Java Socket Chat Not Displaying All Messages - java

I am trying to work through a socket chat with just one client and the server. I have it successfully running, as in the server is capable of passing messages back and forth, but when I attempt to make the server side implementation a bit more complex, adding commands and such, that the client can use, the communication fails. It appears it might go out of sync even as using the same commands over and over again can produce different results, even though I flush everything after every command.
Example of simplistic output, this works as expected, every time:
Client:
import java.io.*;
import java.net.*;
public class Test1Client
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
InputStreamReader convert = new InputStreamReader(System.in);
BufferedReader stdin = new BufferedReader(convert);
try
{
Socket echoClient = new Socket("localhost", 17);
PrintStream outs = new PrintStream(echoClient.getOutputStream());
BufferedReader ins = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(echoClient.getInputStream()));
while(true){
System.out.print("Type whatever you want: ");
String line = stdin.readLine();
outs.println(line);
System.out.println("Server says: " + ins.readLine());
}
}
catch (IOException e)
{
System.out.println(e);
}
}
}
Server:
import java.net.*;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.io.*;
public class Test1Server
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
try
{
ServerSocket socket= new ServerSocket(12167);
//Try not to use port number < 2000.
System.out.println("Waiting for a client to connect...");
Socket s = socket.accept();
System.out.println("Client Connected.");
BufferedReader ins = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(s.getInputStream()));
PrintStream outs = new PrintStream(s.getOutputStream());
while (true)
{
String line = ins.readLine();
outs.println(line);
}
}
catch (IOException e)
{
e.getStackTrace();
}
}
}
I get output like this, it works every time just spitting it back out:
Type whatever you want: login
Server says: login
Type whatever you want: login
Server says: login
Type whatever you want: login
Server says: login
Type whatever you want: login
Server says: login
But when I make the server side a bit more complex by replacing its while(true) block with the following, I get a much more messy result:
String line = ins.readLine();
String response = manager.process(line);
outs.println(response);
outs.flush();
process:
msg= "User logged in successfully \n";
return msg;
You'll also notice some commented lines in the process command code. When I give back a simple message the server seems to keep up, but when I use the login function as well it gives the terrible output like this:
Type whatever you want: login ryanne
Server says: ryanne logged in successfully
Type whatever you want: login ryanne
Server says:
Type whatever you want: login ryanne
Server says: You may already be logged in or did not use correct username or password
Type whatever you want: login ryanne
Server says:
Type whatever you want: newuser jeff
Server says: You may already be logged in or did not use correct username or password
Type whatever you want: newuser jeff 12345
Server says:
Type whatever you want: new user jeff 12345
Server says: You may already be logged in or did not use correct username or password
Type whatever you want:
Again, notice the blanks where nothing comes back from the server, and then even the change in the commands does not prompt different responses. Its as if it went out of sync, just by using one additional function?

You have some "\n" at the end of some strings.
If you both put "\n" and use println, you will have double carriage returns, which will mess up your protocol. Remove the "\n"'s, and it should work better.

Maybe, data you sent was not flushed. Use outs.flush(); after outs.println(line); or change it's constructor call to PrintStream(echoClient.getOutputStream(),true); (enable auto-flush on printing new line)

Related

How my InputStream's message is never null when it is receiving data periodically?

