openBuilt DevChat: A Real-Time Messaging App for Developers (Open Source)
Over the past two weeks, I embarked on an exciting journey to build DevChat, a real-time messaging app specifically for developers. The goals were simple: learn WebSockets, create a messaging app, and make it open-source.
1.Frontend
I went with React + Vite for the frontend, ditching Next.js to keep things simple. For styling, Tailwind CSS and Daisy UI were life savers, and I used React Router for smooth navigation between user authentication, chat, and profiles. State management was handled by **Zustand** — super easy to set up!
2.Backend
I built the backend with Node.js + Express and used MongoDB with Mongoose for database management. Real-time communication was powered by Socket.io. The biggest challenge? Designing a schema to handle lots of messages without compromising performance. JWT handled user auth, and I avoided Firebase to focus on learning WebSockets.
3.Deployment
The client is deployed on Vercel, and the server on Render, with auto-deployments from GitHub keeping everything smooth. Got my domain from Hostinger, and Vercel made setup easy.
4.Key Takeaways
1. Real-time systems are complex but fascinating.
2. Socket.io is powerful, but scalability is key.
3. Tailwind and Daisy UI are major time-savers for styling.
4. Deployment automation is a game-changer for maintaining projects.
The best part? DevChat is open source, and I’m excited to see where the community takes it. Check it out and feel free to contribute!
Links:
- Site
- Repository