Nexus (A Full-Stack MERN Threads & Chat Application)

This project is a comprehensive social media and chat platform built with the MERN stack, integrating real-time messaging and interactive features. The application allows users to engage with posts, communicate via chat, and manage their accounts effectively.

🚀 Features

• Tech Stack: MERN (MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, Node.js) + Socket.io + Chakra UI
• User Authentication & Authorization: Secured with JWT
• Post Management: Users can create, delete, like/unlike posts, and add comments
• User Interaction: Follow/unfollow functionality to connect with other users
• Account Control: Option to freeze/unfreeze an account
• Dark/Light Mode: Switch between themes for better user experience
• Fully Responsive Design: Optimized for both desktop and mobile views
• Real-Time Chat: Supports text and image-based messaging
• Message Status: Seen/unseen indicators for chat messages
• Notification Sounds: Audio alerts for interactions
• Seamless Deployment: Easily deployable with free hosting solutions

🛠️ Getting Started

1️⃣ Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/repo-name.git
cd repo-name

2️⃣ Install dependencies

npm install

3️⃣ Setup environment variables

Create a .env file in the root directory and add the following configuration:

PORT=your_port_number
MONGO_URI=your_mongodb_connection_string
JWT_SECRET=your_jwt_secret

CLOUDINARY_CLOUD_NAME=your_cloudinary_cloud_name
CLOUDINARY_API_KEY=your_cloudinary_api_key
CLOUDINARY_API_SECRET=your_cloudinary_api_secret

4️⃣ Build the app

npm run build

5️⃣ Start the server

npm start

📌 Additional Notes

• The frontend is built using React with Chakra UI for a modern and accessible design.
• WebSockets (via Socket.io) enable real-time interactions and messaging.
• MongoDB is used for efficient data storage and retrieval.
• Users can engage with posts and communicate seamlessly in real time.
• The application is structured for scalability and future enhancements.

Feel free to fork, modify, and contribute to this project! 🚀