WhatsApp is the most sought after messaging application that has revolutionized the messaging app market. Several attempts have been made in vain to clone WhatsApp as a chat app, but none of them yielded the result. Despite introducing similar functionalities, no chat app has ever been able to topple WhatsApp’s supremacy as a chat app.
In order to build chat app like whatsapp, one should have a detailed understanding of its functioning mechanism and technicalities.
Table of Contents
WhatsApp uses Ejabberd (XMPP) server which facilitates instant message transfer between two or many users on a real-time basis. High reliability and sustainability even under peak traffic the reason why WhatsApp developers chose Ejabberd above anything else.
ERLANG is the programming language used to code WhatsApp. Code restructuring and some important changes were made to the Ejabberd server to achieve optimal server performance.
Further, Erlang is agile to adapting to instant updates and hot fixes. This is what helps WhatsApp to quickly push the changes to live implementation without requiring restarts.
WhatsApp manages over 50 billion messages a day. The key to smooth data processing lies with the message queue length. The length of the message queue of all the processes associated with a node is monitored.
In case of multimedia messages, contents (audio, video, or image) are uploaded into a HTTP server and are linked with the content and then sent to the receiving node (receiver) in the form of a thumbnail. Based on the user’s preference the content can either be viewed or discarded.
The primary protocol in use is XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol).
DSL ensures network security and also helps in preventing private data transfer.
As and when message is sent, it is queued on the server. The message waits in the queue until the recipient reconnects to receive the message. As and when a message is delivered the sender gets notified by a double check mark near the message. After the delivery the messages are instantly deleted from the server memory.
This instant deletion from server memory helps WhatsApp keep its resources to a bare minimum.
Additionally, Whatsapp uses HTML5 WebSockets which communication technology which facilitates two-way communication.
Users can register for WhatsApp by entering their mobile number. On entering the number, the user will be sent a OTP which once verified by the device will initiate the user to the chat screen.
Mnesia DB handles the heavy-duty task of database management.
Mnesia is a multiuser distributed DBMS which also happens to be the default DB of ERLANG. Mnesia helps achieve quicker request responses, thereby improving the overall efficiency.
FreeBSD is the OS upon which WhatsApp is built. Improvising on the ERLANG based applications and optimizing FreeBSD, WhatsApp is able to achieve better performance. For storing multimedia files, the app uses an exclusive web server YAWS.
Having discussed the technicalities of WhatsApp it is time to shift gears over analyzing the possibilities of creating a whatsApp alternative. There are plenty of secure messaging app in the market that appear to be perfect WhatsApp clones. The reality is many of the attempts of building WhatsApp like apps are failing because they do not follow the technical aspects.
Well, if we take such apps as an example, it might be quite difficult to understand as they are completely built products.
Instead a ready made solution that can help in creating a WhatsApp clone app would be a better learning material.
Contus Fly is a framework that catalyses the build a chat platform. Contus Fly can be used to develop WhatsApp clone app for Android app, iOS and Website platforms as it has the SDK ready for these widely preferred mobile operating systems. Since native coding has been used by Contus Fly to achieve better speed, it can be handy in developing a WhatsApp like native app.
Ejabberd, the open source Jabber server has been customized by Contus Fly to improve operational efficiency. The XMPP protocol has also been customized to speedup signing in and re-signing in sessions. To protect the app from DDOS attacks and to prevent account spoofing, this mobile chat app solution has been encrypted with HMAC.
For data storing, Contus Fly makes use of both Mnesia and MySQL.
While Mnesia is used to maintain user login sessions, MySQL contributes in maintaining the user details, right from account credentials to other personal data.
Chat logs are a key for instant messaging applications. In order to save chat history between several nodes, Contus Fly has deployed . This database offers a good read write speed thus helping users to retrieve chat logs as and when they need.
Multimedia messages including audio, image, video are saved in Amazon S3 bucket. Registration for the app usage can be done in multiple ways including mobile number, email, user name password and social login.
WebRTC is a source code that is used to build real-time communication (RTC) in browsers and mobile app. Contus Fly has inbuilt WebRTC that allows its users to have VOIP (voice over the internet protocol) voice/video calls in their messaging app
Contus Fly offers a 3 layered security flow – end-to-end encryption, HMAC authenticated screening, and online/offline verification protocol; that ensures the data transmitted within the chat app is secure.
