Technology Stack & Architecture
EphemeralChat is built with a scalable architecture designed for real-time messaging and horizontal scaling. The system uses Redis pub/sub for message distribution across multiple instances, enabling high availability and performance.
Core Technologies
Backend
- • Python 3.9+
- • FastAPI (Async Framework)
- • WebSockets (Real-time)
- • Pydantic (Data Validation)
Message Distribution
- • Redis (Pub/Sub)
- • Redis TTL (Auto-cleanup)
- • Connection Tracking
Infrastructure
- • Docker & Docker Compose
- • Uvicorn (ASGI Server)
- • Horizontal Scaling
- • Load Balancer Ready
Features
- • Room Expiration (TTL)
- • Password Protection
- • User Limits
EphemeralChat Architecture
Architecture diagram showing Redis pub/sub, WebSocket connections, and horizontal scaling
Python FastAPI
High-performance async API server handling WebSocket connections and REST endpoints for room management
FastAPI
Modern, fast web framework for building APIs with automatic OpenAPI documentation and WebSocket support
Redis Pub/Sub
Message distribution system enabling horizontal scaling. Messages broadcast to all instances via pub/sub channels
Docker
Containerized deployment with Docker Compose for easy setup and consistent environments
Horizontal Scaling
Run multiple instances behind a load balancer. Redis pub/sub ensures messages reach all instances
Load Balancer
Distribute WebSocket connections across multiple application instances for high availability
Key Features
EphemeralChat provides a complete solution for ephemeral chat rooms with real-time messaging, automatic expiration, and horizontal scaling capabilities.
Self-Destructing Rooms
Chat rooms automatically expire after a set time (default 10 minutes). No manual cleanup required - rooms disappear when their TTL expires.
Real-Time Messaging
WebSocket-based real-time communication ensures instant message delivery across all connected clients in a room.
Password Protection
Optional password protection for rooms. Secure your conversations with simple password-based access control.
User Limits
Configurable maximum users per room (default 20). Prevents overcrowding and maintains performance.
Horizontal Scaling
Redis pub/sub architecture enables horizontal scaling. Run multiple instances behind a load balancer for high availability.
Docker Ready
Fully containerized with Docker and Docker Compose. Deploy in seconds with a single command.
API Documentation & Examples
Integrate EphemeralChat into your application using our RESTful API and WebSocket endpoints. Full interactive documentation is available.
Create Room (cURL Example)
curl -X 'POST' \
'https://ephemeralchat.hansraj.me/rooms/' \
-H 'accept: application/json' \
-H 'content-type: application/json' \
-d '{
"name": "My Chat Room",
"owner_name": "JohnDoe",
"expiry_seconds": 600,
"max_users": 20,
"password": "optional_password"
}'Python WebSocket Example
import asyncio
import websockets
import json
async def chat_client():
uri = "ws://ephemeralchat.hansraj.me/rooms/{room_id}/ws"
async with websockets.connect(uri) as websocket:
# Send a message
message = {
"type": "message",
"content": "Hello, World!"
}
await websocket.send(json.dumps(message))
# Receive messages
async for message in websocket:
data = json.loads(message)
print(f"Received: {data}")
asyncio.run(chat_client())JavaScript WebSocket Example
// Create room first
const createRoom = async () => {
const response = await fetch('https://ephemeralchat.hansraj.me/rooms/', {
method: 'POST',
headers: {
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
},
body: JSON.stringify({
name: 'My Chat Room',
owner_name: 'JohnDoe',
expiry_seconds: 600,
max_users: 20
})
});
const room = await response.json();
return room.room_id;
};
// Connect via WebSocket
const roomId = await createRoom();
const ws = new WebSocket(`wss://ephemeralchat.hansraj.me/rooms/${roomId}/ws`);
ws.onopen = () => {
console.log('Connected to room');
ws.send(JSON.stringify({
type: 'message',
content: 'Hello, World!'
}));
};
ws.onmessage = (event) => {
const data = JSON.parse(event.data);
console.log('Received:', data);
};Need This Service for Your Use Case?
EphemeralChat is built with enterprise-grade architecture and can handle real-time messaging at scale. If you need a similar ephemeral chat solution for your business or want a tailored solution customized to your specific requirements, I'd love to help you build it.