Stephen568hub

Posted on Apr 15

How to Build a Random Video Chat Platform Like Uhmegle

#webdev #programming #javascript #beginners

How to Build a Random Video Chat Platform Like Uhmegle

Thinking about creating a random video chat platform like Uhmegle? It's easier than you might think. This article will walk you through the essential steps to build your own video chat service that connects strangers instantly. From selecting the proper development tools to adding important security features, we'll guide you through each stage.

Whether you're a developer looking for a new project or an entrepreneur seeking the next big social platform, our guide provides clear directions to get your random video chat service up and running quickly. Learn how to create a platform that users will love while avoiding common pitfalls.

How to Build a Random Video Chat Platform Like Uhmegle

Random video chat platforms have become incredibly popular for connecting people worldwide through spontaneous video conversations. Uhmegle stands out as one of the most well-known platforms in this space. In this section, we'll walk you through how to build your own random video chat platform using ZEGOCLOUD's powerful real-time communication SDKs.

ZEGOCLOUD offers real-time communication APIs and SDKs that make it easy to add real-time features to your apps and websites. With ZEGOCLOUD, you can quickly integrate video calls, voice chat, live streaming, and other interactive features into your platforms.

ZEGOCLOUD provides multi-platform support, meaning you can use their technology across web, iOS, Android, and other platforms.

ZEGOCLOUD SDKs handle the complex parts of real-time communication, such as:

Setting up video and audio connections.
Managing network conditions.
Ensuring low latency.
Handling multiple users in the same session.
Providing high-quality video and audio.

By using ZEGOCLOUD for your random video chat platform, you'll save development time and create a more reliable service for your users.

Prerequisites

Before we start building our Uhmegle-like platform, make sure you have:

A ZEGOCLOUD developer account (sign up).
Basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
An AppID and ServerSecret from the ZEGOCLOUD Admin Console.
A text editor or IDE for coding.
A web server for testing (local or online).

What We'll Be Building

Our Uhmegle clone will include these essential features:

Random user matching: Connect users with random strangers.
Real-time video and audio: Clear communication using WebRTC.
Text chat: Allow users to send text messages alongside video.
Next button: Skip the current chat partner and find a new one.
Mute and video toggle: Control audio and video during chats.
**Simple, user-friendly interface: **Easy to understand and navigate

Project Structure

We'll organize our project with the following files:

index.html: The main structure and UI elements.
styles.css: Styling for our application.
app.js: The core functionality and ZEGOCLOUD SDK integration.

Let's build our random video chat platform step by step!

1. Set Up the Project Structure

First, let's create our project files and basic folder structure:

mkdir uhmegle-clone
cd uhmegle-clone
touch index.html
touch styles.css
touch app.js

2. Download and Integrate the SDK

Let's start by setting up our HTML file with all the necessary elements for our video chat platform:

Download the SDK from ZEGOCLOUD's official website.
Extract the compressed package.
Locate the ZegoExpressWebRTC-xxx.js file in the dist_js/ folder (where xxx is the version number).
Place this file in your project directory.
Reference it directly in your HTML file.

Here's how your HTML file should look:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>Uhmegle Clone - Random Video Chat</title>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="styles.css">
</head>
<body>
    <header>
        <h1>Uhmegle Clone</h1>
        <p>Talk to strangers from around the world!</p>
    </header>

    <main>
        <!-- Welcome Screen -->
        <div id="welcome-screen" class="screen active">
            <h2>Welcome to Uhmegle Clone</h2>
            <p>Click the button below to start a random video chat.</p>
            <button id="start-chat">Start Chatting</button>
        </div>

        <!-- Video Chat Screen -->
        <div id="chat-screen" class="screen">
            <div id="video-container">
                <div id="local-video-wrapper">
                    <div id="local-video"></div>
                    <p>You</p>
                </div>
                <div id="remote-video-wrapper">
                    <div id="remote-video"></div>
                    <p>Stranger</p>
                </div>
            </div>

            <div id="chat-controls">
                <button id="next-chat">Next</button>
                <button id="toggle-audio">Mute</button>
                <button id="toggle-video">Turn Off Video</button>
                <button id="end-chat">End Chat</button>
            </div>

            <div id="text-chat-container">
                <div id="chat-messages"></div>
                <div id="chat-input-area">
                    <input type="text" id="chat-input" placeholder="Type a message...">
                    <button id="send-message">Send</button>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>

        <!-- End Screen -->
        <div id="ending-screen" class="screen">
            <h2>Chat Ended</h2>
            <p>Your chat has ended. Would you like to start a new chat?</p>
            <button id="new-chat">Start New Chat</button>
        </div>
    </main>

    <!-- ZEGOCLOUD SDK -->
    <script src="./dist_js/ZegoExpressWebRTC-xxx.js"></script>
    <script src="app.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

This HTML structure includes:

A welcome screen with a start button.
A chat screen with local and remote video areas.
Control buttons for next, mute, video toggle, and ending the chat.
A text chat area with message display and input.
An ending screen with an option to start a new chat.
We also include the ZEGOCLOUD SDK from their CDN, which provides all the real-time communication functionality we need.