I want to have Server - Client relation. Once client gets connected to a server, server sends a message to a client every 1.5 seconds. Server doesn't do anything with messages from client for simplicity. In client's code, I want to use System.in to send messages to server (which don't mean anything) and when I send it, I want to read server's response (all accumulated messages from server). Code is not a snippet, but "real code".
Client:
public class ClientClass {
public static final String IP_ADDRESS = "127.0.0.1";
public static final int PORT = 9090;
public static void main (String[] args) throws IOException {
Socket socket = new Socket (IP_ADDRESS,PORT);
PrintWriter output = new PrintWriter (socket.getOutputStream (),true);
BufferedReader input = new BufferedReader (new InputStreamReader (socket.getInputStream ()));
BufferedReader keyboard = new BufferedReader (new InputStreamReader (System.in));
while (true){
System.out.println ("Enter message you want to send to server:");
String msg = keyboard.readLine ();
output.println (msg);
String serverResponses = input.readLine ();
while (serverResponses!=null){
System.out.println (serverResponses);
serverResponses=input.readLine ();
}
}
}
}
Server:
public class ServerClass {
public static int PORT = 9090;
public static void main (String[] args) throws IOException, InterruptedException {
ServerSocket server = new ServerSocket (PORT);
Socket client = server.accept ();
PrintWriter output = new PrintWriter (client.getOutputStream (),true);
while (true){
output.println ("hello from server");
Thread.sleep (1500);
}
}
}
//My comment: readLine() method in client is blocking, so I can't read server's messages until I actually read something from keyboard. That is why I have loop to "pick up" all lines from inputStream. I expect that once I read all the lines, variable stringResponses gets null and breaks from inner while loop. Then I thought that I would get a print to console of "enter message you want to send to server" found in outer loop. Unfortunately, my code never breaks out from inner while loop and I want to know why. How is it never null, when I am writing to a stream every 1.5s, meaning there is plenty of time for it to be null and break from loop.
ACTUAL OUTPUT:
Enter message you want to send to server:
hey! //this is what I typed
hello from server
hello from server
hello from server
//these three popped immediately, as they accumulated.
hello from server
hello from server
hello from server
hello from server
//keeps printing "hello from server" every 1.5s and never comes back to "enter your message" -WHY?
readLine returns null at the end of stream. Since the Server Socket isn't closed. It is never null in your inner loop.
Link - https://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/io/BufferedReader.html#readLine()
A String containing the contents of the line, not including any
line-termination characters, or null if the end of the stream has been
reached
What do you expect the behaviour when readLine got invoked in a loop on your keyboard object ?
String msg = keyboard.readLine();
while(msg != null)
msg = keyboard.readLine();
This too will keep on taking inputs from the System.in. The loop would never end.
Solutions
As quoted above from java documentation, readLine method blocks for an input. That is the reason, there is no effect of delaying server response. The method returns null only at the end of the stream.
Solution 1 - Making use of ready method
ready method returns false when the read methods has to wait for an input data. As the Server code is sleeping for 1.5 sec, this method should return false during that time.
The downside of this approach is that if Server is not finished with all the response lines on time, then the inner loop where you collect all Server Responses will break.
while (true){
System.out.println ("Enter message you want to send to server:");
String msg = keyboard.readLine ();
output.println (msg);
String serverResponses = input.readLine ();
System.out.println (serverResponses);
while (input.ready()){
serverResponses=input.readLine ();
System.out.println (serverResponses);
}
}
Solution 2 - Server sends total lines
If the server knows about the total number of lines, then that can be sent as the first line in the stream. Depending upon total lines, client code can read those many lines. The downside of this approach is that an extra line has to be added in the Server response.
while (true){
System.out.println ("Enter message you want to send to server:");
String msg = keyboard.readLine ();
output.println (msg);
Integer linesCount = Integer.parseInt(input.readLine ());
for (int i=0; i< linesCount; i++){
String serverResponses=input.readLine ();
System.out.println (serverResponses);
}
}

Java server to handle multi-clients simultaneously

I am new to java server and client. I want to make a multi-client server. After making server code ready to accept more than one client it is like this :
Server code :
public class Server {
int clientNumber = 1;
ServerSocket mServer = new ServerSocket(9090);
try {
while (true) {
new TheServer(mServer.accept(), clientNumber++).start();
}
} finally {
mServer.close();
}
}
private static class TheServer extends Thread {
private Socket client;
private int clientNumber;
public TheServer(Socket client, int clientNumber) {
this.client = client;
this.clientNumber = clientNumber;
}
public void run() {
try {
DataOutputStream dos = new DataOutputStream(client.getOutputStream());
BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(
new InputStreamReader(System.in));
dos.writeUTF(numberString);
while (true) {
String message = br.readLine();
dos.writeUTF(message);
}
} catch (IOException e) { }
}
}
The clients are added to the server as I expect.
If I have one client, the --- dos.writeUTF(message); --- give the desired result inside client console, so in server console I write down (A) and press enter, then the (A) is printed inside #1 Client, then I write down (B) in server console and press enter, then the (B) is printed inside #1 Client, it seems good.
But if the second client join the server, the result inside both clients console is hold for one time press and is fired on second enter press. To simplify : Inside server console I press (A) and press enter, nothing is happening on clients consoles, then I press (B) inside server console again, and now the first message (A) and second message (B) are printed one (A) inside #1 Client and one (B) inside #2 Client and this is not the behavior that I expect.
What I expect: When 2 Clients exist and server send message (A), I need all Clients (here there are 2 clients) get the message together. Imagine you are playing a game online, If I have a character (like a ball) and I move it inside a game field, all the other players have to see my character moving. I wish I was clear.
I think I have to make an array to keep the clients and send message to that array maybe...
So how can I solve it. If the client code is needed please tell me.
Look into something called the Publish-Subscribe pattern, also known as the Observer pattern, here is an example:
https://www.journaldev.com/1739/observer-design-pattern-in-java

Why does the following code print null?

