Django Chat Application

The Django Chat Application is a web-based platform that allows users to engage in real-time chat conversations with their friends, manage their profiles, send and accept friend requests, and search for other users within the application. This project provides a user-friendly interface for communication and social interaction, utilizing API calls and polling for real-time chat updates.

Key Features

• User Authentication: Users must first log in to access the application. New users have the option to sign up for an account.

• User Profiles: Each user has a profile page displaying their information. Users can edit their profile information.

• Navigation: The application features a simple UI with the following buttons: "Edit Profile," "Logout," and "Search" to allow users to find other users on the platform.

• Friend Management: Users can maintain two lists: "Friend List" and "Request List." Users can click on friend names in these lists to access profiles or start chats.

• Chatting: Users can initiate chat conversations by clicking on a friend's name. Real-time chat functionality is implemented using API calls and polling, enabling near-instant communication.

• Friend Requests: Users can send friend requests to others by visiting their profiles. Pending friend requests can be accepted or rejected. Accepted requests add users to each other's friend lists.

• Friend Profile Options: Users can perform actions on friends' profiles, including "Remove Friend" and "Chat."

User Flow

1. User logs in or signs up.
2. On the dashboard, the user can:
   • Edit their profile information.
   • Log out of their account.
   • Search for other users.
   • View their friend list and pending friend requests.
3. In the friend list and request list:
   • Clicking on a friend's name opens a chat with them.
   • Clicking on a pending request opens the requester's profile.
   • Pending requests can be accepted or rejected.
4. In a friend's profile:
   • The user can choose to remove the friend or start a chat.

Technology Stack

• Django (Python web framework)
• Front-end technologies for the UI (HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
• API calls and polling for real-time chat updates
• Database for user information and chat history (e.g., PostgreSQL)

Project Goals

• Create a user-friendly and interactive chat application.
• Implement secure user authentication and authorization.
• Provide a smooth and responsive user interface.
• Enable real-time chat features using API calls and polling.
• Develop a robust friend management system with friend requests.

Future Enhancements

• Implement notifications for friend requests and new messages.
• Add multimedia support (e.g., file sharing, image uploads).
• Enhance user profiles with profile pictures and additional details.
• Implement group chats and chat rooms.

Getting Started

To get started with the Django Chat Application, follow these steps:

1. Clone the repository to your local machine:

   git clone https://github.com/devnamdev2003/django-chat-app.git

2. Create a virtual environment and install the project dependencies:

   cd django-chat-app
   python -m venv venv
   source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows, use: venv\Scripts\activate
   pip install -r requirements.txt

3. Set up the database:

   python manage.py migrate

4. Start the development server:

   python manage.py runserver

5. Open a web browser and navigate to http://localhost:8000/ to access the application.

Contributions

We welcome contributions from the community! If you'd like to contribute to the project, please follow these guidelines:

1. Fork the repository.
2. Create a new branch for your feature or bug fix.
3. Make your changes and commit them with clear, descriptive commit messages.
4. Push your branch to your fork.
5. Create a pull request to merge your changes into the main project.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

Images

Here are some screenshots from the Django Chat Application:

Login Page:

Signup Page:

Chat Interface:

Friend Management:

Search Friends

Edit Profile

Profile