Kiera Smart

Kiera Smart

1588899780

How to build a real-time chat app with Node and React using WebSockets

Learn how to build a real-time chat app with Node and React using WebSockets.

  • Introduction – 00:00
  • HTTP protocol – 00:17
  • Build a chat app – 03:01
  • Create the server – 04:09
  • Creat the client --07:00
  • Implement a login functionality – 11:52
  • Implement user interface – 13:45
  • Conclusion – 19:57

The web has traveled a long way to support full-duplex (or two-way) communication between a client and server. This is the prime intention of the WebSocket protocol: to provide persistent real-time communication between the client and the server over a single TCP socket connection.

The WebSocket protocol has only two agendas : 1.) to open up a handshake, and 2.) to help the data transfer. Once the server and client both have their handshakes in, they can send data to each other with less overhead at will.

WebSocket communication takes place over a single TCP socket using either WS (port 80) or WSS (port 443) protocol. Almost every browser except Opera Mini provides admirable support for WebSockets at the time of writing, as per Can I Use.

The story so far

Historically, creating web apps that needed real-time data (like gaming or chat apps) required an abuse of HTTP protocol to establish bidirectional data transfer. There were multiple methods used to achieve real-time capabilities, but none of them were as efficient as WebSockets. HTTP polling, HTTP streaming, Comet, SSE — they all had their own drawbacks.

HTTP polling

The very first attempt to solve the problem was by polling the server at regular intervals. The HTTP long polling lifecycle is as follows:

  1. The client sends out a request and keeps waiting for a response.
  2. The server defers its response until there’s a change, update, or timeout. The request stayed “hanging” until the server had something to return to the client.
  3. When there’s some change or update on the server end, it sends a response back to the client.
  4. The client sends a new long poll request to listen to the next set of changes.

There were a lot of loopholes in long polling — header overhead, latency, timeouts, caching, and so on.

HTTP streaming

This mechanism saved the pain of network latency because the initial request is kept open indefinitely. The request is never terminated, even after the server pushes the data. The first three lifecycle methods of HTTP streaming are the same in HTTP polling.

When the response is sent back to the client, however, the request is never terminated; the server keeps the connection open and sends new updates whenever there’s a change.

Server-sent events (SSE)

With SSE, the server pushes data to the client. A chat or gaming application cannot completely rely on SSE. The perfect use case for SSE would be, e.g., the Facebook News Feed: whenever new posts comes in, the server pushes them to the timeline. SSE is sent over traditional HTTP and has restrictions on the number of open connections.

These methods were not just inefficient, the code that went into them also made developers tired.

Why WebSocket is the prince that was promised

WebSockets are designed to supersede the existing bidirectional communication technologies. The existing methods described above are neither reliable nor efficient when it comes to full-duplex real-time communications.

WebSockets are similar to SSE but also triumph in taking messages back from the client to the server. Connection restrictions are no longer an issue since data is served over a single TCP socket connection.

Practical tutorial

As mentioned in the introduction, the WebSocket protocol has only two agendas. Let’s see how WebSockets fulfills those agendas. To do that, I’m going to spin off a Node.js server and connect it to a client built with React.js.

Agenda 1: WebSocket establishes a handshake between server and client

Creating a handshake at the server level

We can make use of a single port to spin off the HTTP server and the WebSocket server. The gist below shows the creation of a simple HTTP server. Once it is created, we tie the WebSocket server to the HTTP port:

const webSocketsServerPort = 8000;
const webSocketServer = require('websocket').server;
const http = require('http');
// Spinning the http server and the websocket server.
const server = http.createServer();
server.listen(webSocketsServerPort);
const wsServer = new webSocketServer({
  httpServer: server
});

Once the WebSocket server is created, we need to accept the handshake on receiving the request from the client. I maintain all the connected clients as an object in my code with a unique user-id on receiving their request from the browser.