As and when a user triggers a message, the chat SDK sends a request to the Ejabbered server. In return the server checks for the availability of the recipient and if available, the delivery request is sent to the recipients SDK and then delivered. If the recipient is offline, the data is stored in the Ejabbered as message will be queued in the server.
Contus Fly is a instant messaging solution that can be customised according to the needs of the user. The customizations are highly flexible and can be made both initially or even after the app is launched.
Chat API provides users the access to infrastructure of server. This enables any website or app to be integrated with a messaging solution that performs without any hassles and is highly scalable.
SDK is an instant messaging framework that enables the app built with it to work on specific platforms. Contus Fly’s SDK has been built in an enterprise grade making it compatible on android, iOS and windows.
A source to connect with your customers goes a long way. In-app messaging and push notifications initiates a direct conversation with app visitors and assists in providing accurate product explanation and suggestions.
When was the last time you used your phone to send an app? It’s been found that 97% of the world’s population has sent a text at least once in their life, with the average person sending up to 14 texts a day, straight from their phones or through a chat application like Whatsapp.
A further 75% of the mobile users prefer instant messaging apps for communication over more traditional modes of communication, such as email. So it’s no dramatization to say that instant chat based messaging has indeed, taken over the industry, and is only set to increase. As of 2016, Whatsapp currently boasts a user base of 1,2 billion, making it the most popular messaging application in the world next to Facebook IM and WeChat.
Real time instant messaging applications are distinguished by their real time delivery of messages and multimedia between two users, and its of no surprise and investors and developers seek to replicate Whatsapp’s success in their own chat apps. In that spirit, this article will outline the main ways you can equip yourself to successfully create a chat app for iOS or Android, and see your app succeed on the market.
Whatsapp, at its core, is a messaging service built for smartphones, relying on internet connection or mobile phone data. Cheaper than service provided SMS services, some chat apps operate on low cost subscription models but the most of them are free.
Each successful real time chat app has salient features to draw in new users, and it’s this good functionality that rests at the core of a successful chat app.
The number of features your app will host further dictate the cost of your app’s development. Take a good look at the features that make Whatsapp so wildly successful:
Skype does this to a limited degree, but you can take it further.
You can invest in premium encryption technologies to protect messages from third party infiltration (see ChatSecure and CryptoCat).
The two main types of connections used in chat apps are HTTP + Push Notifications and Extensive Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) protocols.
HTTP + Push Notifications are used more for file sharing apps like Instagram, whereby when you leave a comment the user receives a push-notification, and when the app is reopened it then connects to the app’s server, but it’s a good idea to have a push notifications default built into your app so users are able to receive notifications of new messages.
Potential technologies
Erlang: This is the main programming language on which the massively popular chat apps Whatsapp and WeChat are built from. It’s a general purpose, garbage collector program that enables instant messaging apps to be so useful and intuitive to their users needs. Your server can be built from Erlang, but PHP and Java are also good alternative options.
YAWS: Manage your multimedia with YAWS, a high-performance web server developed for apps with high loads of dynamic content streaming in and out.
Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol Servers: Having an XMPP server eliminates the need for multiple client servers for information exchange, allowing the app to scan the user’s contact book to built a contact list useable within your app.
It’s the standardized form of Jabber, an open standard based protocol that’s been used to create Facebook Messenger, WeChat, Whatsapp, and the rest.
Mnesia DB: This is the database that will allow you to store messages, files, images, documents, and the rest of the multimedia files that will be running through your app. It’s vital to have a database like this, and Mnesia DB goes above and beyond your need by being able to store any amount of data, just the type of technology you’ll need to create and maintain your chat app.
The big tasks that go into building chat app include backend development, frontend and web app, design, native platforms, and quality assurance.
Having thus listened essential chat app features, the approximate starting costs for Chat App development is can range from anywhere between $30,000 to $55,000, to up to $120,000. These costs are dependent on your team’s hourly rates.
The process of building the app itself can take up to 1400 hours by a team of experienced developers (integrating a messaging functionality can take up to 150 man hours on its own, and multimedia transmission taking a bare minimum of 100 hours, for example).