3. Style the Application

Now, let's add CSS to make our application look good:

* {
    margin: 0;
    padding: 0;
    box-sizing: border-box;
    font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
}

body {
    background-color: #f4f4f4;
    color: #333;
    line-height: 1.6;
}

header {
    background-color: #4267B2;
    color: white;
    text-align: center;
    padding: 1rem;
}

main {
    max-width: 1000px;
    margin: 0 auto;
    padding: 1rem;
}

.screen {
    display: none;
    padding: 2rem;
    background: white;
    border-radius: 8px;
    box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
    margin-top: 2rem;
    text-align: center;
}

.screen.active {
    display: block;
}

button {
    background-color: #4267B2;
    color: white;
    border: none;
    padding: 10px 20px;
    margin: 10px 5px;
    border-radius: 4px;
    cursor: pointer;
    font-size: 16px;
}

button:hover {
    background-color: #365899;
}

#video-container {
    display: flex;
    justify-content: space-between;
    margin-bottom: 20px;
}

#local-video-wrapper, #remote-video-wrapper {
    width: 48%;
    text-align: center;
}

#local-video, #remote-video {
    background-color: #000;
    border-radius: 8px;
    height: 300px;
    width: 100%;
    margin-bottom: 10px;
}

#chat-controls {
    margin-bottom: 20px;
}

#text-chat-container {
    border: 1px solid #ddd;
    border-radius: 8px;
    height: 300px;
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
}

#chat-messages {
    flex-grow: 1;
    padding: 10px;
    overflow-y: auto;
    background-color: #f9f9f9;
}

#chat-input-area {
    display: flex;
    padding: 10px;
    border-top: 1px solid #ddd;
}

#chat-input {
    flex-grow: 1;
    padding: 8px;
    border: 1px solid #ddd;
    border-radius: 4px;
    margin-right: 10px;
}

.message {
    margin-bottom: 10px;
    padding: 8px 12px;
    border-radius: 18px;
    max-width: 70%;
    word-wrap: break-word;
}

.user-message {
    background-color: #DCF8C6;
    margin-left: auto;
}

.stranger-message {
    background-color: #ECECEC;
}

#connection-status {
    text-align: center;
    margin: 10px 0;
    font-style: italic;
    color: #555;
}

This CSS provides:

Clean, modern styling for our application.
Proper layout for video containers.
Styling for buttons and input fields.
Chat message bubbles with different styles for user and stranger messages.

4. Implement the Core Functionality

Now, let's implement the JavaScript logic that will power our random video chat platform. This is where we'll integrate the ZEGOCLOUD SDK to handle real-time video, audio, and messaging.

// DOM elements
const welcomeScreen = document.getElementById('welcome-screen');
const chatScreen = document.getElementById('chat-screen');
const endingScreen = document.getElementById('ending-screen');
const startChatBtn = document.getElementById('start-chat');
const nextChatBtn = document.getElementById('next-chat');
const toggleAudioBtn = document.getElementById('toggle-audio');
const toggleVideoBtn = document.getElementById('toggle-video');
const endChatBtn = document.getElementById('end-chat');
const newChatBtn = document.getElementById('new-chat');
const sendMessageBtn = document.getElementById('send-message');
const chatInput = document.getElementById('chat-input');
const chatMessages = document.getElementById('chat-messages');

// Add connection status element to the DOM
const statusElement = document.createElement('div');
statusElement.id = 'connection-status';
statusElement.textContent = 'Status: Disconnected';
chatScreen.insertBefore(statusElement, chatScreen.firstChild);

// ZEGOCLOUD SDK setup - Replace these with your actual credentials
const appID = 123456789;  // Replace with your ZEGOCLOUD AppID
const serverURL = 'wss://webliveroom-test.zego.im/ws';  // ZEGOCLOUD server URL

// Initialize ZEGOCLOUD SDK
const zg = new ZegoExpressEngine(appID, serverURL);

// Variables to track state
let localStream = null;
let remoteStream = null;
let roomID = null;
let userID = null;
let isAudioMuted = false;
let isVideoOff = false;
let isConnectedToStranger = false;