I am trying to make client-server connection. First I have executed server code in one console and then client code in another console. I want that after the client code runs, the client enters his name and then I will create the object of client socket class and print the name of client in the server console. But on the server console it prints null when I try to print the name of client.
Since accept() method of server class waits for the client socket object, so before this line System.out.println(Myclient1.nameOfClient + " connected"); gets executed, client would already have entered his name in String nameOfClient.
I am unable to understand the reason behind this.
Server code
public Myserver1() {
try {
ss = new ServerSocket(10);
while (true) {
s = ss.accept(); // waits for the client socket
System.out.println(Myclient1.nameOfClient + " connected"); // Here I want to print the name of client(Myclient1.java).
al.add(s);
Runnable r = new MyThread(s, al);
Thread t = new Thread(r);
t.start();
}
} catch(Exception e) {}
}
Client code
public Myclient1() {
System.out.println("enter ur name");
nameOfClient = new Scanner(System.in).nextLine(); // Here I am storing the name of client so that I can access nameOfClient from Myserver1.java
try {
s = new Socket("localhost", 10);
din = new DataInputStream(s.getInputStream());
dout = new DataOutputStream(s.getOutputStream());
clientchat();
} catch(Exception e) {}
}
Server and clients should run independently of each other, or else it defeats the purpose of networking.
Right now, you are accessing a static variable the has never been initalized because the client isnt running in the same process as the server.Send the name over a socket, and use that as your print and your problem will be fixed.

