ChatRoom

A real-time chat application built with Django and Django Channels.

Features

• Real-time messaging using WebSockets
• User authentication (signup, login, logout)
• Chat rooms with unique URLs
• Profile management
• Password change functionality

Prerequisites

• Python 3.8 or higher
• pip (Python package manager)
• Virtual environment (recommended)

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone <repository-url>
   cd chatroom

2. Create and activate a virtual environment:

   python -m venv venv
   source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows, use: venv\Scripts\activate

3. Install dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

4. Run migrations:

   python manage.py migrate

5. Create a superuser (optional):

   python manage.py createsuperuser

Running the Server

For WebSocket Support (Recommended for Chat)

Run the server using Daphne (ASGI server):

daphne -b 0.0.0.0 -p 8000 chatroom.asgi:application

For Regular Django Development (No WebSocket Support)

Run the server using Django's development server:

python manage.py runserver

Testing the Chat

1. Open your browser and go to:

   http://localhost:8000/
   

2. Sign up or log in with a user account.

3. Join or create a chat room.

4. Send messages in the chat room.

5. Check the browser console (F12) for WebSocket connection status:

   • You should see: "WebSocket connection established"
   • Messages should appear instantly in the chat window.

6. Test with multiple users:

   • Open another browser window or use incognito mode.
   • Log in as a different user and join the same chat room.
   • Send messages from both users to see real-time updates.

Troubleshooting

• If WebSocket connections fail, ensure you are running the server with Daphne.
• Check the browser console for any error messages.
• Ensure all dependencies are installed correctly.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.