// Function to generate a random room ID
function generateRandomRoomID() {
    return Math.random().toString(36).substring(2, 8).toUpperCase();
}

// Function to generate a unique user ID
function generateUserID() {
    const timestamp = new Date().getTime();
    const randomPart = Math.random().toString(36).substring(2, 6).toUpperCase();
    return `user_${randomPart}_${timestamp}`;
}

// Function to update connection status
function updateConnectionStatus(status) {
    const statusElement = document.getElementById('connection-status');
    statusElement.textContent = `Status: ${status}`;
}

// Function to show a specific screen
function showScreen(screen) {
    welcomeScreen.classList.remove('active');
    chatScreen.classList.remove('active');
    endingScreen.classList.remove('active');

    screen.classList.add('active');
}

// Function to start a new chat
async function startNewChat() {
    try {
        updateConnectionStatus('Connecting...');

        // Generate new IDs for this session
        roomID = generateRandomRoomID();
        userID = generateUserID();

        // Create a token (In a real app, this should be generated on your server)
        // For testing, we're using an empty token. In production, generate a proper token
        const token = ""; 

        // Log in to the room
        await zg.loginRoom(roomID, token, {
            userID: userID,
            userName: userID
        }, { userUpdate: true });

        // Create and publish local stream
        localStream = await zg.createStream({
            camera: {
                audio: true,
                video: true
            }
        });

        // Display local stream
        const localView = zg.createLocalStreamView(localStream);
        localView.play("local-video", { enableAutoplayDialog: true });

        // Start publishing
        await zg.startPublishingStream(userID, localStream);

        // Listen for remote streams
        zg.on('roomStreamUpdate', async (roomID, updateType, streamList) => {
            if (updateType === 'ADD') {
                // A new stream is available
                isConnectedToStranger = true;
                updateConnectionStatus('Connected to Stranger');

                const remoteStreamID = streamList[0].streamID;
                remoteStream = await zg.startPlayingStream(remoteStreamID);

                const remoteView = zg.createRemoteStreamView(remoteStream);
                remoteView.play("remote-video", { enableAutoplayDialog: true });
            } else if (updateType === 'DELETE') {
                // The remote stream has been removed
                isConnectedToStranger = false;
                updateConnectionStatus('Stranger disconnected');
                showMessage("System", "Stranger has disconnected. Click 'Next' to find a new chat partner.");
            }
        });

        // Listen for room user updates
        zg.on('roomUserUpdate', (roomID, updateType, userList) => {
            if (updateType === 'ADD') {
                console.log(`Users joined: ${userList.map(user => user.userID).join(', ')}`);
            } else if (updateType === 'DELETE') {
                console.log(`Users left: ${userList.map(user => user.userID).join(', ')}`);
            }
        });

        // Show the chat screen
        showScreen(chatScreen);
    } catch (error) {
        console.error("Error starting chat:", error);
        updateConnectionStatus('Connection Failed');
        alert("Failed to start chat. Please try again.");
    }
}

// Function to end the current chat
async function endCurrentChat() {
    try {
        updateConnectionStatus('Disconnecting...');

        if (localStream) {
            // Stop publishing
            await zg.stopPublishingStream(userID);
            // Destroy the stream
            zg.destroyStream(localStream);
            localStream = null;
        }

        if (remoteStream) {
            // Stop playing remote stream
            await zg.stopPlayingStream(remoteStream.streamID);
            remoteStream = null;
        }

        // Logout from the room
        if (roomID) {
            await zg.logoutRoom(roomID);
            roomID = null;
        }

        // Reset connection state
        isConnectedToStranger = false;

        // Clear chat messages
        chatMessages.innerHTML = '';

        // Reset audio/video state
        isAudioMuted = false;
        isVideoOff = false;
        toggleAudioBtn.textContent = "Mute";
        toggleVideoBtn.textContent = "Turn Off Video";

        updateConnectionStatus('Disconnected');

        // Show the ending screen
        showScreen(endingScreen);
    } catch (error) {
        console.error("Error ending chat:", error);
    }
}

// Function to find a new chat partner
async function findNewChatPartner() {
    // End the current chat
    await endCurrentChat();
    // Start a new chat
    await startNewChat();
}

// Function to toggle audio
async function toggleAudio() {
    if (localStream) {
        isAudioMuted = !isAudioMuted;
        await zg.mutePublishStreamAudio(localStream, isAudioMuted);
        toggleAudioBtn.textContent = isAudioMuted ? "Unmute" : "Mute";
    }
}

