GwezTalk - Modern Firebase Live Chat System

GwezTalk (also known as OneTalk) is a fully working, modern real-time chat system built using PHP, Firebase, Google Authentication, and Bootstrap 5. It features secure user authentication, real-time messaging, smart caching, and a clean modern interface inspired by popular messaging platforms.

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✅ Features

� Authentication & Security

• 🔑 Google OAuth Integration - Secure sign-in with Google accounts
• 🛡️ Firebase Authentication - Industry-standard user management
• 🔒 Secure Database Rules - Protected data access with proper permissions

💬 Real-Time Messaging

• ⚡ Instant Messaging - Real-time chat with Firebase Realtime Database
• � Private 1-to-1 Chats - Secure isolated conversations between users
• 👁️ Read/Unread Indicators - See message status with visual formatting
• ⌨️ Typing Indicators - "User is typing..." notifications
• � Last Message Preview - See recent messages in contact list

👥 Social Features

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Friend System - Send, accept, and manage friend requests
• 👤 Smart Avatar Priority - Google photos → Custom URLs → Default avatars
• 🟢 "In this chat" Status - Clean presence system without clutter
• 🔍 User Search - Find and add new contacts

⚡ Performance & UX

• 🚀 Smart Caching System - 5-minute localStorage cache for faster loading
• 📱 Responsive Design - Perfect on mobile, tablet, and desktop
• 🎨 Modern UI - Clean Bootstrap 5 interface with smooth animations
• ⚙️ Profile Settings - Easy profile and avatar management

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📸 Screenshots

🔐 Login Page

🗂️ Dashboard

⚙️ Profile Settings

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�️ Tech Stack

• Backend: PHP 8+ with Firebase integration
• Database: Firebase Realtime Database
• Authentication: Firebase Auth with Google OAuth
• Frontend: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript (ES6+)
• UI Framework: Bootstrap 5.3+ with custom styling
• Icons: Bootstrap Icons
• Development: GitHub Copilot assisted development

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🚀 Installation & Setup

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/gwenz2/php-live-chat-system.git
   cd php-live-chat-system

2. Set up Firebase:

   • Create a Firebase project at console.firebase.google.com
   • Enable Authentication and Realtime Database
   • Configure Google Sign-In provider
   • Update Firebase config in the PHP files

3. Configure web server:

   • Ensure PHP 8+ is installed
   • Place files in web server directory (e.g., htdocs for XAMPP)
   • Access via http://localhost/php-live-chat-system-main/

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🔧 Firebase Security Rules

For proper security, apply these Firebase Realtime Database rules:

{
  "rules": {
    "users": {
      ".read": "auth != null",
      "$uid": {
        ".write": "auth != null && auth.uid == $uid"
      }
    },
    "friendRequests": {
      ".read": "auth != null",
      ".write": "auth != null"
    },
    "friends": {
      ".read": "auth != null", 
      "$uid": {
        ".write": "auth != null && auth.uid == $uid"
      }
    },
    "chats": {
      ".read": "auth != null",
      ".write": "auth != null"
    },
    "typing": {
      ".read": "auth != null",
      ".write": "auth != null"
    }
  }
}

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�🙌 Credits & Acknowledgments

Project Author: Gwen Balajediong
Project Name: GwezTalk (aka OneTalk)
Development: Enhanced with GitHub Copilot assistance
UI Inspiration: Modern messaging platforms (WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord)
Open Source: MIT License - feel free to use and modify!

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📈 Recent Updates

• ✅ Firebase Migration - Moved from MySQL to Firebase for real-time capabilities
• ✅ Caching System - Implemented smart localStorage caching for performance
• ✅ Chat Isolation - Fixed 1-to-1 private messaging with proper chat rooms
• ✅ UI Improvements - Last message previews, read indicators, modern design
• ✅ Performance - Optimized Firebase queries and reduced API calls

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⭐ Star this repo if you find it useful! 🍴 Fork it to create your own chat system!
🐛 Report issues or contribute features!