Real-time Chat Application

Let me create a real-time chat application using Firebase Realtime Database with all the requested features: real-time messaging, file sharing, and user presence indicators.

Features Overview

This real-time chat application includes all the requested features:

1. Real-time Messaging

   • Messages are instantly delivered to all connected users
   • Message history is preserved and loaded when users join
   • Timestamps show when messages were sent

2. File Sharing

   • Users can upload and share files with other chat participants
   • Files are stored in Firebase Storage
   • Downloadable links are provided for shared files

3. User Presence Indicators

   • Online/offline status is shown for all users
   • Status updates in real-time when users connect or disconnect
   • User list displays all participants with their current status

Technical Implementation

The application uses:

• Firebase Realtime Database for real-time data synchronization
• Firebase Authentication for user management
• Firebase Storage for file uploads and sharing
• Next.js App Router for routing and page structure
• React Context for state management
• shadcn/ui components for the user interface

Getting Started

To use this application, you'll need to:

1. Create a Firebase project and enable Authentication, Realtime Database, and Storage
2. Add the following environment variables to your project:

The application will then be fully functional with real-time messaging, file sharing, and presence indicators.

Please make sure to add the following environment variables to your project: