uchat - Messaging Application

A client-server messaging application built with C# following the Track C# challenge requirements.

📹 Demo & Presentation

Click the thumbnail to watch the full recording on YouTube

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📋 Documentation

• 📄 Requirements (PDF) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ECF39wgpzELF99qkLj-PR783fdjt4E12/view?usp=sharing

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📸 Screenshots

Server (left) · Client log (right)

Server log console + launched client

Project Structure

• uchat_server/ - Server application (console)
• uchat/ - Client application (UWP with Windows 7/XP/Vista style design)

Features

Server

• Concurrent server architecture
• SQLite database for persistent chat history
• User authentication (login/register)
• Password hashing (SHA256)
• Real-time message broadcasting
• Message editing and deletion
• Process ID display
• Daemon-like operation

Client

• Windows UWP application
• Windows 7/XP/Vista style translucent, watery interface
• WhatsApp-like chat design
• User authentication
• Real-time messaging
• Message editing (own messages only)
• Message deletion (own messages only)
• Automatic reconnection on connection loss
• Chat history loading
• Connection status indicator

Architecture

The application follows a 3-tier architecture:

1. Presentation Layer: UWP client UI
2. Business Logic Layer: Protocol handling, authentication
3. Data Layer: SQLite database

Security

• Password hashing using SHA256
• Secure socket communication
• User authentication required

Requirements Met

✅ Server takes port as argument, displays usage if missing ✅ Server displays process ID at startup ✅ Server runs as daemon ✅ Concurrent server supporting multiple clients ✅ SQLite database for persistent chat history ✅ Client takes server IP and port as arguments ✅ Basic authentication (username/password) ✅ Message editing and deletion ✅ Reconnection handling ✅ Proper resource management ✅ C# naming conventions ✅ Builds in less than 30 seconds

Design

The client features a translucent, watery interface inspired by Windows 7/XP/Vista design:

• Glass-like panels with transparency
• Watery blue color scheme
• Smooth gradients
• WhatsApp-like chat bubbles
• Modern yet nostalgic aesthetic

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• .NET 8 SDK
• Windows App SDK Runtime (for the client)

1. Running the Server

Next are steps after project was built. The server requires a port as a command-line argument.

# Navigate to the server build directory
cd uchat_server/bin/Release/net8.0/

# Run with a specific port (e.g., 1337)
.\uchat_server.exe 1337

2. Running the Client

# Navigate to the client build directory
cd uchat/bin/x64/Release/net8.0-windows10.0.22000.0

# Run connecting to localhost
.\uchat.exe 127.0.0.1 1337

# OR run connecting to a remote server 
.\uchat.exe 192.168.0.105 1337