// I'm maintaining all active connections in this object
const clients = {};

// This code generates unique userid for everyuser.
const getUniqueID = () => {
  const s4 = () => Math.floor((1 + Math.random()) * 0x10000).toString(16).substring(1);
  return s4() + s4() + '-' + s4();
};

wsServer.on('request', function(request) {
  var userID = getUniqueID();
  console.log((new Date()) + ' Recieved a new connection from origin ' + request.origin + '.');
  // You can rewrite this part of the code to accept only the requests from allowed origin
  const connection = request.accept(null, request.origin);
  clients[userID] = connection;
  console.log('connected: ' + userID + ' in ' + Object.getOwnPropertyNames(clients))
});

So, what happens when the connection is accepted?

While sending the regular HTTP request to establish a connection, in the request headers, the client sends *Sec-WebSocket-Key*. The server encodes and hashes this value and adds a predefined GUID. It echoes the generated value in the *Sec-WebSocket-Accept* in the server-sent handshake.

Once the request is accepted in the server (after necessary validations in production), the handshake is fulfilled with status code 101. If you see anything other than status code 101 in the browser, the WebSocket upgrade has failed, and the normal HTTP semantics will be followed.

The *Sec-WebSocket-Accept* header field indicates whether the server is willing to accept the connection or not. Also, if the response lacks an *Upgrade* header field, or the *Upgrade* does not equal websocket, it means the WebSocket connection has failed.

The successful server handshake looks like this:

HTTP GET ws://127.0.0.1:8000/ 101 Switching Protocols
Connection: Upgrade
Sec-WebSocket-Accept: Nn/XHq0wK1oO5RTtriEWwR4F7Zw=
Upgrade: websocket

Creating a handshake at the client level

At the client level, I’m using the same WebSocket package we are using in the server to establish the connection with the server (the WebSocket API in Web IDL is being standardized by the W3C). As soon as the request is accepted by the server, we will see WebSocket Client Connected on the browser console.

Here’s the initial scaffold to create the connection to the server:

import React, { Component } from 'react';
import { w3cwebsocket as W3CWebSocket } from "websocket";

const client = new W3CWebSocket('ws://127.0.0.1:8000');

class App extends Component {
  componentWillMount() {
    client.onopen = () => {
      console.log('WebSocket Client Connected');
    };
    client.onmessage = (message) => {
      console.log(message);
    };
  }
  
  render() {
    return (
      <div>
        Practical Intro To WebSockets.
      </div>
    );
  }
}

export default App;

The following headers are sent by the client to establish the handshake:

HTTP GET ws://127.0.0.1:8000/ 101 Switching Protocols
Upgrade: websocket
Connection: Upgrade
Sec-WebSocket-Key: vISxbQhM64Vzcr/CD7WHnw==
Origin: http://localhost:3000
Sec-WebSocket-Version: 13

Now that the client and server are connected with mutual handshakes, the WebSocket connection can transmit messages as it receives them, thereby fulfilling the second agenda of WebSocket protocol.

Agenda 2: Real-time message transmission

I’m going to code a basic real-time document editor where users can join together and edit a document. I’m tracking two events:

  1. User activities: Every time a user joins or leaves, I broadcast the message to all the other connected clients.
  2. Content changes: Every time content in the editor is changed, it is broadcast to all the other connected clients.

The protocol allows us to send and receive messages as binary data or UTF-8 (N.B., transmitting and converting UTF-8 has less overhead).

Understanding and implementing WebSockets is very easy as long as we have a good understanding of the socket events: onopen, onclose, and onmessage. The terminologies are the same on both the client and the server side.

GitHub repo: https://github.com/kokanek/web-socket-chat

#node-js #reactjs #javascript #websockets

What is GEEK

Buddha Community

How to build a real-time chat app with Node and React using WebSockets
Autumn Blick

Autumn Blick

1598839687

How native is React Native? | React Native vs Native App Development

If you are undertaking a mobile app development for your start-up or enterprise, you are likely wondering whether to use React Native. As a popular development framework, React Native helps you to develop near-native mobile apps. However, you are probably also wondering how close you can get to a native app by using React Native. How native is React Native?

In the article, we discuss the similarities between native mobile development and development using React Native. We also touch upon where they differ and how to bridge the gaps. Read on.

