QuickTalk - Chat Application

QuickTalk is a real-time chat application built with the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js), utilizing Zustand for state management and WebRTC for peer-to-peer audio and video calls. The app also integrates Socket.io for real-time communication and Cloudinary for image storage.

Features

• Real-time Chat: Instant messaging with support for private and group chats using Socket.io.
• Audio/Video Calls: Peer-to-peer communication with WebRTC for high-quality audio and video calls.
• State Management: Zustand is used for efficient and simple state management.
• Image Storage: Store and serve images using Cloudinary.
• Notifications: Real-time notifications for incoming messages and calls.
• Responsive Design: Fully responsive UI for seamless usage on desktop and mobile devices.
• Message Deletion: Automatically deletes messages after 24 hours.

Technologies Used

• Frontend: React, Zustand, WebRTC
• Backend: Node.js, Express, Socket.io
• Database: MongoDB
• Storage: Cloudinary (for image uploads)
• Authentication: JWT (JSON Web Token)

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/Anujpal05/ChatApp

2. Navigate to the project directory:

   cd ChatApp
   

3.Install the dependencies for the backend:

```base
cd server
npm Install
```

4. Install the dependencies for the frontend:

   cd client
   npm Install
   

5. Set up environment variables:

• Create a .env file in the server folder with the following variables

  MONGODB_URL = YOUR_MONGODB_URL
  SECRET_KEY = YOUR_JWT_SECRET_KEY
  PORT = YOUR_PORT
  CLOUDINARY_CLOUD_NAME = YOUR_CLOUDNAME
  CLOUDINARY_API_KEY = YOUR_CLOUDINARY_API_KEY
  CLOUDINARY_API_SECRET = YOUR_CLOUDINARY_API_SECRET
  CLIENT_URL = YOUR_CLIENT_URL
  

• Create a .env file in the client folder with the following variables

  VITE_SERVER_URL = YOUR_SERVER_URL
  

6. Start the backend:

   cd server
   npm start
   

7. Start the frontend:

   cd client
   npm run dev
   

Usage

• Once both the frontend and backend are running, open the app in your browser (http://localhost:5173).
• Sign up and log in using JWT authentication.
• Start chatting with friends, share images, and make audio/video calls.

Contributing

Feel free to fork the project, create pull requests, or open issues for improvements. Contributions are welcome!