A feature-rich peer-to-peer (P2P) chat application built with C# and .NET WinForms, designed for secure, direct communication without relying on central servers. Mark Chat combines modern UI design with robust networking capabilities to deliver a professional messaging experience. 🚀 Key Features
🚀 Key Features 💬 Real-Time Communication Instant Messaging: Direct peer-to-peer text communication
File Transfer: Send files of any size with real-time progress tracking
Message History: Color-coded chat interface with timestamps
Sound Notifications: Audio alerts for new messages and file transfers
🔐 Security & Privacy AES-256 Encryption: Optional end-to-end message encryption
No Central Server: Complete privacy with direct P2P connections
Local Data Storage: All chat history stored locally on your device
Secure File Transfer: Encrypted file transmission support
👤 Profile Management Custom Profiles: Set display names and upload profile pictures
Auto-Generated Avatars: Automatic initial-based profile pictures when no image is set
Profile Persistence: User data saved locally for consistent identity across sessions
Bio Support: Add personal status messages and descriptions
🌐 Advanced Connectivity Dual Mode Operation: Act as server (host) or client (join) seamlessly
International Support: Connect globally using VPN networks or port forwarding
Connection Quality Monitoring: Real-time ping display and connection status
Auto-Retry Logic: Enhanced connection reliability with automatic reconnection
Public IP Detection: Automatic external IP discovery for easy connection sharing
🎨 Modern Interface Dark Theme: Professional dark UI with blue accent colors
Minimalist Design: Clean, distraction-free chat interface
Custom Title Bar: Drag-to-move functionality with modern window controls
Responsive Layout: Well-organized sidebar and main chat areas
Progress Indicators: Visual feedback for file transfers and connection status
⚙️ Customizable Settings Encryption Toggle: Enable/disable message encryption as needed
Sound Control: Configurable audio notifications
Auto-Scroll: Optional automatic chat scrolling
Theme Options: Light and dark mode support
Connection Preferences: Customizable timeouts and retry settings
🛠️ Technical Specifications Framework: .NET 6+ with Windows Forms
UI Library: Guna.UI2 for modern, professional controls
Networking: TCP sockets with async/await patterns for optimal performance
Encryption: AES-256 encryption with configurable keys and IV
File Handling: Chunked file transfer with progress tracking and resume capability
Data Storage: JSON-based local configuration and profile storage
Threading: Multi-threaded architecture for responsive UI and network operations
🌍 Connection Methods Local Network Simple IP address connection within the same network
Perfect for office, home, or LAN party communication
Internet (Global) VPN Networks: Use Hamachi, Radmin VPN, or similar for easy setup
Port Forwarding: Configure router for direct internet connections
Cloud Hosting: Deploy on cloud platforms for always-available chat servers
International Optimization Enhanced connection timeouts for international links
Connection quality monitoring with ping statistics
Automatic retry logic for unstable connections
Support for multiple connection methods as fallback options
📋 Getting Started Prerequisites Windows 10/11
.NET 6.0 Runtime or higher
Network connection (local or internet)
Quick Start Host a Session: Set port (default 8080), click "Start Server", share your IP
Join a Session: Enter host IP and port, click "Connect"
Start Chatting: Send messages and files instantly!
International Setup Download Hamachi VPN for easiest international connections
Or configure router port forwarding for direct access
Use built-in IP detection tools for easy address sharing
🎯 Use Cases Private Communication: Secure chats with friends and family
Small Team Collaboration: Direct team communication without third-party services
Gaming Communities: Coordination for gaming sessions and events
Educational Projects: Learn networking, encryption, and GUI development
Privacy-Conscious Users: Those who prefer P2P over centralized platforms
International Communication: Connect with people worldwide using VPN networks
🔒 Privacy & Security Zero Data Collection: No telemetry, analytics, or user data harvesting
Local Storage Only: All data remains on your device
Optional Encryption: Choose when to encrypt sensitive conversations
Direct Connections: No intermediary servers to compromise privacy
Open Source: Full transparency with publicly available source code
📊 Performance Low Resource Usage: Minimal CPU and memory footprint (~50MB RAM)
Fast File Transfer: Efficient chunked transfers with speeds up to network limits
Reliable Connections: Robust error handling with automatic recovery
Scalable Design: Handles multiple simultaneous connections efficiently
🤝 Contributing Contributions, issues, and feature requests are welcome! Feel free to check the issues page or submit pull requests.
📄 License This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
🙏 Acknowledgments Guna Framework for beautiful, modern WinForms controls
.NET Team for the excellent development framework
Open Source Community for inspiration and best practices