Multi-client Chatroom

A simple python3 based multi-client chatroom application built over the fundamentals of sockets in python.

Developed as a part of the assessment for the module CST4045 Cross Platform Application Development at Middlesex University, London during the academic year 2019-20 under the guidance of module leader Dr Ralph Moseley.

Features

• Core
  • Multi-client
  • Admin authentication for server related activites
  • Full chatroom activity log
  • Individual user logs
  • User database w/ encrypted user passwords
  • Login system for returning users
• In-chat
  • Set or change preferred username
  • Set or change preferred password
  • Create, join or leave rooms
  • List users or rooms (admin only)
  • Send (encrypted) private messages

Usage

1. Install dependencies

pip3 install -r requirements.txt

2. Run server script

python3 chat_server.py

3. Start server
   • Enter port number
   • Enter admin password
4. Run client script

python3 chat_client.py [server_ip] [server_port]

Client Options

/u [username]                       - Change the username
/p                                  - Change the password
/c [room_name]                      - Create a new room
/j [room_name]                      - Join a room
/l [room_name]                      - Leave a room
/cd [room_name]                     - Change default room
/list                               - (Admin) List all the rooms on the server
/users                              - (Admin) List all the users on the server
/public <[room_name]> [message]     - Sends a message to any room you are a part of
/private <[username]> [message]     - Send a (encrypted) private message to any user
/logout                             - Disconnect from the server

Known Issues

There are certain known issues with respect to this code:

1. After running the server script, port number for the server has to be entered; some terminals print the line asking for the port number, others just keep waiting for the input without priting the line.
2. Getpass module issues a warning 'Warning: Password input may be echoed' on insecure terminals.
3. Incorrect login creates a new temporary user on the server.
4. The application is not yet fully compatible over the internet:
   • Same encryption key is used by the server and the client which is generated and stored on the server.
   • Some user validation takes place on the client side and needs to access the user database locally on the client side.

❗ The code needs refactoring. Please note that this is my first python project and was written in a matter of just few hours.