A brief introduction to React Native

Let’s briefly set the context first. We will briefly touch upon what React Native is and how it differs from earlier hybrid frameworks.

React Native is a popular JavaScript framework that Facebook has created. You can use this open-source framework to code natively rendering Android and iOS mobile apps. You can use it to develop web apps too.

Facebook has developed React Native based on React, its JavaScript library. The first release of React Native came in March 2015. At the time of writing this article, the latest stable release of React Native is 0.62.0, and it was released in March 2020.

Although relatively new, React Native has acquired a high degree of popularity. The “Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2019” report identifies it as the 8th most loved framework. Facebook, Walmart, and Bloomberg are some of the top companies that use React Native.

The popularity of React Native comes from its advantages. Some of its advantages are as follows:

  • Performance: It delivers optimal performance.
  • Cross-platform development: You can develop both Android and iOS apps with it. The reuse of code expedites development and reduces costs.
  • UI design: React Native enables you to design simple and responsive UI for your mobile app.
  • 3rd party plugins: This framework supports 3rd party plugins.
  • Developer community: A vibrant community of developers support React Native.

Why React Native is fundamentally different from earlier hybrid frameworks

Are you wondering whether React Native is just another of those hybrid frameworks like Ionic or Cordova? It’s not! React Native is fundamentally different from these earlier hybrid frameworks.

React Native is very close to native. Consider the following aspects as described on the React Native website:

  • Access to many native platforms features: The primitives of React Native render to native platform UI. This means that your React Native app will use many native platform APIs as native apps would do.
  • Near-native user experience: React Native provides several native components, and these are platform agnostic.
  • The ease of accessing native APIs: React Native uses a declarative UI paradigm. This enables React Native to interact easily with native platform APIs since React Native wraps existing native code.

Due to these factors, React Native offers many more advantages compared to those earlier hybrid frameworks. We now review them.

#android app #frontend #ios app #mobile app development #benefits of react native #is react native good for mobile app development #native vs #pros and cons of react native #react mobile development #react native development #react native experience #react native framework #react native ios vs android #react native pros and cons #react native vs android #react native vs native #react native vs native performance #react vs native #why react native #why use react native

Jessica Smith

Jessica Smith

1612606870

REAL TIME CHAT SOLUTIONS SERVICES FOR MOBILE APPS

Build a Real Time chat application that can integrated into your social handles. Add more life to your website or support portal with a real time chat solutions for mobile apps that shows online presence indicators, typing status, timestamp, multimedia sharing and much more. Users can also log into the live chat app using their social media logins sparing them from the need to remember usernames and passwords. For more information call us at +18444455767 or email us at hello@sisgain.com or Visit: https://sisgain.com/instant-real-time-chat-solutions-mobile-apps

#real time chat solutions for mobile apps #real time chat app development solutions #live chat software for mobile #live chat software solutions #real time chat app development #real time chat applications in java script

Alex Sam

Alex Sam

1576484092

Drive Engagement and Interaction Voluntarily via Team Collaboration Chat Apps

Emails are almost extinct. The need to stay glued to your office desk is no more a necessity to stay connected with teams. Chat applications are here and are changing the way teams collaborate and communicate with each other with increased mobility.

Chats have gone a long way from being reserved only for socializing purposes to hosting important team discussions and meetings where ideas are born and rolled out. Team chat apps built for iOS and Android devices are the new collaborative tools that business people thrive on.

Chat apps solutions are seeing technical teams in technology companies, be it startups or an enterprise-grade companies as early adopters as they have started realizing the benefits of flexible and frictionless communication that these chat solutions power.

Advantages that Pose Real-time Instant Messaging Apps as Convenient Alternatives for Group or Team Communication Over Conventional emailing Systems

1. Ad-hoc Conversations
Apart from bringing employees together chat apps pave way for grouping teams for ad-hoc conversations where technical people can discuss over tasks, brainstorm and come up with ideas.

2. Epicenter of Tasks
Through an array of integrations that chat applications offer, teams, especially those involved in product development, can centralize their accounts on other collaborative platforms like GitHub, Jira into the chat application itself creating an ecosystem that caters to all collaboration purposes.

