Video Calling App

Overview

The Video Calling App is a real-time communication application built with Express.js, MongoDB, React.js, Socket.IO, and PeerJS. It allows users to host and join video calls seamlessly, manage meetings effectively, and provides a secure registration and login process.

Features

• Real-Time Video Communication: Achieved using Socket.IO and PeerJS for smooth and interactive video calls.
• Secure Account Management: Improved user registration and login processes for enhanced application security.
• Easy Meeting Management: Allows users to create and join meetings effortlessly for a streamlined experience.

Technologies Used

• Frontend: React.js
• Backend: Express.js
• Database: MongoDB
• Real-Time Communication: Socket.IO, PeerJS

Installation

Prerequisites

• Node.js
• MongoDB
• PeerJS

1. Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/TechThrives/Video-Calling-App

2. Set Up the Back-End

• Navigate to the Back-End Directory

cd video-calling-backend

• Install Dependencies

npm install

• Configure Environment Variables

  In the root directory of your Server, create a file named .env.

  Open the .env file and add the following environment variables:

  • PORT: Specifies the port on which the backend server will listen.

  • MONGO_URI: Connection string for MongoDB, including credentials and database information.

  • JWT_SECRET: Secret key used for signing JSON Web Tokens.

  • FRONTEND_URL: URL of the frontend application for CORS configuration.

  • PASSPHRASE: Passphrase for SSL certificate, used for encryption.

  • SSL_CRT_FILE: Path to the SSL certificate file used for HTTPS communication. For example, ../credentials/rootCA.cert.

  • SSL_KEY_FILE: Path to the SSL key file associated with the SSL certificate. For example, ../credentials/rootCA.key.

  By setting these environment variables, you ensure that your application is configured correctly for different environments and scenarios.

• Start the Back-End

npm start

2. Set Up the PeerJS Server

• Navigate to the PeerJS Directory

cd peerjs-server

• Install Dependencies

npm install

• Configure Environment Variables

  In the root directory of your PeerJs Server, create a file named .env.

  Open the .env file and add the following environment variables:

  • FRONTEND_URL: URL of the frontend application for CORS configuration.

  • PASSPHRASE: Passphrase for SSL certificate, used for encryption.

  • SSL_CRT_FILE: Path to the SSL certificate file used for HTTPS communication. For example, ../credentials/rootCA.cert.

  • SSL_KEY_FILE: Path to the SSL key file associated with the SSL certificate. For example, ../credentials/rootCA.key.

  By setting these environment variables, you ensure that your application is configured correctly for different environments and scenarios.

• Start the PeerJS Server

npm start

4. Set Up the Front-End

• Navigate to the Front-End Directory

cd video-calling-frontend

• Install Dependencies

npm install

• Configure Environment Variables

  In the root directory of your React App, create a file named .env.

  Open the .env file and add the following environment variables:

  • REACT_APP_SERVER: URL of the backend server that the React application will communicate with.

  • REACT_APP_PEER_SERVER: Hostname or IP address of the PeerJS server used for real-time communication.

  • REACT_APP_PEER_PORT: Port on which the PeerJS server is listening.

  • REACT_APP_PEER_PATH: Path to the PeerJS server endpoint used for establishing connections.

  • HTTPS: Set to true to enable HTTPS for secure communication.

  • SSL_CRT_FILE: Path to the SSL certificate file used for HTTPS communication. For example, ../credentials/rootCA.cert.

  • SSL_KEY_FILE: Path to the SSL key file associated with the SSL certificate. For example, ../credentials/rootCA.key.

  By setting these environment variables, you ensure that your application is configured correctly for different environments and scenarios.

• Start the Front-End

npm start

5. Access the Application

Open your browser and go to http://localhost:3000 to start using the app.

Usage

Registration & Login: Securely register and log in using your credentials.

Create a Meeting: Set up a new meeting with a unique ID and invite participants.

Join a Meeting: Enter the meeting ID to join an ongoing video call.

Chat with Participants: Send and receive messages with other participants in the ongoing chat conversation.

Contributing

We welcome contributions from the community. To contribute to this project, please follow these guidelines:

• Fork the repository
• Create a new branch for your feature or bug fix
• Make your changes and ensure they are well-tested
• Create a pull request to the main branch of the original repository

Developers

• Swarup Kanade @swarupkanade
• Omkar Kanade @omkarkanade