React Chat UI Libraries
React Chat UI Libraries
hello guys , could you please tell me if it exists an react ui already design (styled) , front end created
and resposive for chat hanling with socket.io , which are customizable , and can be handling by my
own backend ?
Yes, there are several React UI components and libraries designed for building responsive chat
interfaces that can integrate with your own backend using Socket.IO. Here are some options you might
consider:
CometChat React UI Kit
A comprehensive set of pre-built React chat components offering features like reactions, threaded
messages, presence indicators, and more. It is highly customizable and designed to integrate
seamlessly with your backend.
CometChat
react-chat-ui
An open-source React library that provides a simple chat interface. While it may require additional
styling and customization to meet specific design requirements, it offers a good starting point for
integrating with Socket.IO and your backend.
GitHub
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ReactJs-chatUi-socket.io
A React chat widget with Socket.IO implementation. This project can serve as a reference or starting
point for building your own chat interface, allowing for customization and integration with your backend
services.
GitHub
When selecting a component or library, consider factors such as the specific features you need, the level
of customization required, and how well it integrates with your existing backend infrastructure.
Sources
so what're the library which are responsive and at a better ui and allow me , to get customize
anything ?
For a responsive library with a modern UI that allows extensive customization and integrates seamlessly
with your backend, here are some top recommendations:
3. ChatUI (Alibaba)
6. React-Chat-Widget
High Customization: Use CometChat, Stream Chat, or Material-UI for extensive flexibility and
feature support.
Quick Start: Consider React Chat Elements or ChatUI for faster development with a polished UI.
Free & Lightweight: Try React-Chat-Widget if you prefer simplicity and control.
Let me know if you'd like more help choosing the right one or implementing one of these!
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so i can customize CometChat , to use only my backend and not for them ?
CometChat is a feature-rich platform, but its architecture is designed to use its own backend for
managing chat functionalities. However, you can customize the front-end (UI Kit) extensively. If you
want to use CometChat UI while relying entirely on your backend (e.g., Socket.IO or another real-time
solution), there are limitations to consider:
1. Backend Dependency: CometChat requires its backend APIs for core functionalities such as
authentication, chat management, and data storage.
2. Customizable Front-End: You can customize the UI, but the backend calls will go through
CometChat’s services unless you rewrite the logic.
If you want to use your backend exclusively while keeping the CometChat UI:
1. Reuse UI Components:
Extract the UI elements from CometChat's React UI Kit.
Remove or override the backend-related logic (e.g., API calls to CometChat servers).
Replace them with your custom functions for handling Socket.IO or other backends.
2. Challenges:
You’ll need to decouple CometChat’s internal API calls from their UI components.
It may involve significant effort to replace their data flow with your backend logic.
3. Alternative Options:
If full customization is essential and you want complete independence, consider using a
highly customizable library like Material-UI or Stream Chat, which allow you to build chat
UIs without being locked into a specific backend.
Recommendation
If you’re okay with using their backend: CometChat is a great choice for quick setup and
extensive features.
If you want full control: Building with libraries like Material-UI, Stream Chat, or React Chat
Elements may be a better option. These libraries offer pre-built components while giving you
control over the backend integration.
Let me know if you’d like guidance on decoupling CometChat or setting up a fully custom chat app!
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so i want to use a front end already designed , and responsive with professionnal style , where i can
includes my backend to handle real time chat
Features:
Professionally designed, modern, and responsive UI components.
Fully customizable with theming and styling options.
You can bypass their backend APIs and connect your custom backend by overriding the real-
time connection logic.
Why it Fits:
Stream provides an easy way to decouple the backend, allowing you to handle real-time
events via your own Socket.IO implementation.
Link: Stream Chat React SDK
2. ChatUI by Alibaba
Features:
Lightweight, modern, and fully responsive.
Highly flexible for integrating your backend logic.
Designed for chat-based applications with professional styles.
Why it Fits:
It's backend-agnostic, so you can easily hook it to Socket.IO or any real-time library.
Link: ChatUI GitHub
Features:
A simple and clean UI library for chat applications.
Responsive design with support for various message types (e.g., images, videos, and text).
Fully customizable to fit your backend requirements.
Why it Fits:
It doesn’t enforce a backend, so you can easily integrate it with your real-time backend using
Socket.IO.
Link: React Chat Elements GitHub
Features:
Use Material-UI’s pre-designed, responsive components to build a highly professional-looking
chat UI.
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Allows you to build exactly what you need with full control over the logic and styling.
Why it Fits:
Ideal if you want to ensure everything matches your brand while integrating seamlessly with
your backend.
Link: Material-UI
Comparison Table
Recommendation
1. If you want a ready-to-use professional UI with minimal customization effort, go with Stream
Chat React SDK or ChatUI.
2. If you want maximum flexibility and branding control, consider building with Material-UI or
React Chat Elements.
Let me know if you'd like guidance on setting up any of these options or integrating them with your
backend!
You can access the Stream Chat React SDK at the following link:
👉 Stream Chat React SDK Official Page
From there, you’ll find documentation, examples, and guides to help you integrate the SDK into your
project. Let me know if you need assistance setting it up!
so to build a real time chat with react js and express js and socket.io , what are the librairy required ?
