Building a TCP Group Chat App with JavaFX and Maven

Building a Real-Time Group Chat with Java TCP Sockets and JavaFX We recently implemented a mini project where the objective was to build a real-time group chat application using Java TCP sockets and JavaFX . This article summarizes the architecture, design decisions, and lessons learned during development. Project Goal The project required implementing a complete TCP-based chat system with the following capabilities: A central TCP server Multiple concurrent clients Real-time message broadcasting A command to list active users ( allUsers ) Read-only mode when a client connects without a username JavaFX interfaces for both server and client Proper separation between networking logic and UI The main goal was to combine network programming with clean application architecture . Tech Stack The system was built using the following technologies: Language: Java 17 Networking: Java TCP Sockets UI Framework: JavaFX ( GridPane + CSS styling) Build Tool: Maven IDE: IntelliJ IDEA High-Level Architec