// Function to toggle video
async function toggleVideo() {
    if (localStream) {
        isVideoOff = !isVideoOff;
        await zg.mutePublishStreamVideo(localStream, isVideoOff);
        toggleVideoBtn.textContent = isVideoOff ? "Turn On Video" : "Turn Off Video";
    }
}

// Function to send a chat message
function sendChatMessage() {
    const messageText = chatInput.value.trim();
    if (messageText && isConnectedToStranger) {
        // Display the message in the chat
        showMessage("You", messageText, true);

        // In a real app, you would send this message to the other user
        // For simplicity, we're just displaying it locally
        // To implement real messaging, you would use ZEGOCLOUD's messaging features

        // Clear the input
        chatInput.value = '';
    }
}

// Function to display a message in the chat
function showMessage(sender, text, isUser = false) {
    const messageElement = document.createElement('div');
    messageElement.classList.add('message');

    if (isUser) {
        messageElement.classList.add('user-message');
    } else if (sender !== "System") {
        messageElement.classList.add('stranger-message');
    } else {
        messageElement.style.textAlign = 'center';
        messageElement.style.fontStyle = 'italic';
        messageElement.style.color = '#888';
    }

    messageElement.textContent = sender === "System" ? text : `${sender}: ${text}`;
    chatMessages.appendChild(messageElement);

    // Scroll to the bottom
    chatMessages.scrollTop = chatMessages.scrollHeight;
}

// Event listeners
startChatBtn.addEventListener('click', startNewChat);
nextChatBtn.addEventListener('click', findNewChatPartner);
toggleAudioBtn.addEventListener('click', toggleAudio);
toggleVideoBtn.addEventListener('click', toggleVideo);
endChatBtn.addEventListener('click', endCurrentChat);
newChatBtn.addEventListener('click', startNewChat);
sendMessageBtn.addEventListener('click', sendChatMessage);

// Allow sending messages with Enter key
chatInput.addEventListener('keypress', (e) => {
    if (e.key === 'Enter') {
        sendChatMessage();
    }
});

// Initialize the SDK when the page loads
window.onload = async () => {
    try {
        // Check browser compatibility
        const result = await zg.checkSystemRequirements();
        console.log("Browser compatibility check result:", result);

        if (!result.webRTC) {
            alert("Your browser doesn't support WebRTC, which is required for video chat.");
            return;
        }

        // Initialize the ZEGOCLOUD SDK
        zg.setLogConfig({
            logLevel: 'error'
        });

        // Set event handlers for SDK events
        zg.on('roomStateUpdate', (roomID, state, errorCode, extendedData) => {
            if (state === 'DISCONNECTED') {
                console.log('Disconnected from room');
                updateConnectionStatus('Disconnected');
            } else if (state === 'CONNECTING') {
                console.log('Connecting to room');
                updateConnectionStatus('Connecting...');
            } else if (state === 'CONNECTED') {
                console.log('Connected to room');
                updateConnectionStatus('Connected');
            }
        });

        // Set event handler for player state updates
        zg.on('playerStateUpdate', (result) => {
            console.log('Player state update:', result);
        });

        // Set event handler for publisher state updates
        zg.on('publisherStateUpdate', (result) => {
            console.log('Publisher state update:', result);
        });

        console.log('ZEGOCLOUD SDK initialized successfully');
    } catch (error) {
        console.error('Failed to initialize ZEGOCLOUD SDK:', error);
        alert('Failed to initialize video chat capabilities. Please try again or use a different browser.');
    }
};

5. Testing and Deployment

Local Testing:

Run your application on a local development server.
Test with multiple browser windows to simulate different users.
Verify that video, audio, and text messaging work correctly.

Deploy to Production:

Upload your files to a web hosting service.
Ensure your server for token generation is also deployed.
Configure HTTPS (required for camera and microphone access).
Update your AppID and server URL for production.

Your video chat environment should look like the one below:

Conclusion

Building a random video chat platform like Uhmegle takes work, but is very possible with ZEGOCLOUD's tools. By following this guide, you can create a platform that connects people from around the world through video conversations. Remember to focus on user safety, smooth video quality, and easy navigation.

Your platform should make it simple for users to find new chat partners with just one click. While there are challenges in development, the end result is worth the effort. With some testing and refinement, your random video chat platform can provide a fun and valuable service to users worldwide.

DEV Community

How to Build a Random Video Chat Platform Like Uhmegle

How to Build a Random Video Chat Platform Like Uhmegle

How to Build a Random Video Chat Platform Like Uhmegle

Prerequisites

What We'll Be Building

Project Structure

1. Set Up the Project Structure

2. Download and Integrate the SDK

3. Style the Application

4. Implement the Core Functionality

5. Testing and Deployment

Conclusion

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