CN Chat Application

Project Overview

A real-time chat application developed as part of a Computer Networks course project. The application demonstrates fundamental networking concepts including client-server architecture, socket programming, and real-time bidirectional communication using WebSockets.

Key Features

• Real-Time Messaging: Instant message delivery using WebSocket protocol for low-latency communication
• Multi-User Support: Concurrent connection handling allowing multiple users to chat simultaneously
• User Presence: Online/offline status indicators and typing notifications for enhanced user experience
• Message History: Persistent storage and retrieval of chat conversations
• Clean Interface: Intuitive HTML/CSS frontend with responsive design
• Connection Management: Automatic reconnection and error handling for network interruptions

Technical Implementation

The application implements a client-server architecture where the server manages WebSocket connections and broadcasts messages to connected clients. The frontend uses vanilla JavaScript to handle WebSocket events, update the UI dynamically, and manage user interactions.

Challenges & Solutions

Challenge: Handling message ordering and preventing race conditions in concurrent environments.
Solution: Implemented message queuing with timestamps and server-side sequencing to ensure consistent message ordering.

Challenge: Managing disconnections and ensuring message delivery reliability.
Solution: Added automatic reconnection logic and message acknowledgment system to handle network interruptions gracefully.

Impact & Results

This project provided hands-on experience with networking protocols and real-time communication systems. It demonstrates understanding of low-level network concepts and their application in building interactive web applications.