SocketChat is a multi-client chat application implemented in C++ using POSIX sockets. It allows multiple users to join a shared chatroom, broadcast messages to all users, or send private (unicast) messages to specific users.
Built with thread support and a command-driven interface, SocketChat is designed to demonstrate real-world network programming concepts such as socket communication, concurrent handling using threads, and basic server-client architecture.
- ✅ Multi-client support — Multiple users can join and chat simultaneously.
- ✅ Broadcast messaging — Messages are sent to all connected users by default.
- ✅ Private messaging (unicast) — Send a message to a specific user using
/mesgcommand. - ✅ List connected users — Use
/listto see who is online, with your name highlighted. - ✅ Help command —
/helpshows all available commands. - ✅ Clean exit —
/exitgracefully leaves the chatroom and informs others. - ✅ Colored terminal output — Usernames, system messages, and commands are color-coded for better readability.
- ✅ Thread-safe implementation — Uses mutexes to safely manage shared data.
Make sure you have g++ and make installed.
make./chat_serverBy default, the server listens on port 8080.
In separate terminals (or using VSCode split terminals):
./chat_clientWhen you run the client, you’ll be prompted to enter your name. After that, you can start chatting!
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/list |
List all connected users. Your name is prefixed with >. |
/mesg NAME MSG |
Send a private (unicast) message to NAME. |
/help |
Show available commands. |
/exit |
Leave the chatroom gracefully. |
.
├── chat_server # Compiled server executable
├── chat_client # Compiled client executable
├── src/
│ ├── client.cpp # Client source code
│ ├── server.cpp # Server source code
│ └── main.cpp # Server entry point
├── include/
│ └── server.h # Server header
├── .vscode/
│ └── settings.json # VSCode configuration
├── Makefile # Build configuration
├── README.md # Project documentation
- Language: C++ (C++11 or higher)
- Networking: POSIX sockets
- Threads: std::thread (client handler threads)
- Synchronization: std::mutex for safe client list operations
- Port: 8080 (modifiable)
- No authentication or encryption (plaintext TCP).
- Private messages are only supported via username and require users to know each other's names exactly.
- Basic error handling; production-level robustness would require more checks.
Contributions are welcome! You can:
- Submit a pull request with improvements (new features, code cleanups, etc.)
- Open an issue for bugs or suggestions
SocketChat is intended for learning and demonstration purposes. It does not implement secure communication and should not be used as-is in production environments.
If you have questions or want to share feedback, feel free to open an issue or reach out via GitHub.