Python Chat Client-Server

A simple client-server chat application built in Python using sockets and multithreading.
The project supports:

• TCP connection for broadcast messaging
• UDP peer-to-peer connection for private messages

It allows multiple clients to connect to a server and exchange messages in real time via the terminal.

---

Features

• Start a server to manage up to 5 simultaneous clients
• Real-time broadcast messaging to all connected users (via TCP)
• Private messaging between two users (via UDP)
• Simple terminal interface for sending/receiving messages
• Manual setup of client identity and ports

Technologies

• socket module (standard library)
• threading module for concurrent client handling

How to Run

1. Start the server

• 127.0.0.1 = local loopback address
• 8888 = TCP port the server will listen on

python chat_server.py 127.0.0.1 8888

2. Start clients

Choose your names, loopback address and id port.

• A name
• 127.0.0.1 = local loopback address, server IP
• unique port fot the client

Examples:

python chat_client.py Alice 127.0.0.1 2000

python chat_client.py Bob 127.0.0.1 2001

python chat_client.py Tom 127.0.0.1 2002