A real-time, lightweight chat application built with Node.js, Express, and Socket.io. This project allows users to set a nickname and communicate instantly in a shared chat room.

• Real-time Messaging: Instant message delivery using WebSockets (Socket.io).
• Nickname System: Users can set a custom identity before joining the chat.
• Responsive Design: A simple, clean interface that works on both desktop and mobile devices.
• Visual Feedback: Differentiates between sent and received messages with distinct colors and alignment.

• Backend: Node.js, Express.js
• Real-time Engine: Socket.io
• Frontend: HTML5, CSS3, jQuery (legacy), JavaScript

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/jQsafi/live-chat.git
   cd live-chat

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install

3. Start the server:

   npm start

   The server will be running at http://localhost:3000.

• Payload Optimization: Combine user and message into a single object to prevent race conditions.
• Dependency Updates: Upgrade to the latest versions of Socket.io and Express for better security and performance.
• Modernization: Refactor legacy code to use ES6+ syntax and remove jQuery dependencies.
• Enhanced UI/UX: Add system notifications for user joins/leaves and improved input validation.

Shafayat Hossain

• GitHub: @jQsafi
• Email: shafayat@engineer.com

Developed with ❤️ by Shafayat Hossain