Echo - Real-time Chat Web App
Echo - Your voice, amplified!
Created on 6th September 2025
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Echo - Real-time Chat Web App
Echo - Your voice, amplified!
The problem Echo - Real-time Chat Web App solves
Echo Chat App is a real-time messaging platform built for seamless and secure communication.
What People Can Use It For :
- 1-to-1 Private Chats – Have direct conversations with friends, family, or colleagues.
- Quick Info Sharing – Instantly send text, links, images (if supported), and updates without delays.
- Remote Collaboration – Perfect for students or professionals working together online.
- Casual Hangouts – A simple space for fun, everyday conversations without distractions.
Challenges I ran into
One specific hurdle I faced while developing Echo Chat App was with real-time message updates.
At first, when a user sent a message, it wouldn’t instantly appear on the other user’s chat window. The messages were being stored in the database, but the UI didn’t refresh until the page was reloaded.
🔍 What Caused It?
I was only handling the message save operation (via API calls) but not broadcasting the message in real-time to all connected clients. This meant each user had an isolated view until they refreshed.
💡 How I Solved It
I integrated WebSockets (Socket.IO) for real-time communication.
Set up an event listener so when one user sends a message:
It gets stored in the database.
The server emits an event to all users in that chat room.
The frontend listens for that event and updates the chat instantly.
The Result:
Messages now appear instantly on both sides without reloading.
The app feels smoother and more natural, just like modern chat apps.
Technologies used