[FEATURE] ChatterSpace Phase 2 - Core Chat Functionality Implementation

[ItsVikasA]

📋 Summary

Complete implementation of Phase 2 core chat functionality for ChatterSpace, including real-time messaging, server/channel management, user authentication, and comprehensive frontend chat interface.

🎯 Features Implemented

Backend Infrastructure

• ✅ Database Models

  • Server.js - Server management with members and channels
  • Channel.js - Channel management with server relationships
  • Message.js - Message handling with reactions and threading support
  • User.js - Enhanced user model (existing, updated for chat features)

• ✅ API Controllers

  • serverController.js - CRUD operations for servers (create, join, leave, manage)
  • channelController.js - Channel management (create, delete, update)
  • messageController.js - Message handling with pagination and real-time support
  • authController.js - Authentication with development mode support

• ✅ API Routes

  • /api/servers - Server management endpoints
  • /api/channels - Channel management endpoints
  • /api/messages - Message CRUD and real-time endpoints
  • /api/auth - Authentication endpoints (enhanced)

• ✅ Real-time Socket.IO Integration

  • Room-based messaging by channels
  • Typing indicators
  • User presence tracking
  • Real-time server/channel updates

Frontend Implementation

• ✅ State Management (Zustand)

  • authStore.js - User authentication state
  • chatStore.js - Chat application state (servers, channels, messages)

• ✅ Services Layer

  • api.js - Base API service with error handling
  • socketService.js - Real-time Socket.IO communication
  • serverService.js - Server management API calls
  • channelService.js - Channel management API calls
  • messageService.js - Message handling API calls

• ✅ Chat Interface Components

  • ChatPage.jsx - Main chat interface layout
  • ServerList.jsx - Server sidebar with create/join functionality
  • ChannelList.jsx - Channel list for selected server
  • MessagePanel.jsx - Message display with real-time updates
  • MessageInput.jsx - Message composition with typing indicators
  • MessageItem.jsx - Individual message display
  • TypingIndicator.jsx - Real-time typing status
  • Modal components for server/channel creation

Development Environment Setup

• ✅ Environment Configuration

  • Backend .env with MongoDB URI, JWT secret, CORS settings
  • Frontend .env with API URL configuration
  • Development mode database fallback support

• ✅ Error Handling & Debugging

  • Fixed double /api URL routing issue
  • Graceful MongoDB connection failure handling
  • Mock authentication for development without database
  • Comprehensive error handling in API responses

🔧 Technical Details

Architecture

• Backend: Node.js + Express + Socket.IO + MongoDB/Mongoose
• Frontend: React + Vite + Zustand + Socket.IO Client
• Real-time: Socket.IO with room-based messaging
• Authentication: JWT with HTTP-only cookies

Database Schema

// Server Model
{
  name: String,
  description: String,
  owner: ObjectId,
  members: [ObjectId],
  channels: [ObjectId],
  inviteCode: String
}

// Channel Model  
{
  name: String,
  description: String,
  server: ObjectId,
  type: 'text' | 'voice',
  position: Number
}

// Message Model
{
  content: String,
  author: ObjectId,
  channel: ObjectId,
  reactions: [{ emoji: String, users: [ObjectId] }],
  edited: Boolean,
  editedAt: Date
}

API Endpoints

POST   /api/servers              - Create server
GET    /api/servers              - Get user's servers  
POST   /api/servers/:id/join     - Join server
DELETE /api/servers/:id/leave    - Leave server

POST   /api/channels             - Create channel
GET    /api/channels/:serverId   - Get server channels
DELETE /api/channels/:id         - Delete channel

POST   /api/messages             - Send message
GET    /api/messages/:channelId  - Get channel messages
PUT    /api/messages/:id         - Edit message
DELETE /api/messages/:id         - Delete message

Socket.IO Events

// Client → Server
'join-channel'     - Join channel room
'leave-channel'    - Leave channel room  
'send-message'     - Send new message
'typing-start'     - Start typing indicator
'typing-stop'      - Stop typing indicator

// Server → Client
'new-message'      - Receive new message
'message-updated'  - Message edited
'message-deleted'  - Message deleted
'user-typing'      - User typing status
'user-joined'      - User joined channel
'user-left'        - User left channel

🐛 Issues Fixed

1. URL Routing: Fixed double /api in API endpoint URLs
2. Database Connectivity: Added graceful fallback when MongoDB is unavailable
3. Authentication Flow: Mock authentication for development testing
4. CORS Configuration: Proper cross-origin setup for development
5. Error Handling: Comprehensive error handling across the application

🧪 Testing

Setup Instructions

1. Backend Setup:

   cd server
   npm install
   npm run dev

2. Frontend Setup:

   cd client  
   npm install
   npm run dev

3. Environment Variables:

   • Server: MONGODB_URI, JWT_SECRET, FRONTEND_URL