This is a multi-threaded server-client based messaging platform that supports multiple users at once. It is coded in Java and concepts such as multi-threading, socket programming and network programming are implemented. A server can be created by a host with specific port number and network address. Once created, the server will keep runnning until the host terminates the program. Users can join the server by creating a unique name, entering the port number and the network address.
This chat server is a school project, the objective for creating this application is to gain a better understanding and gain practial experience on concepts such as multi-threading, socket programming and network programming.
To further improve this application, I plan to create a better user interface using Javascript. Currently, this program does not have any UI/UX design, all operations are done using command prompt.
Username filtering: The server can filter usernames by performing username checking before a user joins the server. As the user enters a username, the server will run through a list of existing users; if an identical username already exists, then the server will prompt the user to enter a new username.
Message broadcasting: By default, when a user joins a server, all messages are broadcasted in the server.
Direct messaging: Users are allowed to perform direct messaging by entering "/msg" followed by a desired username, then by the message. (e.g. /msg user1 Hello there!)
User listing: If a user would like to know who is in the server, the server can list down all existing users as per user's command ("/list").
Message filtering: The server is capable of filtering messages that contains inappropriate words. The host will have to supply a file that contains the inappropriate words. The program will then read the data file and detect the words and replace them with astrids before the message is broadcasted or direct messaged.