GoChat is a simple command-line chat application written in Go. It allows two users to communicate over a local network or the internet. The application supports both text messaging and file transfers.

• Real-time Messaging: Send and receive messages in real-time.
• File Transfer: Send files to your chat partner.
• Simple Configuration: Configure the server and ports using a config.json file.
• Cross-Platform: Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

• Go installed on your machine (version 1.16 or higher recommended).

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/gochat.git

2. Navigate to the project directory:

   cd gochat

3. To install dependencies, run the following command:

   go mod tidy

• Edit the config.json file to set the server address and ports:

  {
     "your_server": "0.0.0.0",
     "your_port": 8080,
     "friend_server" : "0.0.0.0"
     "friend_port": 8000
  }

  • your_server: The IP address or hostname of your server. Use localhost for local testing.
  • your_port: The port on which your server will listen for incoming connections.
  • friend_server: The IP address or hostname of friend server. Use localhost for local testing.
  • friend_port: The port on which your friend's server is listening. This is where your client will connect.

• Make sure the your_port and friend_port values are different for each user to avoid conflicts.

Using command line:

1. Start the chat application:

   go run chat.go

2. Enter your name when prompted.
3. The application will attempt to connect to your friend's chat instance. If the connection is successful, you can start chatting.

Using script

1. run this command on you terminal

   chmod +x run_chat.sh
   ./run_chat.sh

   this command create two terminals and run chat with correct configs on each one of them. Use ctrl+D to stpo terminals

• Type your messages in the terminal and press Enter to send them.
• To exit the chat, type exit.

To send a file, use the following command in the chat:

<SEND /path/to/your/file>

The file will be sent to your chat partner, and they will receive it in the same directory where their chat application is running.

1. User A starts the chat application:

   go run chat.go

   • Uses your_port: 8080 and friend_port: 8000.
   • Enters name: Alice.

2. User B starts the chat application:

   go run chat.go

   • Uses your_port: 8000 and friend_port: 8080.
   • Enters name: Bob.

3. Alice and Bob can now chat and send files to each other.

gochat
├── chat.go
├── client
│   ├── client.go
│   └── colors.go
├── config.json
├── go.mod
├── go.sum
├── main_test.go
├── README.md
├── run_chat.sh
└── server
    └── server.go

• chat.go: The main entry point of the application. It handles the configuration and starts the client and server.
• client/client.go: Contains the client logic for sending messages and files.
• server/server.go: Contains the server logic for receiving messages and files.
• config.json: Configuration file for setting the server address and ports.