Description
🔌 Build a TCP/IP Chat Client–Server App in C# (Step-by-Step Tutorial)
In this video, I’ll walk you through creating a complete TCP/IP chat application in C# .NET 10, using a lightweight library called TcpSharp.
We’ll build both the server (Console App) and the client (Windows Forms App), handle real-time messaging, manage online users, and test everything on a local network.
You’ll learn how to:
🖥️ Server (Console App)
Install and use TcpSharp for handling socket communication
Create a TCP server on port 9000
Handle connection, disconnection, and incoming data events
Manage online users with a dictionary
Broadcast chat messages to all clients
Send private messages to specific users
Maintain and update the user list in real time
💬 Client (Windows Forms App)
Build a clean UI with a Join screen and Chat screen
Save and pass the username across forms
Connect to the server using TcpSharp
Update online users
Display incoming messages
Send direct messages to other users
Keep logs and auto-scroll chat history
🌐 Local Network Setup
Create an app.config to manage host/port
Find local IP using ipconfig
Update the Windows hosts file
Copy the app to another PC and install .NET Framework
Add a new port rule to Windows Firewall.
Test the chat app across multiple computers on the same network
By the end of this tutorial, you'll have a fully working local-network chat app built from scratch.
📌 Coming up next: I’ll show you how to convert the console server into a Windows Service that runs in the background automatically.
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