JustLive.Chat - Real-time Communication for Websites
A modern live chat solution with Next.js 15 frontend and Express, Socket.IO, and Prisma backend that enables website owners to communicate with their visitors in real-time.
Project Overview
JustLive.Chat was developed to enable website owners to communicate seamlessly with their visitors in real-time. The application offers simple integration into existing websites and a user-friendly interface for administrators and visitors. As a monorepo project, it unifies frontend and backend in a coherent codebase with shared development workflows.
System Architecture
The application is based on a modern microservices architecture with clear separation between frontend and backend:
Frontend
- Next.js 15 with React 19 for optimal performance and SEO
- TailwindCSS for consistent, responsive design
- Socket.IO Client for bidirectional real-time communication
- SWR for efficient data fetching and caching
- Responsive design for desktop and mobile
Backend
- Express.js REST API with structured middleware architecture
- Socket.IO Server for real-time event processing
- Prisma 6 ORM for type-safe database operations
- PostgreSQL 16 for robust data storage
- JWT-based authentication with role management
Monorepo Structure
- Shared configuration for frontend and backend
- Centralized dependency management
- Unified development and deployment workflows
- Docker Compose for containerized development and production
Key Features
- Real-time Chat: Instant communication between website owners and visitors
- Multi-Website Support: Management of chats for multiple domains
- User-friendly Dashboard: Clear management of all chat rooms
- Easy Integration: Quick integration into existing websites with a JavaScript snippet
- Domain Verification: Automatic verification of registered domains
- Rate Limiting: Protection against abuse and overload
Technical Challenges
Several complex technical challenges were solved during development:
Real-time Communication
Implementing reliable bidirectional communication required:
- Optimized Socket.IO configuration for minimal latency
- Robust reconnect handling for connection interruptions
- Efficient event management for various chat scenarios
- Scalable architecture for high user numbers
Multi-Domain Support
Supporting multiple websites with different configurations required:
- Dynamic CORS configuration based on registered domains
- Isolated chat environments for each website
- Flexible customization options for different integration scenarios
- Automated domain verification processes
Security Implementation
For secure operation, the following measures were implemented:
- JWT-based authentication with secure token management
- Role-based access control for administrative functions
- Rate limiting to protect against brute force attacks
- Helmet.js for HTTP header security
Data Model
The application uses the following main entities:
- User: Administrators who manage websites and chats
- Website: Registered domains for chat integration
- ChatRoom: Individual chat sessions between visitors and administrators
- ChatMessage: Messages within a chat room
- ChatParticipant: Participants in a chat room (visitors or administrators)
Technologies Used
- Next.js 15 and React 19 for the frontend
- TailwindCSS for UI design
- Express.js for the backend API
- Socket.IO for real-time communication
- Prisma 6 ORM with PostgreSQL 16
- JWT for authentication
- Docker and Docker Compose for containerization
- Zod for validation
Website Integration
Integrating JustLive.Chat into existing websites is done via a simple JavaScript snippet:
<script src="https://your-backend-url/embed.js?id=YOUR_WEBSITE_ID"></script>The widget can be customized via URL parameters or the JavaScript API:
- colorPreset: Color theme of the chat widget (blue, green, purple, etc.)
- size: Size of the chat window (small, medium, large)
- language: Language of the chat interface (auto, en, de)
Deployment and DevOps
The application was designed for easy deployment and maintenance:
- Docker Compose for containerized development and production
- Comprehensive environment variable configuration
- Optimized Docker images for frontend and backend
- Support for reverse proxy configurations
Future Development
The following extensions are planned for upcoming versions:
- AI-powered chatbot integration for automated responses
- Advanced analytics for visitor behavior and chat effectiveness
- File transfer capabilities for documents and images
- Extended customization options for the chat widget