🗨️ Async CLI Chat App

A realtime command-line chat application built with Python (asyncio) and MongoDB. Messages appear live across all connected clients using MongoDB Change Streams, and old messages auto-expire after 30 minutes using a TTL index.

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🚀 Features

• 🔄 Realtime chat powered by MongoDB Change Streams.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Public chatroom (all) with support for DMs (extendable).
• 🕒 Auto-delete messages after 30 minutes (TTL index).
• ⏱ Shows recent chat history when joining.
• ✨ Beautiful CLI output with rich.
• ⚡ Async + non-blocking input (smooth typing + live updates).
• 🤖 Assisted & scaffolded with AI during development.

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🛠️ Tech Stack

• Python (3.9+)
• asyncio – concurrency
• Motor – async MongoDB driver
• MongoDB – database + change streams + TTL
• Rich – styled CLI output
• python-dotenv – load .env config
• AI Assistance – design & development scaffolding

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📦 Installation

1. Clone this repo:

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/cli-chat-app.git
cd cli-chat-app

2. Install dependencies:

pip install motor rich python-dotenv

3. Set up environment variables in a .env file:

MONGODB_URI=mongodb://localhost:27017
CHAT_DB=chat_app

4. Start MongoDB (local or Atlas).

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▶️ Usage

Run the app in multiple terminals (one per user):

python chat_async.py

• Choose a username when prompted.
• Type messages to chat in realtime.
• Use /quit or Ctrl+C to exit.

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⚙️ Configuration

• TTL_SECONDS → how long messages live (default: 1800 = 30min)
• RECENT_LIMIT → how many past messages to show when joining

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