LinkMate is a full-stack messaging web application built with the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js) and enhanced with real-time communication using Socket.io. It supports one-on-one messaging, group chat, online status, and emoji support.

• 🔒 User authentication (via Google Sign-In or signup/login)
• 👥 Friend requests and friend list management
• 💬 One-to-one real-time messaging
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Group chat with group message broadcasting
• 🟢 Online/offline presence indicator
• 😃 Emoji support
• 🔔 Message status tracking (unread/seen)

Frontend:

• React.js
• Axios
• Socket.io-client
• Material UI & CSS

Backend:

• Node.js
• Express.js
• MongoDB (Mongoose)
• Socket.io
• Multer (for file uploads)

LinkMate/
├── backend/
│ ├── models/
│ ├── controllers/
│ ├── routes/
│ ├── uploads/ # media file uploads stored here
│ ├── app.js
│ └── mongodb.js
├── frontend/
│ ├── src/
│ │ ├── components/
│ │ ├── pages/
│ │ ├── context/
│ │ ├── App.js
│ │ └── index.js
└── README.md

git clone https://github.com/your-username/linkmate.git
cd linkmate

cd backend
npm install

• Make sure MongoDB is running locally.
• Create /uploads folder in backend/ directory:

mkdir uploads

• Run backend:

node app.js

cd frontend 
npm install
npm start

• App will start on http://localhost:3000

• File sharing
• Video calling
• Notifications
• Typing indicators