C#•3mo ago

✅ Help with sockets c#

how would i go by showing a message to every client connected to a server ?

96 Replies

Ehmmm.. Check out SignalR library

loop over your connections and send each of them a message? kind of an abstract question that depends on how your server is implemented

Zoon•3mo ago

im not using any library just sockets okay but how do i loop over them when i dont have them stored ? is there a way to store them ? ill show you my server class

Jimmacle•3mo ago

you have to be storing them somewhere already

Zoon•3mo ago

my main issue is how do i get reference from my textbox in the client form

Jimmacle•3mo ago

you might need to add a list of them so you can access all the active connections easily

Zoon•3mo ago

im using winform btw

Jimmacle•3mo ago

unfortunate (not for this problem, just in general)

Zoon•3mo ago

yeah even if i access that.. my main issue is how to get reference to a chat text box in another form

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Net.Sockets;
using System.Net;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using ChatApplication.Client;
using ChatApplication.Classes;

namespace ChatApplication.Server
{
    internal class Server
    {
        public string _address = "127.0.0.1";
        public int _port = 8888;
        public static Socket serverSocket;
        Dictionary<Account, string> clients;

        public Server(IPEndPoint EndPoint)
        {

            serverSocket = new Socket(AddressFamily.InterNetwork, SocketType.Stream, ProtocolType.Tcp);
            serverSocket.Bind(EndPoint);
            Thread serverThread = new Thread(() => StartListening());
            serverThread.Start();
        }

        public void StartListening()
        {
            MessageBox.Show("Started listening!");
            int clientNo = 1;
            while(true)
            {
                try
                {
                    serverSocket.Listen(0);
                    Socket clientSocket = serverSocket.Accept();
                    Thread clientThread = new Thread(() => ClientConnection(clientSocket, clientNo));
                    clientThread.Start();
                    clientNo++;
                }
                catch (Exception ex) {
                    MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
                        };
            }
        }

        private void ClientConnection(Socket clientSocket, int clientNo)
        {
            byte[] buffer = new byte[clientSocket.SendBufferSize];
            int bytesRead = 0;
            do
            {
                bytesRead = clientSocket.Receive(buffer);
                MessageBox.Show($"Client({clientNo}) Has sent a message: {System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetString(buffer)}");
            } while (bytesRead > 0);
        }

    }
}

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Net.Sockets;
using System.Net;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using ChatApplication.Client;
using ChatApplication.Classes;

namespace ChatApplication.Server
{
    internal class Server
    {
        public string _address = "127.0.0.1";
        public int _port = 8888;
        public static Socket serverSocket;
        Dictionary<Account, string> clients;

        public Server(IPEndPoint EndPoint)
        {

            serverSocket = new Socket(AddressFamily.InterNetwork, SocketType.Stream, ProtocolType.Tcp);
            serverSocket.Bind(EndPoint);
            Thread serverThread = new Thread(() => StartListening());
            serverThread.Start();
        }

        public void StartListening()
        {
            MessageBox.Show("Started listening!");
            int clientNo = 1;
            while(true)
            {
                try
                {
                    serverSocket.Listen(0);
                    Socket clientSocket = serverSocket.Accept();
                    Thread clientThread = new Thread(() => ClientConnection(clientSocket, clientNo));
                    clientThread.Start();
                    clientNo++;
                }
                catch (Exception ex) {
                    MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
                        };
            }
        }

        private void ClientConnection(Socket clientSocket, int clientNo)
        {
            byte[] buffer = new byte[clientSocket.SendBufferSize];
            int bytesRead = 0;
            do
            {
                bytesRead = clientSocket.Receive(buffer);
                MessageBox.Show($"Client({clientNo}) Has sent a message: {System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetString(buffer)}");
            } while (bytesRead > 0);
        }

    }
}

here is my server code

using ChatApplication.Classes;
using System.Net;
using System.Net.Sockets;

namespace ChatApplication.Client
{
    internal class Client
    {
        public Account account;
        Socket clientSocket;
        public Client(IPEndPoint endPoint)
        {
            clientSocket = new Socket(AddressFamily.InterNetwork, SocketType.Stream, ProtocolType.Tcp);
            clientSocket.Connect(endPoint);
            clientSocket.SendBufferSize = 1024;
        }
        public void SendMessage(string message)
        {
            clientSocket.Send(System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(message));
        }

        //public void CreateAccount(string username, string password)
        //{
        //    account = new Account(username, password);
        //}
        public void CloseConnection()
        {
            clientSocket.Close();
        }
    }
}

using ChatApplication.Classes;
using System.Net;
using System.Net.Sockets;

namespace ChatApplication.Client
{
    internal class Client
    {
        public Account account;
        Socket clientSocket;
        public Client(IPEndPoint endPoint)
        {
            clientSocket = new Socket(AddressFamily.InterNetwork, SocketType.Stream, ProtocolType.Tcp);
            clientSocket.Connect(endPoint);
            clientSocket.SendBufferSize = 1024;
        }
        public void SendMessage(string message)
        {
            clientSocket.Send(System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(message));
        }

        //public void CreateAccount(string username, string password)
        //{
        //    account = new Account(username, password);
        //}
        public void CloseConnection()
        {
            clientSocket.Close();
        }
    }
}

client code (this is not final i just want to figure out this chat box thing)

