients.

Project Structure

Chat-Application/
    ├── chat_server.cpp
    ├── chat_client.cpp
    ├── CMakeLists.txt
    ├── Makefile
    ├── .gitignore
    ├── LICENSE
    └── README.md

Features

• Multi-client Support: The server can handle multiple clients simultaneously, enabling real-time communication between users.
• Real-time Messaging: Clients can send and receive messages in real-time.
• User Identification: Each client provides a username upon connection, which is displayed with their messages.
• Timestamped Messages: Messages are timestamped to show when they were sent.

Requirements

• C++ compiler (GCC, Clang, or MSVC)
• CMake (for CMake build)

Setting Up the Project

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/Vikranth3140/Chat-Application-Terminal.git
   cd Chat-Application

2. Choose a build method: You can build the project using either CMake or a Makefile.

Building the Project

Using CMake

1. Create the build directory and compile the project:

   mkdir build
   cd build
   cmake ..
   make

2. Run the server:

   ./chat_server

3. Run the client:

   ./chat_client

Using Makefile

1. Compile the project:

   make

2. Run the server:

   ./chat_server

3. Run the client:

   ./chat_client

Running the Application

1. Start the Server: Ensure the server is running by executing ./chat_server as described above.
2. Connect Clients: Open multiple terminals and run the client in each terminal to simulate multiple users. Execute ./chat_client in each terminal.
3. Enter Username: Each client will prompt for a username upon connection.
4. Start Chatting: Begin sending and receiving messages. Each message will be timestamped and display the sender's username.

Example Usage

1. Start the Server:

   ./chat_server

   Output:

   Server started on port 8080
   

2. Connect Clients:

   ./chat_client

   Output:

   Connected to server
   Enter your username: user1
   

3. Send and Receive Messages:

   • Client 1 (user1):

     Hello, everyone!
     

   • Client 2 (user2):

     Hi user1!
     

   • Server output:

     Client connected: user1
     Client connected: user2
     Received message: [12:34:56] user1: Hello, everyone!
     Received message: [12:35:01] user2: Hi user1!
     

File Descriptions

• chat_server.cpp: The C++ server code that handles multiple clients, manages message broadcasting, and timestamps messages.
• chat_client.cpp: The C++ client code that connects to the server, sends messages, and displays incoming messages.
• CMakeLists.txt: CMake configuration file for building the project.
• Makefile: Makefile for building the project.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.