Web Chat Application

📝 Overview

This is a simple web-based chat application developed using Core Java technologies including JSP, Servlets, JDBC, and MySQL as the database. The application allows users to register, login, and exchange messages in real-time through a user-friendly interface.

📸 Screenshots

🎥 Demo Video

✨ Features

• User registration and authentication
• Sending and receiving messages between users
• Persistent storage of users and messages in MySQL
• JSP-based frontend for interaction
• Servlet-based backend handling business logic and database connectivity

🛠 Technologies Used

• Core Java
• JSP (JavaServer Pages)
• Servlets
• JDBC (Java Database Connectivity)
• MySQL Database
• Apache Tomcat

📁 Project Structure

webchat
│
├── src
│   └── main
│       ├── java
│       │   ├── mypackage
│       │   │   └── (Java files - servlets, utilities)
│       │   └── url_manager
│       │       └── (Java files - URL routing helpers)
│       └── webapp
│           ├── cssfiles
│           ├── js
│           ├── jsp
│           ├── META-INF
│           └── WEB-INF
│               ├── lib (mysql and jakarta jar files)
│               └── web.xml

⚙️ Configuration

1. Database Setup

Create a MySQL database and tables by running:

Creating a Database :

CREATE DATABASE chat;

Using the Database :

USE chat;

Creating a table for messages :

CREATE TABLE `messages` (
  `msg_id` int(20) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
  `incoming_msg_id` varchar(255) NOT NULL,
  `outgoing_msg_id` varchar(255) NOT NULL,
  `msg` varchar(1000) NOT NULL,
 PRIMARY KEY (`msg_id`)) AUTO_INCREMENT = 100;

Creating a table for users :

CREATE TABLE `users` (
  `user_id` int(11) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
  `unique_id` varchar(200) NOT NULL,
  `fname` varchar(255) NOT NULL,
  `lname` varchar(255) NOT NULL,
  `email` varchar(255) NOT NULL,
  `password` varchar(255) NOT NULL,
  `img` varchar(400) NOT NULL,
  `status` varchar(255) NOT NULL,
 PRIMARY KEY (`user_id`)) AUTO_INCREMENT = 100;

2. 🔐 Update Database Credentials

Configure your database connection in your Java servlet or utility class using JDBC:

String url = "jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306/chat";
String username = "your_mysql_username";
String password = "your_mysql_password";

Connection conn = DriverManager.getConnection(url, username, password);

3. 📚 Add Required Libraries

Place the following JAR files in the WEB-INF/lib directory:

• MySQL Connector/J
• Jakarta Servlet API

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4. ⚙️ Configure pom.xml for Maven

Add below code under dependencies for MySQL mapping:

<dependency>
    <groupId>com.mysql</groupId>
    <artifactId>mysql-connector-j</artifactId>
    <version>8.1.0</version>
</dependency>

▶️ Running the Application

1. Build the Project
Compile the Java source files using your IDE (like IntelliJ or Eclipse) or command line (javac) if not using a build tool.

2. Deploy to Tomcat

• Package your project into a WAR file or use exploded directory.
• Place the WAR file or directory in the webapps/ folder of Apache Tomcat.

3. Start MySQL Database
Ensure MySQL server is running and the database (chat) and tables are properly set up.

4. Access the Application
Open a web browser and navigate to: http://localhost:8080/webChatApp-main

5. Test the Chat Functionality

• Enter your name and message in the form.
• Submit and view live messages using JSP and Servlet backend handling.

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📫 Contact

For questions or suggestions, feel free to reach out:

• 📧 Email: 2001vishaly@gmail.com
• 💼 LinkedIn: LinkedIn

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