PeerChat for VS Code
Private peer-to-peer chat for developers on the same local network
Overview
PeerChat enables instant messaging between developers working on the same local network, directly within VS Code. No external servers, no setup required – just install and start chatting with your team.
✨ Key Features
- 🏠 Room Support - Create separate chat spaces for teams and projects
- 🔍 Auto-Discovery - Automatically finds teammates on your network
- 🔒 Private & Secure - All messages stay on your local network
- 💬 Real-time Chat - Instant messaging with read receipts
- 📱 Multiple Interfaces - Activity bar panel or standalone windows
- ⚡ Zero Configuration - Works out of the box
🚀 Quick Start
- Install the extension from VS Code Marketplace
- Open PeerChat from the Activity Bar or press
Alt+Q
- Chat instantly with other PeerChat users on your network
Room Management
- All users start in the "general" room
- Switch rooms: Press
Alt+R or click the gear icon
- Private conversations: Create unique room names
🔧 Installation
From VS Code Marketplace
ext install LakshayBomotra.peerchat
Manual Installation
npm install
npm run package
code --install-extension peerchat-0.1.0.vsix
🎮 Usage
| Action |
Method |
| Open Chat |
Alt+Q or Activity Bar |
| Change Room |
Alt+R or gear button |
| Send Message |
Type and press Enter |
| Toggle Panel |
Click status bar item |
⚙️ How It Works
- Discovery: Uses mDNS (Bonjour) to find peers automatically
- Communication: WebRTC for direct peer-to-peer connections
- Fallback: UDP multicast when WebRTC isn't available
- Rooms: Filter connections and messages by room name
📋 Requirements
- VS Code 1.103.0 or higher
- Local network with mDNS support
- Same network for all participants
🛠️ Technical Details
- Protocol: WebRTC + UDP fallback
- Discovery: mDNS on 239.23.23.23:45454
- Languages: TypeScript, HTML, CSS
- Architecture: Peer-to-peer, no central server
🐛 Troubleshooting
Can't see other users?
- Ensure you're on the same network and room
- Check firewall allows multicast traffic
- Verify mDNS/Bonjour is enabled
Messages not syncing?
- Check VS Code Developer Console for errors
- Try restarting the extension
- Ensure stable network connection
🔐 Privacy & Security
- ✅ Local network only - No external servers
- ✅ No data collection - Nothing leaves your network
- ✅ Open source - Audit the code yourself
- ⚠️ No encryption - Designed for trusted networks
🤝 Contributing
Contributions welcome! Open issues and pull requests on the repository.
- Fork the repository
- Create a feature branch:
git checkout -b feature-name
- Commit changes:
git commit -m 'Add feature'
- Push to branch:
git push origin feature-name
- Submit a pull request
📄 License
This project is licensed under the MIT License.
🔄 Changelog
v0.1.0 (Latest)
- ➕ Added room support with UI controls
- ➕ Room-based peer discovery and isolation
- ➕ Keyboard shortcuts (
Alt+R for rooms)
- 🔧 Improved connection management
- 🎨 Enhanced UI with room indicators
v0.0.1
- 🎉 Initial release
- ➕ WebRTC and UDP communication
- ➕ Auto peer discovery
- ➕ Message read receipts
- ➕ Status bar integration
Made with ❤️ for VS Code developers
3. Commit changes: git commit -m 'Add feature'
4. Push to branch: git push origin feature-name
5. Submit a pull request
📄 License
This project is licensed under the MIT License.ttps://img.shields.io/badge/version-0.1.0-blue.svg)](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=LakshayBomotra.peerchat)
Overview
PeerChat enables instant messaging between developers working on the same local network, directly within VS Code. No external servers, no setup required – just install and start chatting with your team.
✨ Key Features
- 🏠 Room Support - Create separate chat spaces for teams and projects
- 🔍 Auto-Discovery - Automatically finds teammates on your network
- 🔒 Private & Secure - All messages stay on your local network
- 💬 Real-time Chat - Instant messaging with read receipts
- 📱 Multiple Interfaces - Activity bar panel or standalone windows
- ⚡ Zero Configuration - Works out of the box
🚀 Quick Start
- Install the extension from VS Code Marketplace
- Open PeerChat from the Activity Bar or press
Alt+Q
- Chat instantly with other PeerChat users on your network
Room Management
- All users start in the "general" room
- Switch rooms: Press
Alt+R or click the gear icon
- Private conversations: Create unique room names
🔧 Installation
From VS Code Marketplace
ext install LakshayBomotra.peerchat
Manual Installation
npm install
npm run package
code --install-extension peerchat-0.1.0.vsix
� Usage
| Action |
Method |
| Open Chat |
Alt+Q or Activity Bar |
| Change Room |
Alt+R or gear button |
| Send Message |
Type and press Enter |
| Toggle Panel |
Click status bar item |
⚙️ How It Works
- Discovery: Uses mDNS (Bonjour) to find peers automatically
- Communication: WebRTC for direct peer-to-peer connections
- Fallback: UDP multicast when WebRTC isn't available
- Rooms: Filter connections and messages by room name
📋 Requirements
- VS Code 1.103.0 or higher
- Local network with mDNS support
- Same network for all participants
🛠️ Technical Details
- Protocol: WebRTC + UDP fallback
- Discovery: mDNS on 239.23.23.23:45454
- Languages: TypeScript, HTML, CSS
- Architecture: Peer-to-peer, no central server
🐛 Troubleshooting
Can't see other users?
- Ensure you're on the same network and room
- Check firewall allows multicast traffic
- Verify mDNS/Bonjour is enabled
Messages not syncing?
- Check VS Code Developer Console for errors
- Try restarting the extension
- Ensure stable network connection
🔐 Privacy & Security
- ✅ Local network only - No external servers
- ✅ No data collection - Nothing leaves your network
- ✅ Open source - Audit the code yourself
- ⚠️ No encryption - Designed for trusted networks
🤝 Contributing
Contributions welcome! Please read CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines.
- Fork the repository
- Create a feature branch:
git checkout -b feature-name
- Commit changes:
git commit -m 'Add feature'
- Push to branch:
git push origin feature-name
- Submit a pull request
� License
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
🔄 Changelog
v0.1.0 (Latest)
- ➕ Added room support with UI controls
- ➕ Room-based peer discovery and isolation
- ➕ Keyboard shortcuts (
Alt+R for rooms)
- 🔧 Improved connection management
- 🎨 Enhanced UI with room indicators
v0.0.1
- 🎉 Initial release
- ➕ WebRTC and UDP communication
- ➕ Auto peer discovery
- ➕ Message read receipts
- ➕ Status bar integration
Made with ❤️ for VS Code developers
