WebChat

A simple web-based chat app.

Overview

WebChat is a lightweight, real-time chat application built with JavaScript. The project aims to provide a straightforward, easy-to-use platform for users to communicate instantly via a web interface. It serves as a foundational example for learning about web sockets, real-time communication, and front-end/back-end integration in web applications.

Features

• Real-Time Messaging: Send and receive messages instantly.
• User Authentication: Basic login/logout functionality.
• Chat Rooms: Optionally join different chat rooms or channels.
• Responsive UI: Clean and responsive design for various screen sizes.
• Notifications: Alerts for new messages.
• User List: See who is online in a chat room.

Technologies Used

• JavaScript (99.2%)
• Other (0.8%) — May include HTML, CSS, or configuration files.

Frameworks & Libraries

• Node.js (if backend included)
• Express.js (for server-side routing)
• Socket.io (for real-time communication)
• Bootstrap (for UI styling, optional)

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Node.js (version 14+ recommended)
• npm (comes with Node.js)
• (Optional) Git

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/Ali-Amir-code/WebChat.git
   cd WebChat

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install

3. Run the app:

   npm start

   The server will start on http://localhost:3000 by default.

Configuration

• You may need to configure environment variables (such as PORT, database URI, etc.) in a .env file.
• Example .env:

  PORT=3000
  

Usage

1. Open your web browser and navigate to http://localhost:3000.
2. Register or log in (if authentication is enabled).
3. Join a chat room and start messaging!

Project Structure

WebChat/
├── public/          # Frontend files (HTML, CSS, JS)
├── src/             # Source code (backend)
├── views/           # Templated frontend files (if using templating engine)
├── .env             # Environment variables (not committed)
├── package.json     # Project metadata and scripts
└── README.md        # Project documentation

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! To contribute:

1. Fork the repository.
2. Create a new branch for your feature or bugfix.
3. Commit your changes.
4. Open a pull request describing your changes.

Please ensure your code follows the project's coding standards and is well documented.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

Acknowledgements

• Socket.io
• Express.js
• Bootstrap
• All contributors!

Contact

For questions, suggestions, or support, contact Ali-Amir-code.