Zoon•3mo ago

using System.Net;
using System.Net.Sockets;
using ChatApplication.Classes;

namespace ChatApplication.Client
{
    public partial class ClientHomePage : Form
    {
        Client client;
        public ClientHomePage()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }
        private void BTN_Connect_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            // Connect to the server
            client = new Client(new IPEndPoint(IPAddress.Parse(TB_HostAddress.Text), int.TryParse(TB_PortNumber.Text, out int port) ? port : 8888));
            //client.CreateAccount("Mazen", "123123");
        }

        private void BTN_SendMessage_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            // Send message
            client.SendMessage(TB_MessageBox.Text);
        }

        private void TB_MessageBox_TextChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {

        }


        private void TB_ChatBox_TextChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {

        }
        private void ClientHomePage_FormClosed(object sender, FormClosedEventArgs e)
        {
            client.SendMessage("Goodbye..");
            client.CloseConnection();
        }
    }
}

using System.Net;
using System.Net.Sockets;
using ChatApplication.Classes;

namespace ChatApplication.Client
{
    public partial class ClientHomePage : Form
    {
        Client client;
        public ClientHomePage()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }
        private void BTN_Connect_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            // Connect to the server
            client = new Client(new IPEndPoint(IPAddress.Parse(TB_HostAddress.Text), int.TryParse(TB_PortNumber.Text, out int port) ? port : 8888));
            //client.CreateAccount("Mazen", "123123");
        }

        private void BTN_SendMessage_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            // Send message
            client.SendMessage(TB_MessageBox.Text);
        }

        private void TB_MessageBox_TextChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {

        }


        private void TB_ChatBox_TextChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {

        }
        private void ClientHomePage_FormClosed(object sender, FormClosedEventArgs e)
        {
            client.SendMessage("Goodbye..");
            client.CloseConnection();
        }
    }
}

client home page which also looks like this

Zoon•3mo ago

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Linq;
using System.Net;
using System.Net.Sockets;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace ChatApplication.Server
{
    public partial class ServerHomePage : Form
    {
        Server? server;
        public ServerHomePage()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }




        private void ServerHomePage_FormClosed(object sender, FormClosedEventArgs e)
        {
            // Close the server
            //Server.serverSocket.Disconnect(true);
        }

        private void BTN_ServerStart_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            // Start the server
            try
            {
                IPEndPoint ipEnd = new IPEndPoint(IPAddress.Parse("127.0.0.1"), 8888);
                server = new Server(ipEnd);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
            }
        }
    }
}

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Linq;
using System.Net;
using System.Net.Sockets;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace ChatApplication.Server
{
    public partial class ServerHomePage : Form
    {
        Server? server;
        public ServerHomePage()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }




        private void ServerHomePage_FormClosed(object sender, FormClosedEventArgs e)
        {
            // Close the server
            //Server.serverSocket.Disconnect(true);
        }

        private void BTN_ServerStart_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            // Start the server
            try
            {
                IPEndPoint ipEnd = new IPEndPoint(IPAddress.Parse("127.0.0.1"), 8888);
                server = new Server(ipEnd);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
            }
        }
    }
}

server home page

Zoon•3mo ago

just a start that starts the server

Zoon•3mo ago

what i have rn is whenever a client sends a message it shows a pop up with client(2) has sent a message: <message here> the client number increases with the number of client threads soon i want to add a client name etc but now i just wanna figure out a way to show the message instead of a popup. it shows in every other client's chat box

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

i se ill check it out people said if u really wanna learn ab sockets and stuff u need to use the real deal not libraries

Jimmacle•3mo ago

signalr is web sockets

Zoon•3mo ago

i see and normal sockets are ?

Jimmacle•3mo ago

they're sockets

Zoon•3mo ago

can i use signalr with winform

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Jimmacle•3mo ago

you can, but it's not plain sockets

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

soo as a service ?

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

yes

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

can i still achieve what i want with normal sockets ?

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

yeah 😂

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

will i even benifit anything from doing this

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Jimmacle•3mo ago

i don't understand why you're suggesting websockets

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Jimmacle•3mo ago

this looks like a practice application to work with basic networking

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Jimmacle•3mo ago

spinning up an entire web application to use websockets instead seems kind of out of scope of the project

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

the goal is both learn and create a chat app

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

but i found 0 good source for learning sockets so i just dived in lmao and i have had so many bugs

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

do you have good sources atleast ? youtube videos ? i'd be thankful

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

ill check that out

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

i am not thats why ive been avoiding it

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

yeah i tried using async it told me no void allowed so i just removed tha async part lmao

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

i actually tried it and it told me i cant use void return type with async

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

wait wdym ?

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

yeah

Unknown User•3mo ago

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MODiX•3mo ago

Opinion: first article looks better as an introduction than the devblog one, but but should still be read in that order https://github.com/tkp1n/ndportmann.com/blob/master/posts/2019-01-03--system-threading-channels/index.md https://devblogs.microsoft.com/dotnet/an-introduction-to-system-threading-channels https://www.stevejgordon.co.uk/an-introduction-to-system-threading-channels Video: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/shows/on-net/working-with-channels-in-net

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

alright ill check it out

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

yeah i take the message as string from the textbox and i send it as bytes

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

so it gets encoded at the other end

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

i actually dont i have it set at 1024 for now

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

the messages will be cut and sent in pieces

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

it already happened

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

ohh okay thats smart

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

i didnt even know that existed alright

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

i see

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

i see i see alrighttt one last question

Zoon•3mo ago

in this server.listen

Zoon•3mo ago

does it make the main thread wait until it receives any connection ?

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

or does it keep on going normally

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

ill just add the message length as a prefix 😂

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

then i can just read the prefix and double it

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

i see

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

that is alot of info that i dont understand yet

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

soo can i just set it as that ?

Unknown User•3mo ago

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Zoon•3mo ago

i see i see

Unknown User•3mo ago

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✅ Help with sockets c#