Chattify

Chattify is a powerful and sleek real-time chatting app designed to connect people seamlessly. Experience instant messaging with an intuitive interface, real-time updates, and robust features.

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Features

• Real-time Messaging: Instant updates with no delay.
• User Authentication: Secure login and signup with JWT.
• Media Support: Share images via Cloudinary integration.
• Responsive Design: Works beautifully across all devices.

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Getting Started

Prerequisites

Ensure you have the following installed:

• Node.js (v14 or later)
• npm or yarn

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Development Setup

Backend Setup

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone <repository-url>
   cd backend

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install

3. Set up environment variables in a .env file:

   MONGODB_URI=<your-mongodb-uri>
   PORT=5001
   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>
   
   NODE_ENV=development
   

4. Start the backend server:

   npm run dev

Frontend Setup

1. Navigate to the frontend folder:

   cd frontend

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install

3. Start the development server:

   npm run dev

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Building the Application

To build the application for production:

1. Build the frontend:

   npm run build

2. Start the production server:

   npm start

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Deployment

1. Ensure you have set the correct environment variables for production.
2. Use a platform like Render, Heroku, or Vercel for deployment.

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Tech Stack

• Frontend: React.js with Vite
• Backend: Express.js with Socket.IO
• Database: MongoDB
• Media Storage: Cloudinary

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Contributing

We welcome contributions! To contribute:

1. Fork the repository.
2. Create a feature branch.
3. Submit a pull request.

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Enjoy seamless and real-time communication with Chattify! 🚀