WebChat V1.1

Information

What is this?

This project is a simple browser based chat made with Javascript (and CSS for styling) and uses the following technologies: Node.js, express.js, socket.io. This version has a rudimentary look, but it's working fine.

Why?

I am doing this for my own learning purposes. I'm sharing this project to the world, that's why the code is very well commented/explained, so everyone can understand what's going on.

What's next for this project?

I'll keep adding new functionalities that I believe it's useful for a webchat.

How to use:

Install

• Install the dependencies:
  • install Node.js
  • Open Node.js console and go to the webchat folder
  • run: npm install
• Run the index.js typing: node index.js
• You can openning by accessing the followinga address on you Browser: 127.0.0.1:3000

Using the Chat

• Send messages pressing Enter:
  • With \ as 1st char, if you press tab it'll complete with a command. You can also write something right after and it'll also complete with a command, it there's any that matches, e.g.: \sc [press tab] [it turns into: \scroll] [if I press tab again it will complete and show \scroll-off]
  • \to userId sends a message to userId, e.g.: \to 2 cool!
  • \to-fix userId send all messages to this user (\to userId will still work when this function is enabled)
  • \to-unfix disables the function above
  • \track userId highlight all the messages from userId. You can track a second user without the need to disable \track
  • \track-off clear highlights and disables tracking
  • \scroll or \scroll-off enables or disables autoscroll

For external connections

• go to your router administration page and:
  • Choose the internal host (internal IP of your computer that is running the Node.js server)
  • Protocol: TCP
  • External Port Nr: 80 - 80
  • Internal Port Nr: 3000 - 3000 (defined in index.js)
  • Now you should be able to open it by typing your externalIpAddress:3000

TODO:

More important:

• Correct bugs (see bugs.txt)
• When a private message is sent, show who it was to.
• Inform everybody when someone changed the name
• Allow the messages to be copied
• Show who’s online
• Show a message when the connection is lost
• Display \help
• Implement SPAM control
• Update labels value when the specified user changes name

Less important:

• Disable enabled-options by double-clicking them
• Allow tracking an user by double-clicking his name
• By clicking an user name, add \to userName
• Give it a nice look
• Add admin support
• Add password support for chat&admin
• Enable/Disable autoscroll according to the scroll position.
• Add file transfer support
• Hyperlinks
• Instead of groups, configure express routes to create a new chatroom from the link, e.g., ip:3000\chatroom