Java TCP Echo Server - Broadcast

I have a simple echo server, and I want when a connected user types anything to the server, all other clients and that client will get a the message + " | MOD".
It wont send to all clients now but it should and I just don't know what's wrong in my code, so now it will just send the message + " | MOD" to the client who sent the message but not to all others also as it should.
I just don't get it, I have a loop that goes through all clients, but it still won't send to all.
SERVER:
package com.murplyx.server;
import java.io.BufferedReader;
import java.io.InputStreamReader;
import java.io.PrintWriter;
import java.net.ServerSocket;
import java.net.Socket;
import java.util.ArrayList;
public class Server {
public static ServerSocket server;
public static ArrayList<Socket> clients = new ArrayList<Socket>();
public static void broadcast(String message) {
try {
for (Socket socket : clients) {
PrintWriter out = new PrintWriter(socket.getOutputStream(), true);
out.println(message);
}
} catch(Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
public static void main(String args[]) {
try {
server = new ServerSocket(9000);
while (true) {
clients.add(server.accept());
for (Socket socket : clients) {
BufferedReader in = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(socket.getInputStream()));
String line = in.readLine();
if (line != null) {
broadcast(line + " | MOD");
}
}
}
} catch(Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
CLIENT:
package com.murplyx.client;
import java.io.BufferedReader;
import java.io.InputStreamReader;
import java.io.PrintWriter;
import java.net.Socket;
public class Client {
public static void main(String args[]) {
try {
while (true) {
Socket socket = new Socket("localhost", 9000);
BufferedReader in = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(socket.getInputStream()));
PrintWriter out = new PrintWriter(socket.getOutputStream(), true);
BufferedReader input = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(System.in));
out.println(input.readLine());
System.out.println(in.readLine());
socket.close();
}
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
Please help.
Thanks alot.
One of the issues you have is that each client will repeatedly do read stdin, write socket, read socket, write stdout, ... ad infinitum.
When you broadcast all other clients are still typically sat in the read stdin phase, so they don't know that there's stuff waiting to be read on the socket. They're still waiting for the user to enter something.
One of the simplest options is to start two threads in each client - one just handles read stdin, write socket, ... and the other handles read socket, write stdout.
[Another (potentially more sophisticated) option us to use Java NIO to poll both the socket and stdin for available input at the same time].
A second issue is that you're blocking in the accept call in the server, and then reading from each socket in turn. You might accept in one thread, and have another thread per client read from just the client, and rebroadcast to the others. NIO can also be a good option here - you can poll for reads any any client.
I'm not exactly sure how ArrayLists play with sockets, so I definitely would go back to using a normal array for it (see the edited code here Java EchoTCPServer - Send to all clients)
Some things I see that I think can to be fixed:
On the Client:
-Stop closing the socket in the While loop. Close it OUTSIDE the while loop (When the client is done with the server). Also, declare the socket outside the Loop.
NOTE ON THIS: When a client makes a socket to connect to the server, it is automatically given a device port, so two different devices will never have the same IP connected to the server. A TCP connection consists of 2 ports, server socket and client socket, and the sockets are denoted by [deviceip:port,serverip:port] (iirc).
-Also, on the client you don't need to declare a new reader everytime you move through the while loop. Put that all outside. The only thing inside the while loop should be your readline + print statements.
-readLine is a blocking method. (just in case you don't know what that means, it means that readLine will make your program be stuck there until the it actually reads a line. To bypass this, you can use an if statement combined with the .ready() function. The ready function checks to see if there is anything to be "read in", so if there's no input it wont be stuck on "readLine".
On the Server:
-Like i said earlier, I'd change back to using a normal Array.
-Your server will still get stuck on .accept(). As such, you will never be able to read input from the clients except once after each connection. You can use a thread to listen instead, and it will still work.
eg: (this code goes with the code that's in the link i attached (also your question), put it before the while loop of your server)
// create a tcp listener thread to deal with listening to clients
Thread listenerThread = new Thread() {
public void run() {
String clientSentence;
while (true) {
//loop through each connected socket
for (int i = 0; i <= intLastSocket; i++) {
Socket z = clientSocket[i];
//make sure the socket is not null or closed (can't do anything
//with closed or null sockets
if ((z != null) && (!z.isClosed())) {
try {
// Deal with TCP input here
BufferedReader input = new BufferedReader(new
InputStreamReader(z.getInputStream()));
// read in a line but only if there is one
if (input.ready()) {
clientSentence = input.readLine();
}
} catch (IOException x) {
printTCP("IOException caught when reading in: "
+ x.toString());
}
if (clientSentence != null) {
System.out.println("Received from client: "
+ clientSentence);
//send this message to the client
outputStream[i].println(clientSentence + " | MOD");
}
// clear the input
clientSentence = null;
}
}
}
}
};
listenerThread.start();

Client connects but cant send message to the server.[Console Chat]

I tried to make a console chat server. the main problem i am facing is that i can not send the message to the server.. as you can see in the img i uploaded that the server and the client are connected. but when i type anything in the client side. The client becomes unresponsive and i have to close the cmd prompt.
How can i fix this?
Is something wrong with my computer or is the code wrong?
public class MyClient
{
Socket s ;
DataInputStream din ;
DataOutputStream dout;
public MyClient()
{
try
{
s= new Socket("localhost",10);
System.out.println(s);
din = new DataInputStream(s.getInputStream());
dout= new DataOutputStream(s.getOutputStream());
ClientChat();
}
catch(Exception e)
{
System.err.println(e);
}
}
public void ClientChat() throws IOException
{
BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(System.in));
//Scanner s2 = new Scanner(System.in);
String s1;
System.out.println("start the conversation");
do
{
s1=br.readLine();
//s1=s2.nextLine();
dout.flush();
System.out.println("server:"+din.readUTF());
}
while(!s1.equals("stop"));
}
public static void main (String args[])
{
new MyClient();
}
}
The code snippet never calls dout.write*(), so nothing is ever sent over the Socket.
readLine() will block until a line of text is read, so messages sent to the client won't be printed until after the client types a 2nd line of text. You can fix this either by using asynchronous I/O or by moving the read loop into it's own Thread.
You need to make the server and client a thread, so they can work independently.
server as thread will wait for a client connections and will receive messages.
client as thread will work on its own.
problem is that they cannot run concurrently.
Use dout.writeUTF(s1); inside the do loop.
The writeUTF will allow you to write the subsequent message till then It will be stuck at readutf function.
The java.io.DataOuputStream.writeUTF(String str) method writes a string to the underlying output stream using modified UTF-8 encoding. Refer to this

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