The hours and associated costs of your chat app will be dependent on the inclusivity of your apps features, including user registration, address book information and integration, message exchanging and message notification, multimedia tile transmissions, group chat features, location sharing, user status/profile, the ability to search users and chats, as well as the ability to host video calling.
These are some of the specifics you’ll need to develop a WhatsApp like Chat App. Whatsapp may run the market but there’s still space for your chat app to thrive, once you understand what particular feature your app hosts that Whatsapp doesn’t. That difference is what will make your app stand out from the rest and hook people onto using your app.
From the bottom up, the process may seem complicated, especially if you lack the high tech skill required to architect, develop, and maintain your app on front end platforms. You’ll want a team that explores all possibilities, and leaves no stone unturned for your business and development needs; a team that helps to investigates all your business needs and future aspirations to enable your app to bloom into its fullest potential.
Take a look at our website to draw inspiration from our previous projects, and feel free to contact us if you need an instant chat app developed. You want a company with the experience and capacity to build apps for both iOS and Android platforms. We can provide you with free consultations and investigations on a solution according to your needs and budgets.
This article was originally published on the Octodev Blog.
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To show their individuality, the user can be offered to customize the profile as he likes - change the background for messages, text font, personal photo visible to all subscribers. The more customization options, the more comfortable it will be for the user to work with the application.
It is optimal to assign statuses to messages so that users can see all the stages of sending, receiving, reading by the addressee. All chat applications are designed for messaging, so it's hard to stand out here, but you can organize group communication - private, public chat with a different number of invited participants, sending certain messages or images to only a few users from a group chat, and so on. nine0004
It is also important to save messages so that users can read their conversation history at any time. Storage is carried out using the cloud - so you can access your correspondence even if you lose your phone or if you accidentally delete the application from your gadget. You can also turn on the convenient conversation search feature. For users who communicate a lot, conduct business correspondence with many clients, this function is indispensable. With its help, you can find not only the right place in the correspondence, but also the transferred files nine0004
Messaging would not be complete without the ability to send voice messages.
In order not to waste time writing the text, you can simply dictate it and send it.
Opportunity to see your opponent or talk to him, as on the phone, provide voice and video calls. So communication looks more complete, regardless of the distance at which the callers are from each other. With a voice call, communication occurs only by voice, as when using a phone - only absolutely free of charge via the Internet. A video call gives a visual component - a video image of the speaker. In communication apps like WhatsApp, group video and audio calls are also available - conferences with which more than two people can communicate at the same time. nine0003
To show emotions or share information, users can send pictures, stickers, gifs to each other. With paid stickers, it's easy to monetize any messaging app.
This function is needed so that the user does not forget about using the application and is always aware of the events taking place there - a new message, an invitation to a chat, adding to contacts, the appearance of a friend on the network, etc.
At the same time, it is important to give the user the opportunity to independently manage notifications - turn on some and turn off others. This approach would be appropriate for developing a business application. nine0003
It's easy to build a good instant messaging app, it's much harder to get better than the most popular messengers. For this, standard functions are not suitable, you need to come up with something unusual and exclusive - like Snapchat. This application gave users the ability to send media files to each other with a short availability time of just a few seconds, which provoked an increase in customer activity. nine0004
As additional functions, due to which you can rise in the rating by creating your own application, you can use the following:
All this will help you stand out from the background of other applications, so creativity in this environment is only welcome.
To start developing a messenger, you should understand the technologies used for this at a practical level. nine0004
To protect app users from scammers and annoying spammers, you need to take care of authentication. To do this, use the Nexmo API (recognition through a phone number) or, for example, Twitter Kit, Facebook SDK (to verify a user through a social network or mail).
In order for messages to really arrive instantly without any actual delay, you can use WebSocket technology, which provides high quality application-server communication. nine0004
To make communication more interesting, you can add a separate emoji keyboard to the application.
This will enhance emotional exchange and allow users to convey mood, reactions, and attitudes without the use of words.
To organize long-term storage of user personal data, texts of correspondence, transferred files and other information, you can use network servers like Nginx or special databases like PostgreSQL. You can also connect the Amazon S3 media storage service. nine0004
To ensure interactive communication between application users, developers use VoIP technologies - a more convenient protocol has not yet been invented for organizing voice and video communications over the Internet.