3. Record Keeping and Easy Search
Key developments that happen over a verbal discussion need to be noted down else chances are more likely for losing a crucial breakthrough achieved over a brainstorming session. Team collaboration chat apps record every improvement and contents that dates back to any time can be fully searched.

4. Switch Over Devices Based on Convenience
Multi device compatibility ensures that your employees are connected with teams no matter what devices they are using. If on-the-go connectivity is your preference, get things done on smartphone. If convenience matters the most, switch over to your desktop and continue from where you left.

5. Multiple Communication Medium
Text messages, voice calls, video calls, VOIP calls, direct messages, group chats on iOS and Android extend the modes and medium through which you can get to communicate with your peers, teams and entire organization for that matter.

6. Everything Else that Count
Adding to these, features like file sharing (multiple file types), video conferencing, opinion generation through polls, task delegation, followups, update, personalized notification settings, reminders, to-do list creation and much more can be done through real-time team chat applications.

However, the limitations of team collaboration chat apps end here only if you think so. With every other team, apart from development teams, like those that operational level, management level, marketing level etc can also get to reap the benefits of chat apps. Read on to know the

Instances Which Chat Apps Prove Useful for All Teams in an Organization

Why restrict the benefit of real-time instant messaging chat app to only technology teams into development and designing. Every other team in your office or organization can get a fair share of its advantages.

Here are some of the instances where chat apps can be useful for other teams.
Human Resource team can build employee engagement programs. HRs can get fast response from employees, build a powerful relationship with them, conduct opinion poll for decision making. The hardly-used suggestion box in office premises can be replaced by a chat app for a more effective and instant feedback.

An organization’s system administration team can stay connected with employees on the go and be there on time to resolve issues. Moreover, notifications on breakdowns and other technical issues can help in saving the downtime. Alerts and reminders on instant messaging applications can contribute towards proactive care.

For marketing professionals and sales executives, chat apps on multiple platforms like iOS, Android can reduce series of mail threads into chat logs that are easily searchable. Live video calls and voice calls can help them build better client relationship and both pre and post sales support can get more livelier and personalized with chat apps.

At operational level, chat apps can connect an organization’s representative with many third party vendors to keep up on timely delivery, maintenance, bill payments and more.

Group or Team collaboration applications are the new age communication tools that can contribute for successful communication between employees of an organization in multiple angles. From initiating an idea to getting works done, real time chat apps have started helping organization at many instances which are tough to handle when done conventionally.

If you are into an organization but still have not got a chat app on board, it is high time that your build a chat app on iOS and Android.

#Team Collaboration Chat Apps #real time chat apps #build a chat app #real-time instant messaging chat app #Chat apps solutions

I am Developer

1618120954

Real Time Chat App using Node JS Express Socket IO

Real time chat with nodejs socket.io and expressjs. In this tutorial, you will learn how to build real time chat with nodejs socket.io, jquery and expressjs.

This tutorial will help you step by step to on how to build chat application using Nodejs, Express and Socket.IO.

How to build chat application using Nodejs, Express and Socket.IO

Follow the following steps and create chat application using Nodejs, Express and Socket.IO:

  • Step 1 - Create Chat App Directory
  • Step 2 - Install Node Express JS, Socket.io and jQuery
  • Step 3 - Create Index.html and Style.css
  • Step 4 - Create Chat.js
  • Step 5 - Create index.js
  • Step 6 - Run Development Server

https://www.tutsmake.com/node-js-express-socket-io-chat-application-example/

#node js chat application #node js chat application tutorial #real time chat with nodejs socket.io and expressjs #node js chat application with mysql

AppClues Infotech

AppClues Infotech

1625050361

Top 10 React Native App Development Companies in USA

React Native is the most popular dynamic framework that provides the opportunity for Android & iOS users to download and use your product. Finding a good React Native development company is incredibly challenging. Use our list as your go-to resource for React Native app development Companies in USA.

