https://github.com/adrianmosnegutu/multiplexed-chat-server
A group chat server that broadcasts messages sent by one client to all connected clients.
https://github.com/adrianmosnegutu/multiplexed-chat-server
broadcast c computer-networking group-chat linux socket-programming tcp-client tcp-server tcp-socket
Last synced: 28 days ago
JSON representation
A group chat server that broadcasts messages sent by one client to all connected clients.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/adrianmosnegutu/multiplexed-chat-server
- Owner: AdrianMosnegutu
- License: mit
- Created: 2024-11-21T15:58:17.000Z (11 months ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2024-12-28T14:00:44.000Z (9 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-01-31T17:15:33.295Z (8 months ago)
- Topics: broadcast, c, computer-networking, group-chat, linux, socket-programming, tcp-client, tcp-server, tcp-socket
- Language: C
- Homepage:
- Size: 35.2 KB
- Stars: 1
- Watchers: 1
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# Multiplexed Chat Server
## Overview
This project is a multi-client TCP-based group chat application built in C. It includes both a server and client implementation, enabling real-time communication between multiple users over a network. The server employs efficient I/O multiplexing using the select system call, while the client offers a simple interface for connecting to the server and participating in the chat. Shared utility functions are included for streamlined socket management.
## Features
### Server Features
- **Concurrent Client Connections**: Manages multiple clients simultaneously using a single-threaded approach with select.
- **Real-Time Messaging**: Broadcasts messages from any client to all other connected clients efficiently.
- **Dynamic Client Management**:
- Handles new connections dynamically.
- Removes inactive or disconnected clients gracefully.
- **Server-Side Commands**:
- quit: Shuts down the server and disconnects all clients.
- **Comprehensive Error Handling**: Ensures stability and clean shutdown during unexpected errors.
### Client Features
- **User Authentication**: Allows users to set a username when connecting to the server.
- **Real-Time Chat**: Sends messages to the server for broadcasting to other connected clients.
- **Interactive Interface**:
- Displays incoming messages in real-time.
- Supports text input for sending messages.
- **Disconnection Handling**: Handles clean disconnection from the server when a client exits or the server shuts down.
### Shared Utilities
- **Socket Utilities**: Common functions for socket creation, error handling, and IPv4 address initialization, shared between the server and client.
## How it works
1. **Server**
- Initializes a TCP socket, binds it to a specified port, and begins listening for incoming client connections.
- Manages incoming and outgoing messages and broadcasts them to all connected clients.
2. **Client**
- Connects to the server using the server’s IP and port.
- Sends a username upon connection, which is announced to other clients.
- Allows users to send messages and receive real-time updates from other users in the chat.
## Requirements
- **Operating System**: Linux (or any POSIX-compliant system).
- **Dependencies**:
- gcc (for compilation).
- Basic networking libraries (sys/socket.h, arpa/inet.h, etc.).
## Installation and usage
1. **Clone this repository**
``` bash
git clone https://github.com/AdrianMosnegutu/Multiplexed-Chat-Server.git
cd Multiplexed-Chat-Server
```
2. **Compile the server and client**
#### Compile the server
``` bash
gcc -o chat_server server.c utils/server_utils.c utils/general_utils.c
```
#### Compile the client
``` bash
gcc -o chat_client client.c utils/client_utils.c utils/general_utils.c
```
3. **Run the server**
Start the server to listen for incoming connections:
``` bash
./chat_server
```
4. **Run any number of clients**
Clients can connect to the server using the compiled client binary:
``` bash
./chat_client
```
## File Structure
- [`utils/`](./utils/)
- [`general_utils.h`](./utils/general_utils.h)/[`server_utils.h`](./utils/server_utils.h)/[`client_utils.h`](./utils/client_utils.h): Header files for respective utility functions.
- [`general_utils.c`](./utils/general_utils.c): Shared utilities for socket creation, IPv4 address initialization, and error handling.
- [`server_utils.c`](./utils/server_utils.c): Utility functions for server-side socket management and error handling.
- [`client_utils.c`](./utils/client_utils.c): Utility functions for client-side socket management and input handling.
- [`server.c`](./server.c): Main server logic, including connection handling and message broadcasting.
- [`client.c`](./client.c): Main client logic, including server connection, message sending, and receiving.
## License
This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the [LICENSE](./LICENSE) file for details.