# ClassMG Communication Server

This server enables real-time communication between multiple instances of the ClassMG application running on different devices. It provides a simple HTTP API for message passing, classroom management, and question handling.

## Prerequisites

- Node.js (v12 or higher)
- NPM (Node Package Manager)

## Installation

1. Install Node.js and NPM if you haven't already:
   - Download from [nodejs.org](https://nodejs.org/)

2. Clone or download this repository to your computer

3. Install dependencies:
   ```bash
   npm install
   ```

## Running the server

1. Start the server:
   ```bash
   npm start
   ```
   or
   ```bash
   node server.js
   ```

2. The server will start on port 5243. Make note of your computer's IP address, which will be displayed in the console output.

## Connecting ClassMG app to the server

1. Make sure all devices (server and app clients) are on the same network

2. Open the ClassMG project in DevEco Studio

3. Update the `CHANNEL_API_CONFIG.baseUrl` in `entry/src/main/ets/common/ClassRoomService.ets` to:
   ```
   http://<Your computer's IP address>:5243
   ```

4. Compile and run the ClassMG app on your devices

## Testing

1. Run the server on one computer
2. Run the ClassMG app on two different devices (or emulators)
3. Log in as a teacher on one device and create a class
4. Log in as a student on the other device and join the class using the class code
5. Test messaging, question publishing, and answering functionality

## Troubleshooting

- **Connection Issues**: Make sure all devices are on the same network and can reach the server's IP address
- **Port Conflicts**: If port 5243 is already in use, change the PORT variable in server.js and update the app accordingly
- **CORS Issues**: If experiencing cross-origin problems, verify the CORS middleware is correctly configured in server.js

## Note

This is a development server intended for local testing only. For production use, additional security measures would be required.