To build a real-time chat application using React.js, Express.js, and Socket.IO, you'll need a
combination of libraries for both the frontend and backend. Here's a detailed breakdown:
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Backend: Express.js and Socket.IO
1. Core Libraries:
`express`:To set up the HTTP server.
`socket.io`: For real-time WebSocket communication between the server and clients.
bash
2. Optional Libraries:
`cors`: For handling Cross-Origin Resource Sharing if your frontend and backend are on
different domains.
bash
`dotenv`: For managing environment variables like API keys and sensitive configurations.
bash
bash
bash
bash
4. Routing:
`react-router-dom`: For navigating between pages if your app has multiple views (e.g., login,
chat, profile).
bash
Development Tools
1. Nodemon (for backend):
Automatically restarts the server on code changes during development.
bash
Basic Architecture
1. Backend (Express.js + Socket.IO):
Set up a WebSocket server to handle real-time chat events (e.g., message sending, typing
indicators).
2. Frontend (React.js + Socket.IO):
Use `socket.io-client` to connect to the WebSocket server.
Build reusable chat components for messages, user lists, etc.
bash
File Uploads:
Handle file attachments in chat using `multer` (backend) and `axios` (frontend):
bash
Date Handling:
Use `date-fns` or `moment` for formatting timestamps.
bash
Would you like a sample code structure or help with setting up any of these libraries?
The `moment` library (or alternatives like `date-fns` or `dayjs`) can be used on both the backend and
frontend, depending on the context of your application. Here's a breakdown of where and why you
might use it:
Example (Backend):
javascript
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// Create a timestamp for the current message
const timestamp = moment().format('YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm:ss');
Format timestamps for display (e.g., "2 minutes ago" or "Jan 9, 2025").
Handle time zones or locale-specific date formats for better user experience.
Display relative times (e.g., "just now," "5 minutes ago").
Example (Frontend):
javascript
Use it on the backend to ensure timestamps are properly formatted and standardized before
sending them to the frontend.
Use it on the frontend to format and display timestamps in a user-friendly way (e.g., "5 minutes
ago").
Recommendation
Since `moment` is somewhat large and can impact performance, consider using `date-fns` or `dayjs`,
which are smaller, faster, and modern alternatives for both backend and frontend.
Let me know if you’d like help setting up or switching to a more lightweight library!
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how to fix this : npm error code EBADENGINE
npm error engine Unsupported engine
npm error engine Not compatible with your version of node/npm: [email protected]
npm error notsup Not compatible with your version of node/npm: [email protected]
npm error notsup Required: {"node":"^20.17.0 || >=22.9.0"}
npm error notsup Actual: {"npm":"10.9.0","node":"v20.11.1"}
The error indicates that the version of `npm` installed on your system (10.9.0) does not meet the version
requirement for the package you are trying to install (`[email protected]`) due to its dependency on a higher
version of Node.js.
bash
node -v
Your current version is v20.11.1, which is compatible with [email protected] based on the error message
requirements. The issue is likely the version of npm, not Node.js.
bash
bash
npm -v
Ensure that the version of Node.js installed on your system is fully compatible with your project
requirements. If necessary, update Node.js using nvm (Node Version Manager):
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1. Install or Use nvm: If you don’t have nvm installed, follow the installation guide here.
2. Switch or Upgrade Node.js: To install and use a compatible version of Node.js:
bash
bash
node -v
If the issue persists, clean your project dependencies and reinstall them:
bash
bash
3. Reinstall dependencies:
bash
npm install
bash
npm install
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Alternative Solution
1. Add an `.npmrc` file to your project root with the following content:
vbnet
engine-strict=false
This will disable strict engine checks for npm and node versions.
bash
npm install
mais cet cmment le marche pas sur windows : nvm install 22.9.0
nvm use 22.9.0
Sur Windows, la version classique de `nvm` utilisée sous Linux/macOS ne fonctionne pas directement.
Cependant, une version compatible avec Windows appelée nvm-windows est disponible.
Voici comment résoudre le problème et utiliser `nvm` sur Windows :
1. Télécharger nvm-windows :
Rendez-vous sur la page GitHub officielle :
👉 nvm-windows GitHub
Téléchargez le fichier `.exe` de la dernière version (par exemple, `nvm-setup.exe`).
2. Installer nvm-windows :
Lancez le fichier d'installation et suivez les instructions.
Par défaut, nvm-windows sera installé dans `C:\Program Files\nvm`.
3. Ajouter nvm au PATH (vérifiez pendant l'installation) :
L'installateur configure automatiquement les variables d'environnement pour que `nvm` soit
accessible depuis le terminal.
bash
nvm version
Si une version est affichée (par exemple, `1.1.11`), nvm est bien installé.
