🧠 Trivia Multi-Client System (v3.0.0)

📖 Overview

The Trivia Multi-Client System is a robust, multi-participant trivia game built on a custom client-server architecture. The system utilizes low-level socket programming for real-time network communication and features a multi-threaded C++ backend capable of efficiently handling concurrent client requests. The frontend is a rich Graphical User Interface (GUI) developed in C#.

Currently in Version 3.0.0, the project supports full user authentication, real-time multiplayer room management, and dynamic statistics tracking.

✨ Key Features (Up to v3.0.0)

• Multi-Threaded C++ Server: Engineered to support multiple concurrent users without bottlenecking, allocating independent threads for active client socket sessions.
• C# Graphical User Interface (GUI): A dynamic .NET client application featuring real-time auto-refresh mechanisms (via background threads) to update active rooms and player lists every 3 seconds.
• Custom Communication Protocol: Implements a strict binary-to-JSON protocol. Every message contains a 1-byte request code, a 4-byte message length header, and a serialized JSON payload.
• Advanced State Machine Architecture: Request handling is managed via a RequestHandlerFactory, smoothly transitioning users between states like LoginRequestHandler, MenuRequestHandler, RoomAdminRequestHandler, and RoomMemberRequestHandler.
• Secure Data Persistence: Integrates an SQLite database to securely store user credentials, trivia questions, and player statistics (average answer time, correct answers, total games).

🛠️ Technologies & Tools

• Backend Server: C++ (Sockets, Multi-threading, OOP, State Machine)
• Frontend Client: C# / .NET (WPF / WinForms)
• Database: SQLite3
• Data Formatting: JSON (Serialization/Deserialization)
• Version Control: Git & GitLab (Continuous feature branching, merging, and MR reviews)

🏗️ System Architecture Highlights

• Serialization & Deserialization: The JsonResponsePacketSerializer and JsonRequestPacketDeserializer classes strictly parse incoming raw byte streams from the socket into workable C++ structs, and vice versa for outgoing server responses.
• Manager Classes: The backend utilizes centralized managers (LoginManager, RoomManager, StatisticsManager) to interface securely with the database and maintain active memory states.
• Admin vs. Member Logic: Room interactions are strictly validated. Only Room Admins can close rooms or initiate a game, immediately broadcasting state changes to Room Members.

🚀 Getting Started

Prerequisites

To compile and run this project, you will need:

• A C++ compiler (GCC / MinGW / MSVC)
• SQLite3 installed and configured
• Visual Studio (for running the C# .NET Client)

Installation & Setup

1. Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/yoavlach/Trivia-Project
cd Trivia_Project

2. Compile and Run the Server (C++):

• Build the project using your preferred IDE or Makefile. Ensure the sqlite3 library is linked correctly.
• Run the compiled Server executable. It will listen on the designated port.

3. Launch the Client (C#):

• Create a project in Visual Studio.
• Run the application to connect to the server.

👥 Contributors

• Yoav Lach - Core Developer
• Yonatan - Core Developer