Chat Section Implementation: Real-Time Messaging and User Communication #7
Description
Summary
This issue outlines the implementation of a Chat Section that enables real-time messaging between users. The goal is to create a seamless, efficient, and user-friendly chat experience with support for individual and group conversations, notifications, and message persistence.
Feature Enhancements & Implementation Details
1. Chat Interface & UI Design
- Design a clean and intuitive chat interface that integrates smoothly with the existing application.
- Implement a responsive UI that works across different screen sizes.
- Display a list of conversations on the left, with an active chat window on the right.
- Include user profile pictures, last seen status, and timestamps for messages.
2. Real-Time Messaging
- Implement WebSockets (e.g., Socket.io) for instant message delivery.
- Ensure messages appear in real-time without requiring a page refresh.
- Support text messages, emojis, and basic media sharing (e.g., images and GIFs).
- Display message status indicators (sent, delivered, read).
3. User-to-User and Group Chats
- Enable direct one-on-one messaging between users.
- Implement group chat functionality, allowing multiple users to participate in a conversation.
- Allow users to create, name, and manage groups.
- Display the list of group members and provide an option to leave a group.
4. Message Persistence & Database Storage
- Store messages securely in the database to ensure they persist across sessions.
- Optimize queries for retrieving message history efficiently.
- Implement pagination or lazy loading for message history to improve performance.
5. Notifications & Activity Updates
- Implement real-time notifications when a new message is received.
- Display unread message counts in the chat list.
- Ensure notifications are integrated with the Activity Section so users are alerted about new messages.
- Provide in-app and push notification support.
6. Search & Filtering in Chats
- Add a search bar to find specific messages within a chat.
- Allow filtering conversations based on recent activity.
- Implement user search functionality to quickly find and start new conversations.
7. Privacy & Security Considerations
- Ensure end-to-end encryption for message security.
- Implement user controls for blocking or reporting messages.
- Provide an option to delete messages (for the user or both sender/receiver, if needed).
Expected Outcomes
- Users can communicate seamlessly through real-time messaging.
- Conversations are persistent, ensuring no message loss.
- A smooth and interactive UI enhances user experience.
- Notifications keep users informed of new messages.
- Secure and efficient database handling ensures scalability.
Additional Considerations
- Optimize WebSocket and database interactions for performance.
- Implement necessary API endpoints for chat functionalities.
- Maintain a clean, simple, and intuitive chat experience.
Priority: High
Status: Open for development
.env
- Frontend = VITE_API_BASE_URL
- Backend = MONGO_URI