To stimulate user activity, notifications are needed. Depending on the platform on which the application is planned to be used, different technologies are used: on Android it is Firebase Cloud Messaging, on iOS it can be both Firebase and traditional Apple Push notifications.
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Messaging apps can generate good income for developers, but the ways they generate it vary:
The choice of a monetization strategy is based primarily on the number of users, the popularity of the messenger and other criteria.
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Every new instant messaging application inevitably faces hurdles when it enters the market.
nine0037 In any case, in order to solve all these problems, the developer must listen carefully to the opinions of users, monitor their activity, handle buggies and introduce new technologies and features.
WhatsApp is considered to be quite a complex application, as over the years of its existence it has acquired a large number of updates and improvements, so creating an application from scratch will not be cheap, and labor-intensive. In general, the cost of development will depend on the features included and the technologies used, in fact, as well as the time of work. Therefore, it is impossible to say for sure how quickly it will be possible to create such a mobile application - someone can do it in a month, for another programmer it may take a year. nine0004
The messenger market is constantly growing and evolving, new applications appear, so enterprising users have every chance to try to create an application like WhatsApp - just as successful, and maybe even outperform it in the rating.
Such applications are the future of communication between people, mobile communications do not allow you to communicate cheaply with the whole world, while all instant messengers provide the opportunity for completely free communication. This is more convenient than sending SMS, and even more so than making calls from a mobile, regardless of the operator. nine0004
Mobile app development is a technology stack that runs on smartphones. As a beginner in app development, making chat apps is very common. This article discussed how to build text apps and the challenges you might face in the messaging platform tech stack.
Text messaging applications allow you to communicate with people all over the world. WhatsApp, Facebook messenger and Viber have taken over the Internet world. The use of text-based applications is attracting entrepreneurs and software companies. nine0004
Are you interested in developing messaging applications? If yes, then you have made the right decision.
If you look at the number of messages sent daily on WhatsApp or Facebook messenger, you will be amazed. If you can make a valuable innovation in the development of human messaging apps, you will break into the messaging app market.
You have a lot of interest in a coding app like WhatsApp or Snapchat, but there are many things you need to decide to follow their app development key. Let's say you're not a techie and don't know how to build chat apps. Then it would be helpful if you use multiple MVP chat apps to grow your network. These engines have various tools through which any user with a basic knowledge of the tech stack can easily understand the basics of developing messaging applications. For example, you get a built-in app development key, Facebook social authentication clone, and Facebook authentication SDK. You can also contact software vendors through it. nine0004
Here are your entrepreneurial skills and your ability to make a name for yourself in the messaging app market.
However, when you are building messaging applications, just knowing the Java programming language is not enough. You have to understand that people don't leave the chat app they trust. In particular, software providers such as WhatsApp, Facebook or Snapchat have billions of users. So you have to make sure that your apps offer competitive and secure messaging app features. This is necessary to be competitive, but make sure your application is bug-free. nine0004
You do not need to make a business program. Most companies that have their users' personal information and other secure data create their own chat apps to ensure that their data is not compromised.
Let's say you have an idea for a chat application and you want to build an application based on that idea. Then most likely your messaging software won't work. There are certain things that you must include in your application. You can scale your application and make it more efficient for your customers or employees.
Your best bet is to audit any well-known app like WhatsApp, Skype or Instagram and see its design features and areas where it lacks. Also, run a beta version of your app. nine0004
The following are some of the must-have messaging app features in your chat app to attract a user:
Developers use Apple push notifications or the Google Cloud Server messaging platform to perform the push notification function. Calculating the exact cost of the messenger is very difficult. Probably no one will tell you the exact cost of development. Development cost depends on many factors. But the main factor that affects the price is the features you want to add and the web server space you use. The development cost is also affected by the country in which you plan to launch your application. If you build a messaging app in Central Asia, the price will be much less than in Europe or North America. nine0004
This does not mean that you have to spend a lot of money to develop a messaging application or buy a server.
You can build a great chat app development team by hiring developers on an hourly basis. You can create an average chat app with all the features you need. However, if you want to have a place among tech giants like Snapchat and WhatsApp messaging apps, you need a big budget.
