Chatbox Server

This repository contains the backend implementation for the Chatbox app, a chat application with features like real-time messaging, voice and video calls, sending media, and more. The backend is built using Node.js and handles authentication, media uploads, messaging, and API integration.

Features

• Authentication: Sign-up and login functionality for users.
• Real-time Messaging: Enables real-time chat between contacts.
• Voice & Video Calls: Facilitates high-quality voice and video calls between users.
• Media Sharing: Supports sending images, voice notes, stickers, locations, and documents.
• Poll Creation: Allows users to create polls in chats.
• Story Uploading: Supports sharing stories that disappear after 24 hours.

Tech Stack

• Node.js: The backend framework.
• Express.js: API routing and middleware handling.
• Socket.io: Real-time communication for chat and call functionalities.
• MongoDB: Database for storing user data, messages, and media.
• Cloud Storage: For media uploads (images, videos, etc.).

Installation

To set up the server locally:

1. Clone this repository:

   git clone https://github.com/Tareq-Ghassan/chatbox-server.git

2. Navigate to the project directory:

   cd chatbox-server

3. Install dependencies:

   npm install

4. Create an .env file in the root of the project and add your environment variables (e.g., database credentials, API keys, etc.):

   touch .env

   Example .env file:

   APP_PORT=8080
   DB_URL=mongodb://localhost:27017/chatbox
   JWT_SECRET=your_jwt_secret

5. Start the server:

   npm start

6. The server should now be running on http://localhost:8080.

WebSocket (Real-time Communication)

The server uses Socket.io for real-time messaging and calls. The Socket.io server listens for specific events like message, call, and disconnect to handle real-time interactions between users.

License

This project is licensed under MIT, and contributions are welcome. Feel free to fork the repository and submit pull requests for improvements or new features.

Frontend

The frontend (Flutter app) for this server is located here: Chatbox App.