websocket real-time chat example with node, sockets.io and express

basic node websocket chat interface with express & sockets.io.

this is based a number of online tutorials, see References section.

features and todo

• (todo) refactor the user leaving and adding code, don't like the list approach
• (todo) fix the craptastic layout
• (todo) dockerize

requirements

• npm and node

start

# install necessary packages
npm install

# run with nodemon
npm start

usage/testing

by default, it runs on port 5000. navigate to http://localhost:5000 (or server addr if running remotely)

references

based primarily on the tutorial below, except i roll my own, arguably way more "awesome", frontend:

Realtime Chat With Users & Rooms - Socket.io, Node & Express