Python Chatroom

Required

• Python 3.8.1
• Click

Usage

Server

Run the server from the command line

./chat-server.py <port>

Use CTRL+C to terminate the server.

Client

nc is used to simulate the client. Use localhost as the IP if running the server locally.

nc <IP> <port>

The first message a client sends to the server is the user's name.

The server understands messages that follow these formats:

• Send message to other clients

  mess: <message>\n
  

• Refresh the client timeout

  alive:\n
  

• Retrieve a list of connected clients

  whoisthere:\n
  

TODO

• The interface between the client and the server needs to be redone. That is, the messages that the client sends to the server ('alive:\n', 'whoisthere:\n', etc...) is ugly.
• The chatroom is based on TCP. The server processes incoming data one byte at a time. The server should group packets together, stopping at some delimiter.
• Server should properly clean up threads on shutdown.
• Server does not have control commands. Shutdown is currently done with CTRL+C.
• Entire client needs to be written.
• Switch CLI from Click to argparse.
• Needs signup/login.
• Private messaging?
• Message history