Chatex

Chatex is a distributed command-line chat application built with Elixir and OTP, running on the BEAM virtual machine. It allows multiple users to join chat rooms and communicate in real-time. The application leverages OTP's distribution capabilities to automatically connect with other users running Chatex on the same local network.

Features

• Real-time messaging within chat rooms.
• Create and join different rooms dynamically.
• Automatic discovery of other Chatex nodes on the same machine or local network.
• Standalone executable for easy execution.

How to Run

To get started with Chatex, you need to have Elixir and Erlang installed on your system.

1. Build the Executable

First, compile the project into a standalone executable file using Mix:

mix escript.build

This command will create an executable file named chatex in the root directory of the project.

2. Run the Application

Once the build is complete, you can start the chat client by running the generated file:

./chatex

You will be prompted to choose a username, and then you can start using the application's commands. To simulate a multi-user chat, you can open several terminal windows and run the ./chatex command in each one.

Usage

After launching the application and choosing a username, you can interact with the chat system using the following commands.

• /join <room_name>: Joins a specific chat room. If the room does not exist, it will be created automatically.
• /leave: Leaves the current chat room.
• /help: Displays a list of all available commands.
• /exit: Disconnects from the chat and terminates the application.

When inside a room, any text that does not start with a / will be sent as a message to all other users in that room.

Current Limitations

• Local Area Network Only: The application is designed to run on a single machine or on a local area network (LAN). Nodes on different, separate networks cannot discover or communicate with each other.
• Room Discovery: You and other users need to know the room name to connect.
• Security: Since we are running only on a local area network, we have no security, but in the future I will add room passwords and user verification.