Pingo 🎥 | College-Exclusive Video Chat

Pingo is a college-exclusive platform that allows students to connect via random video calls. By using their college email IDs for authentication, students can interact in a safe and verified environment, fostering new connections within the campus.

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🚀 Features

1. College Email Authentication – Ensures only students from the college can join.
2. Random Video Matching – Connects users with a random peer for seamless conversations.
3. Real-Time Video Streaming – Powered by WebRTC for smooth peer-to-peer communication.
4. Secure & Private – Prevents unauthorized access and ensures data privacy.
5. Minimal & Intuitive UI – A simple, distraction-free interface for easy interaction.
6. Abuse Prevention – Includes reporting & blocking features to maintain a positive experience.

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🧠 How It Works

1. Authentication:
   Users sign in using Google OAuth restricted to college email domains. Their token is validated on the backend (/api/verify-token) before connecting to the Socket.IO server.

2. Matching:
   Users can opt for a video or audio-only chat. When they click "Start Chat", a findChat event is emitted. The server then pairs them with another waiting user.

3. Connection Setup:
   If video is enabled, Pingo establishes a WebRTC peer-to-peer connection between the two users, allowing low-latency video communication. If not, only text-based messaging is enabled.

4. Chat Session:
   Once connected, users can chat freely. Messages are relayed via sendMessage and message events. The UI handles rendering local/remote streams and chat history.

5. Next/Leave:
   Clicking "Next" or leaving the session triggers a disconnect from the current room. The app resets the state and automatically searches for a new partner.

6. Safety:
   Users can report/exit at any time. The backend supports blocking or moderation enhancements.

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🛠️ Tech Stack

• Frontend: React (Vite)
• Backend: Node.js + Express
• Database: MongoDB (Mongoose ORM)
• Real-Time Communication: WebRTC + Socket.io
• Authentication: Google OAuth (Restricted to College Emails)

🔧 Installation & Setup

Clone the Repository

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

Install Dependencies

cd frontend
npm install
cd ..
cd backend
npm install
cd ..

Set Environment Variables

Frontend (frontend/.env)

VITE_BACKEND_URL=http://localhost:3001
VITE_GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID=get client id from google auth

Backend (backend/.env)

MONGODB_URI=mongodburl
JWT_SECRET=jwt
CORS_ORIGIN=http://localhost:5173,https://www.meetmates.space
PORT=3001

🎯 Future Enhancements

• Interest-Based Matching – Connect students with similar interests.
• Text Chat Feature – Add real-time messaging alongside video calls.
• AI Moderation – Implement AI-based content moderation for safety.

📜 License

This project is open-source under the MIT License.

🔗 Contributions are welcome! Feel free to submit issues or feature requests.

Mates behind MeetMates: Sagar Kumar Jha ,Shivansh Sharma & Me.