How to Build a Android Chat & Messaging App (Complete Guide)

Explore Android Chat API

Are you interested in building your messaging app for Android? Facing confusion with technical scenarios revolving around! No worries! I will get you everything you need—the coolest and simplest approach you ever need.

Here, I have a complete blueprint for you to build a chat app for Android devices with a detailed tutorial. So, with no delay, let’s have a walk-through of the entire development journey, starting from features to the tech stacks. Let’s explore!

Top 10 Key Features of an Android Chat Application 

If you have ever thought of doing market research, you can find many real-time chat apps with a list of various features, and of course, some of them may stand out too.

But, do you know that every Android messaging app system will have certain ground-level key features to build an app’s foundation? If not, let’s have a look and learn about some here

1. One-to-one Private Chat: It enables the user to get connected with another specific user instantly.
2. Group Chat: Get the user to create a private or public group of like-minded people worldwide to have a real-time conversation.
3. Video & Conferencing Calling: It allows the user to make peer-to-peer HD video calls across multiple platforms. In addition, users can also connect with up to 5 users at once via group or video conference calling and have uninterrupted interaction with crystal-clear quality.
4. Voice & Conferencing Calling: Users can make calls instantly and get connected with other users across the world. If needed, call voice conference calls and connect with multiple users at once.
5. Data Transfer: Let the user share their data, including voice/video files, documents, GIF files, images, etc., with another user, either privately or publicly.
6. Video/Voice Call Recording: Get the user to record each and every conversation that took place during the video/voice calling session. The user can later compose these recordings with the required edits and store them in the cloud for future reference.
7. Tabbed Text Messages: You can alter any number of chats; i.e., if needed, you can combine multiple text messages into a single one.
8. Animated GIF files: It allows you to have more interactive and meaningful conversations with an open option of reactions, emojis, and animated GIFs.
9. Language Translation: Let the user translate their conversation into any language of their choice within the chat screen.
10. Multiple-platform Calling: Users can make global calls across any platform, like iOS, Android apps, or web apps, at any time.

Now, after getting some idea about these key features, you have to decide the main thing of the entire process: whether you have to build your private chat app from scratch or want to make use of a ready-made chat SDK for Android, to make the process simple and easy.

 

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Planning to Build an Android Chat App – Make a Choice! “Readymade Vs Custom”

Whenever you are planning to create a chat app in android, the first and foremost question that crosses your mind could be the investment; the next would be the timeframe. Since both of these factors can affect any business, it’s better to have a clear idea about the approach: whether to go for ready-made chat APIs and SDKs or build something from scratch. For those considering an Android app builder, this decision is even more critical. Let’s do some research in detail for better understanding.

1. Ready-made APIs and SDKs

When it comes to ready-made APIs and SDKs, or, say, a white-label chat software, you can be very clear about having a quick market launch within your budget. Yes, these are the in-built features and functionalities that will work immediately once integrated into any third-party device.

But, still, if you look for a drawback, then each of these ready-made APIs can get you the functionalities of a specific feature alone, i.e., if you need another feature in the future, then you have to go for another API with that particular functionality. But, these solution providers do allow open hosting options, mostly for both your cloud and their cloud/premises, depending upon your business demands.

However, with custom solutions or when you have to build something from scratch, you have to do some pre-planning. Let’s have a brief look below.

2. Steps To Build a Custom Chat Platform

• Research your platform – Make a complete study on your required platform, whether it’s Android or iOS.
• Aim of your app – Who is the targeted audience? This information identifies the need for features that need to be installed in the application.
• Check for MVP (minimum viable product) –  Make a note of what these MVPs look like with features and more.
• Required timeframe to Build an application – This is the core step, as here you have to be clear with the idea of all your requirements, like the development team (in-house or remote), if so, the hiring process, whether there will be a support team within your reach, etc.

Now, after getting a brief idea about these ready-made solutions and building from scratch, let’s get into a more detailed study of how to create a chat application in Android using the modern programming languages of Kotlin or Java.

 

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Steps to Create An Android Chat App Using Kotlin Or Java

However, to understand the technical background of how this Android chat app’s development works, it’s highly essential to know what the steps involved are while planning to build an Android chat app.

Let’s look for a better understanding.

