Chat server and client

This is a simple, networked, multi-threaded server-client chat system.

Build

make target

• Binaries are deposited in build/.
• The default compiler is clang but just change CC=gcc in the Makefile if you want to use gcc instead.

Usage

Server

server authfile [port]

Start server on port; random port selected if not given. The chosen port is immediately printed to stderr.

• The server must be set up with an authentication string contained as the first line of authfile.
• Send SIGHUP to the server for chat session statistics, i.e. kill -SIGHUP server_pid

Client

client name authfile [host] port

Connect client to server at host (ipv4) on port.

• The server authenticates the client using the first line of authfile.

The client has access to the following commands

• *LIST: - list session participants
• *KICK:name - kick another participant
• *LEAVE: - leave the chat

Examples

Run server

build/server test/testfiles/auth.txt 22427

Run client

build/client Nichola test/testfiles/auth.txt 127.0.0.1 22427