https://github.com/vikas2171/chat_application
A simple chat application demonstrating a server-client model using C++ with sockets and threads. The server manages multiple client connections, allowing clients to chat with each other in real-time.
https://github.com/vikas2171/chat_application
multithreading network-communication socket-programming
Last synced: about 1 year ago
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A simple chat application demonstrating a server-client model using C++ with sockets and threads. The server manages multiple client connections, allowing clients to chat with each other in real-time.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/vikas2171/chat_application
- Owner: Vikas2171
- Created: 2024-07-19T21:02:15.000Z (almost 2 years ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2025-03-21T17:45:36.000Z (over 1 year ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-03-21T18:33:58.757Z (over 1 year ago)
- Topics: multithreading, network-communication, socket-programming
- Language: C++
- Homepage:
- Size: 11.7 KB
- Stars: 0
- Watchers: 1
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
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Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
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README
# Chat Application (Server-Client Model)
**Note:** Please run these codes using Visual Studio and not Visual Studio Code.
## Introduction
This project is a simple chat application that demonstrates a server-client model using C++ with sockets and threads. The server can handle multiple clients, allowing them to connect and communicate with each other. The server manages client connections, broadcasts messages, and handles disconnections gracefully. The client connects to the server and allows users to send and receive messages.
## Project Structure
* __Server Code:__ Manages client connections, receives and broadcasts messages, and handles disconnections.
* __Client Code:__ Connects to the server, sends messages, and receives broadcasts from the server.
## Features
* Multiple clients can connect to the server simultaneously.
* Messages sent by a client are broadcasted to all other connected clients.
* Pending connection requests are managed using a queue.
* Disconnections are handled gracefully, and pending connections are processed.
## Technologies Used
* __C++:__ The primary programming language used for implementing the server and client.
* __Winsock API:__ Used for socket programming to manage network communications.
* __Multithreading:__ Used in the client code to handle message sending and receiving concurrently.
* __Standard Library:__ Utilized various standard library components such as queues and strings.
## Important Notes
1. __Environment:__ This project is designed to run on Windows, using the Winsock API for socket programming. Ensure you have the Windows SDK installed.
2. __Development Tools:__ Use Visual Studio for compiling and running the code. Visual Studio provides the necessary environment for compiling Winsock applications.
3. __Pending Connections:__ The server maintains a queue of pending connections when the maximum client limit is reached. Once a client disconnects, a pending connection is processed.
4. __Graceful Disconnection:__ Both server and client handle disconnections gracefully, ensuring resources are cleaned up properly.
5. __Linker Settings:__ Make sure to add wsock32.lib in the Project Properties -> Linker -> Input section. This is necessary for the code to work properly.
## Server Code
The server code initializes Winsock, creates a socket, binds it to a port, and listens for incoming connections. It uses a select call to handle multiple client connections and broadcasts messages received from any client to all other connected clients. Disconnections and pending connections are managed appropriately.
## Client Code
The client code connects to the server, sends messages typed by the user, and receives broadcasts from the server. It uses a separate thread for receiving messages to allow simultaneous sending and receiving of messages.
## How To Run
1. __Server:__
* Open the server code in Visual Studio.
* Compile and run the server code.
* The server will start listening on port 9909.
2. __Client:__
* Open the client code in Visual Studio.
* Compile and run the client code.
* Connect to the server by running multiple instances of the client code.
## Example Usage
1. __Start the server.__
2. __Run multiple clients same as server.__
3. __Now communicate between clients.__
## Conclusions
This project demonstrates a basic chat application using sockets and threads in C++. It serves as a foundational example for understanding server-client communication, handling multiple connections, and managing message broadcasting.
For further enhancements, consider adding features such as user authentication, encryption for secure communication, and a graphical user interface.
Feel free to explore the code and modify it to suit your needs!
## 🚀 About Me
My name is __Vikas Prajapati__, and I am currently pursuing __BTech in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Jammu__. This project is part of my ongoing efforts to explore and understand network programming and concurrent processing using C++.
## 🔗 Links
[](https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikas-prajapati-577bab252/)