Network Chat

Secure, Real-time, Room-based Messaging Application
Built with Java Swing, SSL/TLS, and TCP Sockets.

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🚀 Overview

NetworkChat is a robust, enterprise-grade chat application designed for secure communication. Unlike standard chat apps, NetworkChat uses a custom TCP protocol over SSL/TLS to ensure that every message is encrypted and delivered reliably. It features a modern Swing-based UI with support for multiple chat rooms, direct user invites, and persistent connections.

The backend is deployed on AWS EC2, providing 24/7 availability, while the client is packaged as a native executable for easy distribution.

✨ Key Features

🔒 Security & Privacy

• Enterprise-Grade Encryption: All messages are protected using SSL/TLS (Secure Sockets Layer) with custom keystore management.
• Private Rooms: Create password-protected channels to ensure sensitive conversations stay private.
• Bypass-Invite System: Securely invite trusted users to private rooms without sharing the password explicitly.

💬 Instant Messaging

• Persistent TCP Connections: Unlike UDP, our custom TCP protocol ensures ordered, reliable delivery of every message.
• Real-Time Status: Instant feedback on who joins or leaves the global lobby or private rooms.
• Zero Latency: Optimized byte-stream handling for immediate message propagation.

🖥️ Modern User Interface

• Tabbed Chat Windows: Manage multiple conversations simultaneously with a clean, browser-like tabbed interface.
• Rich User List: Visual indicators for active users, with right-click context menus for interactions.
• Color-Coded Identities: Unique colors assigned to users for easy visual distinction in busy chat rooms.
• System Notifications: Desktop-native alerts when you receive invites or important system messages.

🌐 Connectivity

• Cross-Network Compatibility: "Trust All" SSL logic ensures the client works even on restricted networks (e.g., University WiFi, Corporate Firewalls).
• Auto-Reconnect: Intelligent handling of connection drops and "zombie" socket cleanup.

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📖 User Guide

1. Joining the Network

• Launch the application.
• The Server IP (AWS EC2) and Port are pre-filled for convenience.
• Enter your Username and click Login.

2. Creating a Room

• Click the Create Room button in the top menu.
• Enter a unique Room Name.
• (Optional) Set a Password to make it private.
• Click Create. A new tab will open for your room.

3. Inviting Users

• Right-click on any user in the Online Users list.
• Select Invite to [Room Name].
• The target user will receive a popup invitation. If they accept, they join instantly without needing the password.

4. Joining a Room Manually

• Click Join Room.
• Select a room from the public list.
• If protected, enter the password.

🛠️ Technology Stack

Component	Technology	Description
Language	Java 21	Core logic and networking
GUI	Java Swing	Native desktop interface
Networking	TCP Sockets	Reliable, ordered data stream
Security	SSL/TLS (JSSE)	Encrypted transport layer
Hosting	AWS EC2	Amazon Linux 2023 server instance
Build	GitHub Actions	CI/CD for .exe and .dmg generation

🏗️ System Architecture

flowchart LR
    User[User] -->|Interacts| UI[Swing UI Client]
    subgraph Local Machine
        UI -->|Connects| SSL[SSL/TLS Socket Layer]
    end
    
    SSL <-->|Encrypted TCP Port 443| FW[AWS Security Group]
    
    subgraph AWS Cloud EC2
        FW --> Server[Java Server Backend]
        Server -->|Manages| ClientHandler[Client Threads]
        ClientHandler -->|Broadcasts| Rooms[Chat Rooms]
        ClientHandler -->|Updates| Users[Active User List]
    end

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The application follows a standard Client-Server architecture secured via SSL/TLS:

1. Client: Initiates a TCP connection to 52.66.246.194:443.
2. Handshake: Server establishes a secure SSL tunnel.
3. Authentication: User sends hashed credentials (optional) or guest login.
4. Session: A persistent Socket is maintained for real-time bi-directional communication.

📸 Screenshots

Login Screen	Chat Interface

(Note: Screenshots to be added. Run the app to see the live UI!)

📦 Installation

Download Binaries

Go to the Releases page to download the installer for your OS:

• Windows: NetworkChat-Setup.exe
• macOS: NetworkChat.dmg

Quick Start (Source)

If you prefer running from source:

1. Clone the Repository

   git clone https://github.com/am-saksham/NetworkChat.git
   cd NetworkChat

2. Run Client

   ./run_client.sh

🌐 Server Deployment

The server is currently hosted and live at 52.66.246.194:443. To host your own instance:

1. Generate Keys:

   ./keygen.sh

2. Compile & Run:

   ./run_server.sh

   Ensure Port 443 is open in your firewall.

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_{Built with ❤️ by Saksham}