💬 EasyChat - Real-Time Android Chat Application

EasyChat is a modern real-time chat app built using Kotlin and Firebase. It allows users to authenticate via OTP, chat one-on-one, search for users, and manage profile data. The app is designed with performance, simplicity, and mobile responsiveness in mind — a perfect blend of Firebase's power and Material UI design.

Developer: Ashutosh Anand
Development Period: 2024–2025

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✨ Features

• 🔐 Phone Number Authentication with Firebase OTP
• 🧑‍💬 User Profiles: Set username and profile photo
• 💬 1-to-1 Chat: Real-time messaging using Firestore
• 🕒 Recent Chats List: Optimized with embedded user details
• 🔍 Search Users by username
• 🖼️ Profile Picture Viewer with full zoom-in layout
• 📤 Offline Message Support with Firestore cache
• 🔔 Push Notifications (via FCM - optional)
• 🧠 Clean Architecture: MVVM-inspired structure with modular design

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🛠️ Tech Stack

Android

• Kotlin - Modern Android development language
• Jetpack Libraries - Lifecycle, ViewModel, etc.
• Material Design - UI/UX design system
• RecyclerView - Efficient list rendering

Firebase

• FirebaseAuth - Phone OTP authentication
• Cloud Firestore - Real-time database
• Firebase Storage - For profile pictures
• Firebase Cloud Messaging - Push notifications

Tools

• Glide - Image loading and caching
• Gradle - Dependency management
• Android Studio - Development environment

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📂 Project Structure

EasyChat/ ├── activities/ │ ├── ChatActivity.kt │ ├── LoginPhoneNumberActivity.kt │ ├── LoginOtpActivity.kt │ ├── LoginUsernameActivity.kt │ └── SearchUserActivity.kt ├── fragments/ │ ├── ChatFragment.kt │ └── ProfileFragment.kt ├── adapters/ │ ├── ChatRecyclerAdapter.kt │ ├── RecentChatRecyclerAdapter.kt │ └── SearchUserRecyclerAdapter.kt ├── models/ │ ├── UserModel.kt │ ├── ChatroomModel.kt │ └── ChatMessageModel.kt ├── utils/ │ ├── AndroidUtil.kt │ └── FirebaseUtil.kt ├── layout/ │ ├── *.xml (all activity + recycler row UIs) └── MainActivity.kt

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🧭 App Flow

1. Splash Screen → Auth check
2. Login → Phone number + OTP → Username + Profile
3. MainActivity → Contains Chat & Profile Fragments
4. SearchUserActivity → Start chat with any user
5. ChatActivity → Real-time conversation

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🔐 Firebase Security Rules (Sample)

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## 🧭 App Flow

1. **Splash Screen** → Auth check
2. **Login** → Phone number + OTP → Username + Profile
3. **MainActivity** → Contains Chat & Profile Fragments
4. **SearchUserActivity** → Start chat with any user
5. **ChatActivity** → Real-time conversation

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## 🔐 Firebase Security Rules (Sample)

```js
rules_version = '2';
service cloud.firestore {
  match /databases/{database}/documents {
    match /users/{userId} {
      allow read, write: if request.auth.uid == userId;
    }

    match /chatrooms/{chatroomId} {
      allow read, write: if request.auth.uid in resource.data.userIds;
    }

    match /messages/{messageId} {
      allow read, write: if request.auth.uid != null;
    }
  }
}


 Key Activities and Components
ChatActivity – Real-time message screen

SearchUserActivity – Search and start chats

RecentChatRecyclerAdapter – Shows latest chats efficiently

FirebaseUtil.kt – Centralized Firestore/Auth handling

ChatroomModel – Stores chatroomId, last message, and cached user info

💡 Future Improvements
✅ Image sharing in chat

✅ Group chat support

⏳ Seen/delivered indicators

⏳ Delete messages

⏳ Typing indicator

⏳ Message encryption

👨‍💻 Developer
Ashutosh Anand

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashutosh-anand-1651841b6/

GitHub: https://github.com/ashutosh2287

📄 License
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

🙏 Acknowledgments
Firebase for real-time services

Android Developers community for support

Inspiration from WhatsApp and Signal for UI/UX patterns