Chat Application CLI (Dart)

A simple real-time chat application built with Dart using TCP sockets. It allows multiple clients to connect to a central server and exchange messages concurrently.

---

Features

• TCP server listening on port 4040
• Multiple clients can join simultaneously
• Messages are broadcasted to all connected clients
• CLI-based interaction
• Type exit to leave chat gracefully

---

Project Structure

chat_application/
│
├── bin/
│   ├── chat_server.dart   // Server code
│   └── chat_client.dart   // Client code

---

Usage

Start the Server

dart run bin/chat_server.dart

Start a Client

dart run bin/chat_client.dart

Enter server IP (default 127.0.0.1) and choose a username. Type messages and they will appear in all connected clients.

Exit Chat

Type:

exit

---

Example Run

Server:

Chat server running on port 4040...
New client connected: 127.0.0.1:60512
Received: Emeks: Hello everyone!
Received: Chuks: Hi Emeks!

Client 1 (Emeks):

Enter server IP (default 127.0.0.1):
Enter your username: Emeks
Connected to chat server at 127.0.0.1:4040
Emeks: Hello everyone!
Chuks: Hi Emeks!

Client 2 (Chuks):

Enter server IP (default 127.0.0.1):
Enter your username: Chuks
Connected to chat server at 127.0.0.1:4040
Emeks: Hello everyone!
Chuks: Hi Emeks!

---

Concepts Practiced

• TCP sockets (ServerSocket, Socket)
• Async I/O with streams (listen)
• Broadcasting messages to multiple clients
• Concurrent CLI interaction

---

Future Improvement

• Add private messaging between clients
• Add user join/leave notifications
• Implement chat history persistence