2. Installer une version spécifique de Node.js : Pour installer Node.js v22.9.0, utilisez la commande
suivante :
bash
3. Basculer vers cette version : Une fois installée, utilisez cette version avec :
bash
bash
node -v
Après avoir activé la version de Node.js souhaitée, mettez à jour npm si besoin :
bash
makefile
C:\Program Files\nvm
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C:\Program Files\nodejs
bash
where node
Une fois installé, vous pourrez facilement gérer plusieurs versions de Node.js sur votre machine
Windows. Si vous avez d'autres questions, n'hésitez pas ! 😊
why this sentence is displaying when i want to install a library with npm ? :
C:\Users\zenith\Desktop\own_website\Test_script>npm i react-chat-engine
npm warn ERESOLVE overriding peer dependency
npm warn ERESOLVE overriding peer dependency
npm warn ERESOLVE overriding peer dependency
npm warn ERESOLVE overriding peer dependency
npm warn ERESOLVE overriding peer dependency
npm warn ERESOLVE overriding peer dependency
npm warn ERESOLVE overriding peer dependency
npm warn ERESOLVE overriding peer dependency
npm warn ERESOLVE overriding peer dependency
npm warn ERESOLVE overriding peer dependency
The message `npm WARN ERESOLVE overriding peer dependency` appears when npm detects a conflict in
the peer dependencies of the package you're trying to install. It essentially means that npm resolved the
conflict by overriding the version requirements, but it wants to warn you about it.
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Since npm v7, it enforces peer dependency resolution more strictly compared to npm v6. If
there's a mismatch, npm tries to resolve it automatically but warns you about it.
If the library is working as expected after installation, you can safely ignore the warnings. They
don’t necessarily mean your application will break.
Check the peer dependencies of the package causing the warning. Run:
bash
Compare the listed peer dependencies with the versions installed in your project and update them
if necessary.
If the warning specifies a missing or mismatched peer dependency, install the required version
manually. For example:
bash
If you don’t want npm to enforce strict peer dependency checks (similar to npm v6 behavior),
install with this flag:
bash
This tells npm to skip peer dependency resolution warnings and conflicts.
5. Upgrade npm
Ensure you're using the latest version of npm, as updates may improve how dependency conflicts
are resolved:
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bash
Verify that your current Node.js and npm versions are compatible with the libraries you’re using. If
necessary, update Node.js or npm.
Example Scenario
If you're using React 18 but `react-chat-engine` requires React 17, you’ll see these warnings. To resolve
this, you could:
The error and warnings you're encountering when installing `react-chat-engine-pretty` relate to peer
dependency conflicts. The key part of the message:
plaintext
indicates that `react-chat-engine-pretty` supports React versions 16.8.0 or higher, including React 17
and 18. However, there may still be unresolved conflicts or mismatched dependencies in your
environment.
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2. Strict npm v7+ Behavior:
npm v7 and newer enforce stricter peer dependency resolutions, causing warnings or failures
if conflicts are found.
3. Interrupted Installation:
You terminated the command manually (`^C`), which stopped npm before it finished
installing or resolving dependencies.
How to Fix It
bash
bash
If the warnings persist, you can force npm to bypass strict peer dependency checks:
bash
bash
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bash
4. Restart Installation
If the previous installation was interrupted (`^C`), it may have left your `node_modules` folder in an
inconsistent state. Delete the folder and `package-lock.json` file, then reinstall:
bash
bash
npm audit
If none of the above resolves the issue, share the full error log and output, or:
bash
npm list
please could you show me how i can create a groupe chat with react js and express js , socket.io ?
Creating a group chat with React.js, Express.js, and Socket.IO involves building a full-stack application
where the backend handles WebSocket communication and the frontend provides a responsive UI for
users to interact. Here's a step-by-step guide:
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Backend: Express.js + Socket.IO
bash
mkdir group-chat-backend
cd group-chat-backend
npm init -y
npm install express socket.io cors
javascript
// Middleware
app.use(cors());
app.use(express.json());
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server.listen(5000, () => console.log('Server running on port 5000'));
bash
javascript
return (
<div style={{ padding: '20px' }}>
{!joined ? (
<div>
<h2>Join Group Chat</h2>
<input
type="text"
placeholder="Enter your username"
value={username}
onChange={(e) => setUsername(e.target.value)}
/>
<input
type="text"
placeholder="Enter room name"
value={room}
onChange={(e) => setRoom(e.target.value)}
/>
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<button onClick={joinRoom}>Join Room</button>
</div>
) : (
<div>
<h2>Group Chat</h2>
<div style={{ border: '1px solid #ccc', height: '300px', overflowY:
'scroll', marginBottom: '10px' }}>
{messages.map((msg, index) => (
<p key={index}>
<strong>{msg.user}:</strong> {msg.text}
</p>
))}
</div>
<input
type="text"
placeholder="Type a message"
value={message}
onChange={(e) => setMessage(e.target.value)}
/>
<button onClick={sendMessage}>Send</button>
</div>
)}
</div>
);
};
bash
node server.js
bash
npm start
Enhancements
Styling: Use CSS frameworks like Bootstrap or Tailwind CSS for a better UI.
Persistent Data: Use a database (e.g., MongoDB) to store messages.
Authentication: Add user authentication for secure access to chat rooms.