Math Server-Client Application

Project Overview

This project is a client-server application that performs basic mathematical operations over a network. The server listens for client connections, receives mathematical operation requests, processes them, and sends back the computed results. The client sends requests and receives responses from the server, making it a simple yet effective demonstration of socket programming in Java.

This project was developed as part of a university assignment where the base code was already provided. Additional improvements and modifications were made to enhance functionality and demonstrate a deeper understanding of network programming.

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The Application Handles:

• Establishing a TCP connection between a client and server.
• Receiving and parsing mathematical operation requests from clients.
• Performing basic arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division).
• Sending results back to the client over the network.
• Handling errors such as invalid operations and division by zero.

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How It Works

Communication & Processing

1. Server Initialization
   • The server starts and listens for incoming client connections on a specified port.
   • Once a client connects, the server reads input requests.
2. Client Requests
   • The client sends a request in the format: OPERATION number1 number2 (e.g., ADD 5 3).
   • Supported operations: ADD, SUB, MUL, DIV.
3. Server Response
   • The server processes the request and performs the corresponding arithmetic operation.
   • The result is sent back to the client.
   • If an invalid request is received, an error message is returned.

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Skills Applied in This Project

• Java Socket Programming (Client-Server Communication)
• Multithreading & Networking (Handling multiple client requests)
• String Parsing & Exception Handling (Validating and processing user inputs)
• Error Handling & Fault Tolerance (Handling invalid inputs and division by zero)

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Technologies & Components Used

• Java (Core programming language)
• TCP Sockets (Client-Server communication protocol)
• I/O Streams (BufferedReader, PrintWriter for data exchange)
• Basic Arithmetic Operations (Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division)

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How to Run the Project

1. Compile the Java files

   javac MathServer.java MathClient.java

2. Start the Server

   java MathServer <port_number>

   • Example: java MathServer 5000
3. Run the Client

   java MathClient <host> <port_number>

   • Example: java MathClient localhost 5000
4. Send Requests from the Client
   • Example input: ADD 10 5
   • Expected response: Result: 15.0
   • Example invalid input: DIV 10 0
   • Expected response: Error: Division by zero

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Real-World Applications – Why This Project is Important

This project provides a fundamental understanding of network communication and client-server interaction, applicable in:

• Distributed Computing – Processing requests across networked systems.
• Cloud-based API Services – Structuring data exchange between remote applications.
• Real-time Communication Systems – Handling requests in web applications.