C++ Socket Chat Application

Overview

A simple multi-client chat application implemented in C++ using socket programming and pthreads. The project consists of a server and client that can communicate in real-time.

Features

• TCP/IPv4 socket communication
• Multi-client support
• Threaded message sending and receiving
• Username-based messaging
• Broadcast Messaging

Prerequisites

• C++ compiler with C++11 support
• POSIX threads (pthread) library
• Linux/Unix-based system

Project Structure

• Client.cpp: Client-side implementation
• Server.cpp: Server-side implementation
• SocketUtil.hpp: Socket utility header
• SocketUtil.cpp: Socket utility implementation

Compilation

Compile the server and client separately:

# Compile Server
g++ -std=c++11 Server.cpp -o server -pthread

# Compile Client
g++ -std=c++11 Client.cpp -o client -pthread

Usage

1. Start the server:

./server

2. In separate terminals, start multiple clients:

./client

3. Enter a username for each client
4. Start messaging
5. Type exit to disconnect

Key Functions

• createTCPIpv4Socket(): Creates a TCP IPv4 socket
• createIPv4Address(): Configures socket address
• acceptIncomingConnection(): Handles new client connections
• listenAndDisplay(): Manages message receiving
• broadcastReceivedMessage(): Sends messages to all connected clients

Limitations

• Maximum 10 concurrent client connections
• Basic error handling
• No encryption or advanced security features