⚡ Buzzwire – Real-Time Chat and Calling App

Buzzwire is a full-stack real-time chat application that enables users to exchange messages and initiate voice/video calls instantly. Built for speed, responsiveness, and scalability, Buzzwire combines modern technologies to deliver a seamless communication experience.

🚀 Features

• 🔐 Secure authentication and session management
• 💬 Real-time 1-on-1 messaging using WebSockets
• 📞 Voice and video calling powered by WebRTC
• 🟢 Online presence detection
• 🔔 Instant notifications for new messages and calls
• 📱 Responsive UI for desktop and mobile

🧰 Tech Stack

Layer	Technology
Frontend	Next.js, Tailwind CSS
Backend	Node.js, Express
Real-time	Socket.IO, WebRTC
Database	PostgreSQL (via Prisma ORM)
Auth	Firebase Authentication
Other	Zustand, Axios, Firebase SDK

🗂️ Project Structure

buzzwire/
├── client/           # Next.js frontend
│   ├── components/
│   ├── pages/
│   ├── hooks/
│   ├── styles/
├── server/           # Express backend
│   ├── controllers/
│   ├── routes/
│   ├── sockets/
│   ├── prisma/       # Prisma schema & migration files
├── public/           # Static assets
├── .env              # Environment variables
└── README.md

🛠️ Getting Started

1. Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/your-username/buzzwire.git
cd buzzwire

2. Set Up Environment Variables

Create .env files in both client/ and server/ directories with the following keys:

In server/.env:

DATABASE_URL=your_postgresql_connection_string
FIREBASE_API_KEY=your_firebase_api_key
JWT_SECRET=your_secret

In client/.env.local:

NEXT_PUBLIC_FIREBASE_API_KEY=your_firebase_api_key
NEXT_PUBLIC_SOCKET_URL=http://localhost:5000

3. Install Dependencies

cd server
npm install
npx prisma generate
cd ../client
npm install

4. Run the App

In separate terminals:

# Start backend
cd server
npm run dev

# Start frontend
cd client
npm run dev

Visit http://localhost:3000 to start chatting!

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🧪 Planned Improvements

• ✅ Group chat functionality
• 🔍 Chat search and filtering
• 🌐 Language support (i18n)
• 🧾 Chat history export