🚀 Buzzly Chat

Anonymous Real-Time Random Chat Application

Connect instantly with strangers worldwide. Decoupled architecture with a Vercel-hosted frontend and Dokploy VPS backend.

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✨ Overview

Buzzly Chat is a modern, real-time random chat application that connects users anonymously for instant conversations. Built with a decoupled monorepo architecture, the static frontend is optimized for global edge delivery via Vercel, while the long-lived WebSocket backend runs inside Docker on Dokploy VPS.

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🌟 Key Features

• 🎭 Anonymous Chatting — Random temporary identities (Anime-themed names) without registration or personal data logging.
• ⚡ Real-Time WebSockets — Low-latency bidirectional messaging powered by Socket.IO.
• ⏭️ Skip & Pair System — Instant O(1) partner matching and automatic re-queuing upon skip or disconnect.
• 🎨 Modern Responsive UI — Material Design-inspired aesthetic with audio notification support.
• 🏗️ Decoupled Monorepo Architecture — Clean separation into frontend/, backend/, and tests/ directories for effortless scaling.

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📁 Repository Structure

Buzzly-Chat/
├── 📁 backend/                # Express & Socket.IO server engine
│   ├── 🐳 Dockerfile          # Production Docker build setup for Dokploy
│   ├── 📦 package.json        # Server dependencies
│   └── 📜 server.js           # Real-time user pairing & heartbeat logic
│
├── 📁 frontend/               # Static client UI assets (Deployed to Vercel)
│   ├── ⚙️ config.js           # Dynamic environment target resolver
│   ├── 🌐 index.html          # Main HTML entrypoint (Socket.IO CDN)
│   ├── 📜 script.js           # Client socket event handlers & state
│   ├── 🎨 styles.css          # Application styles
│   ├── 🖼️ image/             # Logos & icons
│   └── 🔊 sounds/            # Audio alerts
│
├── 📁 tests/                  # Connection benchmark pages & test HTMLs
│   ├── 🧪 connection-test.html
│   └── 🧪 test-mui.html
│
└── 📄 README.md               # Project documentation

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🛠️ Technology Stack

Component	Technology	Version / Platform
Backend Engine	Node.js + Express	v18+ / v22+
Real-Time Layer	Socket.IO	4.7.x
Backend Deployment	Docker + Traefik	Dokploy VPS
Frontend UI	Vanilla JS (ES6+) + CSS3	Vercel (Global CDN)

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🚀 Quick Start (Local Development)

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v18 or higher)
• npm
• Git

1. Clone & Install

git clone https://github.com/mannas006/Buzzly-Chat.git
cd Buzzly-Chat/backend
npm install

2. Run Server

npm start

3. Open in Browser

Open http://localhost:3000 in your web browser. Local development automatically serves the static frontend and connects WebSockets to http://localhost:3000.

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🌐 Production Hosting Guide

Step 1: Deploy Backend to Dokploy VPS

1. Open Dokploy Dashboard -> Create Application.
2. Select Provider: GitHub and choose Buzzly-Chat repo.
3. Configure application settings:
   • Root Directory: ./backend
   • Build Type: Dockerfile
   • Port: 3000
   • Environment Variable: PORT=3000
4. Go to Domains, set your API domain (e.g. https://buzzly-api.yourdomain.com), and enable Let's Encrypt HTTPS.
5. Click Deploy.

Step 2: Configure Backend URL in Frontend

Edit frontend/config.js and set your Dokploy domain:

window.SOCKET_SERVER_URL = window.SOCKET_SERVER_URL || (
    window.location.hostname === 'localhost' || window.location.hostname === '127.0.0.1'
        ? window.location.origin
        : (window.location.hostname.includes('vercel.app')
            ? 'https://buzzly-api.yourdomain.com' // <-- Set your Dokploy URL here
            : window.location.origin)
);

Step 3: Deploy Frontend to Vercel

1. Import repository on Vercel.
2. Set Framework Preset: Other / Static Site.
3. Set Root Directory: ./frontend.
4. Click Deploy.

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🔒 Privacy & Security

• Zero Data Persistence — No chat histories or messages are stored in any database.
• Anonymous Sessions — Temporary random display names assigned on connection.
• Transient Memory — In-memory JavaScript Map / Set pairing cleanup on disconnect.

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📄 License

This project is open source under the MIT License.

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Built with ❤️ by Manas Dey