Chat Box Requirements for React App - wwestlake/Labyrinth GitHub Wiki

Chat Box Requirements for React App

1. General Requirements

  • Responsive Design: The chat box should be responsive, functioning well across different screen sizes and devices, including desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.
  • Multiple Chat Tabs: Users should be able to switch between different chat channels (e.g., Local Room, General, Moderator, Admin, Owner) and private chats easily.
  • Real-time Communication: Messages should be sent and received in real-time using SignalR to ensure smooth and immediate communication.
  • Local Storage for User Preferences: The app should store user preferences (e.g., open channels, private chat history) in local storage to persist between sessions.
  • Moderation Tools: If the user has moderator, admin, or owner privileges, the chat box should provide options to mute, ban, or kick users from channels.
  • Security: Ensure secure transmission of messages, particularly for private chats, using proper encryption. The system should validate and sanitize all inputs to prevent XSS or other attacks.

2. Chat Channels

  • Local Room Channel:

    • The default channel when a user enters a room.
    • Messages sent in this channel should only be visible to users currently in the same room.
    • Supports role-playing interactions specific to the current game context.

  • General Channel:

    • An out-of-character (OOC) channel for all players.
    • Allows discussion of non-game-related topics and casual conversation.
    • Always accessible from the chat UI.

  • Moderator Channel:

    • Accessible only to users with moderator privileges.
    • Used for coordinating moderation efforts, discussing issues, and managing player behavior.
    • Includes tools for muting, banning, and kicking users.

  • Admin Channel:

    • Accessible only to users with admin privileges.
    • Allows for higher-level discussions and decisions regarding the game’s management and operations.
    • Similar to the moderator channel but with additional administrative controls.

  • Owner Channel:

    • Accessible only to the game's owner or designated super-admins.
    • Used for top-level management and sensitive discussions.
    • Includes all functionalities of the moderator and admin channels, with the highest level of control.

  • Private Chats:

    • Users can initiate private chats with other users.
    • Each private chat should open in a new tab within the chat UI.
    • Users can save private chat histories locally, and these can be loaded upon reconnecting to the server.
    • Private chats should have notifications when a new message is received if the chat is not currently focused.

3. UI/UX Design

  • Channel Tabs:

    • The chat box should display tabs for each active chat channel (Local, General, Moderator, Admin, Owner, Private).
    • Users can click on a tab to switch between channels.
    • Unread messages in a channel should be indicated with a visual cue (e.g., a badge or highlighted tab).

  • Message Input Area:

    • A single input field should be used for sending messages in the active channel.
    • Support for basic text formatting (bold, italics) and emotes via buttons or shortcuts.
    • A send button and an option to hit "Enter" to send messages.

  • Message Display Area:

    • Messages should be displayed chronologically, with the most recent messages at the bottom.
    • Each message should include the sender’s name, timestamp, and the message text.
    • Different channels and private messages should be distinguishable by color or style.

  • Notifications:

    • Display notifications when new messages are received in non-focused channels.
    • Allow users to customize notification settings (e.g., sound, visual notifications).

4. Functionality

  • Channel Switching:

    • Users can switch between chat channels by clicking on the corresponding tab.
    • The chat input should automatically be redirected to the active channel.

  • Private Messaging:

    • Users can initiate a private chat by clicking on a username in any channel or by using a /whisper command.
    • The system should save private chat connections locally so that users can resume conversations easily.

  • Message Logging:

    • Log messages locally for all active chat channels. Users should be able to view recent messages even after navigating away and returning to a channel.
    • Provide the ability to clear chat history if desired.

  • Moderation Tools:

    • Display moderation options (mute, ban, kick) directly in the chat UI for users with the appropriate privileges.
    • Moderation actions should be logged and visible to other moderators/admins/owners.

  • Customizable Settings:

    • Allow users to customize which channels they see by default and which ones are hidden.
    • Provide settings to enable/disable notifications, change the appearance of the chat (e.g., dark mode, font size), and manage saved private chats.

  • Performance Considerations:

    • Ensure the chat system can handle high message throughput, especially in busy channels like General.
    • Optimize the rendering of chat messages to avoid performance degradation over time.

5. Technical Implementation

  • Backend Integration:

    • Use SignalR to handle real-time messaging between the client and server.
    • Ensure proper authentication and authorization checks before allowing access to specific channels.

  • Local Storage:

    • Utilize the browser’s local storage API to save user settings, open channels, and private chat histories.
    • Implement a mechanism to clear or reset local storage if needed.

  • Security Measures:

    • Ensure that all messages are sanitized to prevent script injection attacks.
    • Implement encryption for private messages to maintain confidentiality.
    • Regularly review and update the security protocols to safeguard against new threats.

6. Future Considerations

  • Guild/Group Chat:

    • Plan for the implementation of guild or group-specific chat channels in the future.
    • Consider how these will integrate with the existing chat UI and moderation tools.

  • Cross-Platform Notifications:

    • Explore the possibility of push notifications for mobile devices to keep users engaged when they’re not actively playing.

  • Rich Media Support:

    • In the future, consider supporting images, links, and other rich media within the chat system, with proper moderation tools in place.

Conclusion

These requirements outline the core functionalities and design considerations for the chat box in the React app. This document will guide the development process, ensuring that the chat system meets user expectations and integrates smoothly with the overall game experience.