Chatter Wave

A cross-platform chat application built with PyQt5 supporting both TCP and UDP protocols for network communication.

Features

Communication Protocols

• TCP Protocol: Reliable, connection-oriented communication
• UDP Protocol: Lightweight, connectionless communication
• Protocol Comparison: In-app explanation of TCP vs UDP differences

User Interface

• Tab-Based Chat: Public chat and private conversation tabs
• Unread Message Indicators: Visual notifications for new messages
• Online User List: Real-time display of connected users
• Message Formatting: Color-coded messages by sender type

Network Features

• Configurable Connection: Customizable host and port settings
• Username Selection: Personalized identity in chats
• Error Handling: Robust management of network issues
• Server Notifications: System messages for user activity

Client-Server Architecture

• Multi-Client Support: Handles multiple simultaneous connections
• Protocol Mixing: Manages both TCP and UDP clients
• Message Routing: Intelligent message delivery
• Heartbeat Mechanism: Connection maintenance for UDP clients

Screenshots

Installation

Prerequisites

• Python 3.6+
• PyQt5

Setup

git clone https://github.com/medovanx/chatter_wave.git
cd chatter_wave
pip install -r requirements.txt

Alternatively, you can download pre-compiled executable files from the Releases page.

Usage

Starting the Server

python server.py

Default ports: TCP 9090, UDP 9091

Connecting

1. Launch client application: python chat_client.py
2. Enter server details and username
3. Select protocol (TCP/UDP)
4. Click "Connect"

Chatting

• Public Chat: Type in main tab
• Private Chat: Double-click username to open private tab

Technical Details

Code Structure

• ChatWindow: Main UI logic
• ChatTab: Individual chat tabs
• ChatClient: Network communication
• SignalHandler: Qt signal management
• ChatServer: TCP/UDP server implementation

Message Format

JSON-formatted messages:

{
  "type": "public|private|server|error|user_list",
  "from": "username",
  "to": "recipient_username",
  "message": "content",
  "users": ["user1", "user2", "..."]
}