Building a platform like WhatsApp is not easy. You will run into certain issues even if you send and receive messages correctly.
Nowadays, people expect chat applications to immediately provide the features or functionality they need. Users cannot wait 15-20 seconds after pressing the video call feature. Similarly, if you're adding emoji to your messaging apps, make sure the user has one-tap access to them. Failure to perform real-time functions or even delay them can lead to the loss of users. nine0004
The following are some real-time features that need special attention in real-time chat applications.
We have taken WhatsApp as an example to give you a better understanding of app development.
WhatsApp recently introduced voice video calls that work incredibly well. If your calling service is poorly supported, you will probably not succeed in the messaging app market. nine0037 These are the features you should include in your chat applications, especially for social networks. We focused on WhatsApp features for the emerging tech stack due to its popularity among app users. nine0004
When choosing a tool stack, you need to be clear about what you are looking for. Clear thinking can be very intimidating because there are many variables that you need to consider in different applications.
Take your time when choosing tools because it directly affects the functionality of your platform and its security. One of the recommended features is to add two-factor authentication for logging into the app, just like in the Facebook social authentication app. nine0004
Keep the technology stack on the web server side in mind. The web server architecture plays a huge role in developing the scalability of your application. It would be helpful if you considered your web server architecture to work well from the first step of data entry to the last step of the database. Your database must scale correctly. You will most likely be scaling it horizontally. The development market provides you with several useful tools to help you scale your application database for messaging platforms. nine0004
To get a breakthrough in the market, you must have unique functionality that sets you apart from others.
WhatsApp didn't become popular overnight or overnight. It would be helpful if you give your users a reason to use your messaging app; otherwise why would they leave the main applications. You need to have interesting functionality in your app so that the user has a reason to use the app accordingly. When adding functionality while developing secure messaging applications, keep in mind that the application's feature must be unique and user-friendly. If you add new application functionality, your users won't be excited or productive when using it. They will probably leave the platform and you won't get the growth you want. nine0004
Text messaging and chat apps are two very different things. Messaging has gained popularity among app users with the advent of the Internet. Before that, people used instant messengers to communicate with each other. Because of this, people prefer to use an online application instead of messaging.
So, there must be some app features that messaging apps introduce to the app market. nine0004
Text messages also allow you to send international messages, but their packages are expensive. Each application requires an Internet connection. nine0037 
The security of a user's chat data is vital in a secure messaging application. The app user will trust you with their data. Directly on your device will be images, documents, contacts and personal information of another user. Most messaging apps around the world, such as WhatsApp, use blockchain technology to protect the data of users of their apps. Blockchain offers end-to-end encryption, which makes data very secure. Before practicing end-to-end data encryption of blockchain technology in the process of your application, you should check whether it is suitable for your business development model or not. Another example is Facebook; The Facebook Authentication SDK allows you to protect your information when you spontaneously log into the application. nine0004
Social messaging applications such as WhatsApp are used all over the world to communicate. If you can't compete with the tech giants, then you have nothing to worry about.
There are many opportunities in the app development market. You can make a significant breakthrough if you create your application and add unique functionality to it. You can also monetize your chat and create a chat based on your business needs. Some basic application features can be used in the design and development of applications so that people can easily use them. Make sure your messaging platform is secure and end-to-end encrypted on the web server side as you have your customers' private data. Add unique app features and make the messaging platform secure and you are likely to make room for your secure messaging apps in the market. nine0004
If you do not have knowledge of a programming language, the various software available for application development offer excellent user interfaces. This software has built-in tools that do not require only the Java programming language. You can use these tools to develop your messaging platform.
Just create a drag and drop messaging platform and eventually connect it to a web server to work properly. nine0004
No one will tell you the full cost of the messenger. But it would be better if you understand that the cost of an application depends on what application functionality you want to add to your application and the region in which you want to launch your application. These two factors will affect the overall cost of your messengers.
The process of developing an advanced programming language can be challenging but rewarding. The main difficulty in any development that you will feel is the creation of unique application functionality in your messaging platform. Secondly, you are competing with tech giants who offer messaging software or app features in milliseconds. Make sure your application can do the same.
Android has many famous text messaging apps like Facebook messenger, Instagram, Snapchat and WhatsApp messenger.
