Chat App(React Native)

Welcome to 'Chat App' a chat app for mobile devices using React Native. The app provide users with a chat interface and options to share images and their location.

Technologies Used

This app was developed using the following technologies:

• React Native: A JavaScript framework for building native mobile apps.
• Expo: A set of tools and services for building and deploying React Native applications.
• Firestore: A cloud-based database service provided by Firebase, which offers real-time data synchronization using WebSockets.

In addition to the above technologies, the following tools were used during development:

• Expo Client App: The Expo Client App is a mobile app that allows developers to test and preview their Expo projects directly on iOS and Android devices. It provides a convenient way to view and interact with the app during development without the need for separate device emulators.
• Android Studio: The official integrated development environment (IDE) for Android app development. It provides a rich set of tools, including an emulator for testing and debugging Android apps.
• Xcode Simulator: The official simulator provided by Apple for testing and debugging iOS apps. It is part of Xcode, the integrated development environment (IDE) for iOS app development.

Installation

To run the 'Chat App' locally on your development environment, follow these steps:

1. Make sure you have Node.js installed on your machine. You can download and install Node.js from the Node.js official website.

2. Clone this repository to your local directory using the following command:

   git clone https://github.com/rochagbriel/chat-app.git

3. Navigate to the project directory:

   cd chat-app

4. Install the project dependencies by running the following command:

   npm install

5. Configure the Firestore database:

• Create a project in the Firebase Console and enable Firestore as the database.
• Copy the project credentials provided by Firebase.

6. Start the app by running the following command:

   npm start

This will start the Expo development server and display a QR code in the terminal.

7. Download the Expo Client app on your iOS or Android device from the respective app store.

8. Open the Expo Client app and scan the QR code displayed in the terminal. This will allow you to view the 'Chat App' on your device.

That's it! You have successfully installed the 'Chat App' on your local machine.

Features

• A page where users can enter their name and choose a background color for the chat screen before joining the chat.
• A page displaying the conversation, as well as an input field and submit button.
• The chat provide users with two communication features: sending images and location data.
• Data gets stored online and offline.

User Stories

• As a new user, I want to be able to easily enter a chat room so I can quickly start talking to my friends and family.
• As a user, I want to be able to send messages to my friends and family members to exchange the latest news.
• As a user, I want to send images to my friends to show them what I’m currently doing.
• As a user, I want to share my location with my friends to show them where I am.
• As a user, I want to be able to read my messages offline so I can reread conversations at any time.
• As a user with a visual impairment, I want to use a chat app that is compatible with a screen reader so that I can engage with a chat interface.

Credits

Special thanks to my Tutor Stanley Okwii(CareerFoundry) and my Mentor Faizal Patel(CareerFoundry) for guiding me throughout the development process.

Contact

If you have any questions, comments, or feedback about this website, please feel free to reach out to me using the contact form on the website or by emailing me at rochagbriel@gmail.com.