Realtime Chat App with MERN stack (Backend)

Introduction

This repo consists of the Backend part of a Realtime Chat Application built with the MERN stack. I built it when I was trying to learn React and the stack for the first time. You can find the frontend repo here.

Feature

• JWT Authentication
• One-on-one Private Chat where users can chat with others privately.
• Create a room and start a Room Chat for users who want to broadcast messages to a specific group of users.
• Real-time updates to conversation messages, user online/ offline, read/ unread status, user join/leave room to notify, etc.
• Support both RWD and different themes with light and dark mode

Technologies

• database - MongoDB
• backend - Express.js & Node.js
• frontend - React.js (with styled-components)
• Real-time messages - Socket.io

Deploy

• database: MongoDB Atlas
• backend: Render
• frontend: Netlify

Live Demo

https://sweet-bombolone-176d6a.netlify.app

Testing Account

username: Lenny Connolly
password: 12345678

username: Rachael Holloway
password: 12345678

How to use

1. Clone the repo

   git clone https://github.com/tsengm6h6/chat-app-server.git
   

2. Enter the directory

   cd chat-app-server
   

3. Install dependencies

   yarn install
   

4. Change .env.example file

   • change file name to .env
   • go to MongoDB Atlas to create a cluster and change the MONGO_URI
     (Follow this video if you need help on this step)
   • change the CLIENT_URL to your local client port (ex. http://localhost:3000 for client running on port 3000)
   • generate random token for ACCESS/REFRESH_TOKEN_SECRET and also COOKIE_SIGNATURE

5. Run the app

   yarn dev
   

   When you see "App is listening to port YOUR_PORT DB connection Success", you can run the client side.