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Guide for Designing a Custom Web-Based Client for Mirage Server

This documentation is intended for developers looking to create a custom web-based client that interacts with the Mirage server. Below are key tips, considerations, and best practices to ensure a smooth development process.

1. Understand the Server Architecture

Familiarize yourself with the server's functionality and how it operates:

  • Socket.IO: The server uses Socket.IO for real-time communication. Understand how to establish a connection and listen for events.
  • Endpoints: Review the various Socket.IO events implemented on the server (like connect, disconnect, send_message, etc.) to know how your client should communicate with the server.

2. Establish a Connection

Create a connection to the server when your client initializes:

  • Use the appropriate Socket.IO client library for your chosen front-end framework (like React, Vue, or plain JavaScript).
  • Ensure you handle the connection events to manage the connection lifecycle (on connect, disconnect, and errors).

3. Handle User Authentication and Data Storage

  • User Information: Make sure to retrieve and manage user information effectively. This can be done through user inputs or a user profile.
  • Local Storage: Consider using local storage to save user preferences and messages. This way, users can have a seamless experience, even when the server is restarted.

4. Implement Room Management

Create an intuitive user interface for room management:

  • Create Room: Provide a UI element for users to create new rooms, ensuring to validate inputs (room name and username).
  • Join/Leave Room: Create a simple mechanism to join or leave rooms. Reflect these changes in the UI in real-time using Socket.IO events.

5. Message Handling

Design the messaging functionality carefully:

  • Sending Messages: Implement a messaging input box for users to send messages to a room. Include error handling for empty messages or missing data.
  • Receiving Messages: Set up listeners for incoming messages to update the chat interface in real-time. Consider implementing message IDs for efficient message tracking.
  • Display Messages: Design a clean layout to display messages, including timestamps and sender names. Ensure that the UI is user-friendly and visually appealing.

6. User List Management

Display a list of users in the room:

  • Use the get_users_in_room_route event to fetch and display the list of users currently in the room.
  • Update the user list in real-time as users join or leave.

7. Display Metrics

Consider adding a section in the UI to display server metrics:

  • Use the get_metrics event to fetch and present server statistics such as total pings and today's pings. This can help users understand server performance.

8. User Experience Considerations

  • Feedback Mechanisms: Provide visual feedback for user actions (like room creation, message sent, etc.) using notifications or toast messages.
  • Responsive Design: Ensure the web client is responsive, so it looks good on various devices, including desktops and mobile devices.
  • Error Handling: Implement robust error handling to inform users of any issues (like trying to create a room that already exists).

9. Testing and Debugging

  • Regularly test your client for bugs and usability issues. Use debugging tools available in browsers to track down issues.
  • Consider testing the client with multiple users to see how it handles concurrent connections.

Conclusion

By following this guide, you will create a web-based client that enhances user experience while interacting with the Mirage server. Always remember to iterate on feedback and improve the client based on user needs and preferences. Happy coding!