Chat Application - UDP and TCP Communication

Authors:

• Mohammadmahdi Alijani
• Maryna Shapoval

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This project implements a chat application that enables communication between computers using both UDP and TCP protocols. It consists of server and client components for UDP and TCP, as well as a graphical user interface for the client. For the UDP part, we have a single-directional communication. The TCP protocol is used to make a fully functional chat app. You can also use a graphical interface for the client side.

You can find the documentation here.

Project Structure

UDP Communication

UDP Server (UDPServer.java)

• Listens for UDP messages on a specified port (default: 8439).

UDP Client (UDPClient.java)

• Sends UDP messages to the server on a specified host and port (default: localhost:8439).

TCP Communication

TCP Server (TCPServer.java)

• Listens for TCP connections on a specified port (default: 8439).
• Accepts multiple client connections and echoes messages to all clients.

TCP Client (TCPClient.java)

• Connects to the TCP server on a specified host and port (default: localhost:8439).
• Allows user input through the console and sends it to the server. It can be used as a single thread-blocking mode (used in the terminal by default) or multi-thread to send and receive data asynchronously (used in graphical mode).

How to Compile

To compile the project, ensure you have Java installed and execute the following commands:

Compile UDP classes

javac com/ensea_chatapp_udp/Server/UDPServer.java
javac com/ensea_chatapp_udp/Client/UDPClient.java

Compile TCP classes

javac com/ensea_chatapp_tcp/Server/TCPServer.java
javac com/ensea_chatapp_tcp/Client/TCPClient.java

Compile GUI class

javac --module-path [javafx-dir]\javafx-sdk-21.0.1\lib --add-modules javafx.controls com/ensea_chatapp_gui/ChatApplication.java

How to Run

Run UDP Server

java com.ensea_chatapp_udp.Server.UDPServer [port]

Run UDP Client

java com.ensea_chatapp_udp.Client.UDPClient [host] [port]

Run TCP Server

java com.ensea_chatapp_tcp.Server.TCPServer [port]

Run TCP Client

java com.ensea_chatapp_tcp.Client.TCPClient [host] [port]

Run GUI Client

java --module-path [javafx-dir]\javafx-sdk-21.0.1\lib --add-modules javafx.controls com.ensea_chatapp_gui.ChatApplication 

Run pre-compiled jar files

You can also use pre-compiled jar files to use functionalities.

Run TCP Server

java -jar Client_GUI.jar  

Run TCP Client

java -jar Server_GUI.jar  

Run TCP Graphical Interface for Client

java --module-path [javafx-dir]\javafx-sdk-21.0.1\lib --add-modules javafx.controls -jar Client_GUI.jar

Graphical Interface

GUI (HelloApplication.java)

• Provides a graphical user interface for the TCP client.
• Allows users to connect to the server by specifying the address.
• Displays chat messages
• Allows users to input messages and send them to the server.