List of Top-Rated React Native Mobile App Development Companies in USA:

  1. AppClues Infotech
  2. WebClues Infotech
  3. AppClues Studio
  4. WebClues Global
  5. Data EximIT
  6. Apptunix
  7. BHW Group
  8. Willow Tree:
  9. MindGrub
  10. Prismetric

A Brief about the company details mentioned below:

1. AppClues Infotech
As a React Native Mobile App Development Company in USA, AppClues Infotech offers user-centered mobile app development for iOS & Android. Since their founding in 2014, their React Native developers create beautiful mobile apps.

They have a robust react native app development team that has high knowledge and excellent strength of developing any type of mobile app. They have successfully delivered 450+ mobile apps as per client requirements and functionalities.
Website: https://www.appcluesinfotech.com/

2. WebClues Infotech
WebClues Infotech is the Top-Notch React Native mobile app development company in USA & offering exceptional service worldwide. Since their founding in 2014, they have completed 950+ web & mobile apps projects on time.

They have the best team of developers who has an excellent knowledge of developing the most secure, robust & Powerful React Native Mobile Apps. From start-ups to enterprise organizations, WebClues Infotech provides top-notch React Native App solutions that meet the needs of their clients.
Website: https://www.webcluesinfotech.com/

3. AppClues Studio
AppClues Studio is one of the top React Native mobile app development company in USA and offers the best service worldwide at an affordable price. They have a robust & comprehensive team of React Native App developers who has high strength & extensive knowledge of developing any type of mobile apps.
Website: https://www.appcluesstudio.com/

4. WebClues Global
WebClues Global is one of the best React Native Mobile App Development Company in USA. They provide low-cost & fast React Native Development Services and their React Native App Developers have a high capability of serving projects on more than one platform.

Since their founding in 2014, they have successfully delivered 721+ mobile app projects accurately. They offer versatile React Native App development technology solutions to their clients at an affordable price.
Website: https://www.webcluesglobal.com/

5. Data EximIT
Hire expert React Native app developer from top React Native app development company in USA. Data EximIT is providing high-quality and innovative React Native application development services and support for your next projects. The company has been in the market for more than 8 years and has already gained the trust of 553+ clients and completed 1250+ projects around the globe.

They have a large pool of React Native App developers who can create scalable, full-fledged, and appealing mobile apps to meet the highest industry standards.
Website: https://www.dataeximit.com/

6. Apptunix
Apptunix is the best React Native App Development Company in the USA. It was established in 2013 and vast experience in developing React Native apps. After developing various successful React Native Mobile Apps, the company believes that this technology helps them incorporate advanced features in mobile apps without influencing the user experience.
Website: https://www.apptunix.com/

7. BHW Group
BHW Group is a Top-Notch React Native Mobile App Development Company in the USA. The company has 13+ years of experience in providing qualitative app development services to clients worldwide. They have a compressive pool of React Native App developers who can create scalable, full-fledged, and creative mobile apps to meet the highest industry standards.
Website: https://thebhwgroup.com/

8. Willow Tree:
Willow Tree is the Top-Notch React Native Mobile App Development Company in the USA & offering exceptional React Native service. They have the best team of developers who has an excellent knowledge of developing the most secure, robust & Powerful React Native Mobile Apps. From start-ups to enterprise organizations, Willow Tree has top-notch React Native App solutions that meet the needs of their clients.
Website: https://willowtreeapps.com/

9. MindGrub
MindGrub is a leading React Native Mobile App Development Company in the USA. Along with React Native, the company also works on other emerging technologies like robotics, augmented & virtual reality. The Company has excellent strength and the best developers team for any type of React Native mobile apps. They offer versatile React Native App development technology solutions to their clients.
Website: https://www.mindgrub.com/

10. Prismetric
Prismetric is the premium React Native Mobile App Development Company in the USA. They provide fast React Native Development Services and their React Native App Developers have a high capability of serving projects on various platforms. They focus on developing customized solutions for specific business requirements. Being a popular name in the React Native development market, Prismetric has accumulated a specialty in offering these services.
Website: https://www.prismetric.com/

#top rated react native app development companies in usa #top 10 react native app development companies in usa #top react native app development companies in usa #react native app development technologies #react native app development #hire top react native app developers in usa