1. The core step is to open an Android studio. This is so that every programming language starts over with its technical foundation of platforms or studios.
2. It’s time to decide which programming language to use for your Android chat app development. Most often, Kotlin is considered over Java for its simple, user-friendly attributes with less need for coding.

Once the decision has been made, it’s time for the in-depth article. Yes! Here, I have divided the tutorial section into two parts.

The first part talks about the initializing and login stuff, where the display, selection, and creation of the channel are involved. The second part talks about the technical details of the features, codes, and more.

On the whole, both of these parts will cover the entire process of building an Android chat app. 

So, now that we have all these above details in mind, let’s get to know how it works with MirrorFly in a further detailed tutorial section.

How to Create an Android Chat App Using MirrorFly SDK!

Where app and web development move together to build a strong foundation in communication, MirrorFly too works with multiple collaborations of chat, voice, and video calling features that support building the best chat app for Android.

Since MirrorFly understands the needs of its clients, it has made a compatible platform available wherein its messaging APIs and SDKs can be easily integrated into any pre-built device, like iOS, Android, and web apps, with minimal effort.

In the same way, when it comes to the server end, MirrorFly mainly focuses on reliability within the application. Thus, it allows space for server setup-related documents with an easy download option from the control panel’s download section.

In the future, the initialization page will provide the chat SDK’s structure and installation procedure. After that, the implementation process is carried over.

So moving further, let’s have a walk-through with a detailed tutorial session that can help you build your own Android chat app.

Requirements to Build Chat Application Android

The minimum requirements you need for your Chat SDK for Android are as follows:

• Android Lollipop 5.0 (API Level 21)
• Java 7 or higher
• Gradle 4.1.0 or higher

SDK License Key

Authentication of the SDK is the core process of initialization, which MirrorFly performs at its server end using the License key. Moreover, you can make use of this license key in your dashboard while generating an account.

Everything is fine, but do keep in mind that these master API tokens can never be revoked or changed once the process is done.

MirrorFly Chat SDK Integration Into Your Android Chat App

The integration process is the basic one to start with but before that, you have to make sure that the SDKs have already been compiled into an AAR file or not. This is because, if you want to use the SDKs then the below AAR files need to be imported into the project. Although you need the support of Kotlin for messaging SDKs to proceed further in the project.

To get the License Key

Step 1: Contact us to get a MirrorFly User account.

Step 2: Log in to your Account

Step 3: Get the License key from the application Info’ section

Integrate the chat SDK

Step 1: Create a new project or Open an existing project in Android Studio

Step 2: If using Gradle 6.8 or higher, add the following code to your settings.gradle file. If using Gradle 6.7 or lower, add the following code to your root build.gradle file. See this release note to learn more about updates to Gradle.

Grade 6.8 or higher

dependencyResolutionManagement {
    repositories {
        mavenCentral()
        google()
        jcenter()
        maven {
            url "https://repo.mirrorfly.com/release"
        }
    }
}

Grade 6.7 or lower

allprojects {
    repositories {
        mavenCentral()
        google()
        jcenter()
        maven {
            url "https://repo.mirrorfly.com/release"
        }
    }
}

Step 3: Add the following dependencies in the app/build.gradle file.

dependencies {
   implementation 'com.mirrorfly.sdk:mirrorflysdk:7.6.4'
 }

Step 4: Add the below line in the gradle.properties file, to avoid imported library conflicts.

android.enableJetifier=true

Step 5: Open the AndroidManifest.xml and add below permissions.

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />

Initialize Chat SDK

To start using the SDK, there is a need for some basic requirements before proceeding with the initialization process. In your Application class, inside the onCreate() method use the below method from ChatManager to provide the necessary data.

Java

ChatManager.initializeSDK("LICENSE_KEY", (isSuccess, throwable, data) -> {
            if(isSuccess){
                Log.d("TAG", "initializeSDK success ");
            }else{
                Log.d("TAG", "initializeSDK failed with reason "+data.get("message"));
            }
        });

Kotlin

ChatManager.initializeSDK("LICENSE_KEY"){ isSuccess, _, data ->
            if (isSuccess) {
                Log.d("TAG", "initializeSDK success ")
            } else {
                Log.d("TAG", "initializeSDK failed with error message"+ data["message"])
            }
        }

These are the technical steps that are required to have a secure chat app.

Registration

The below method to register a user in sandbox Live mode based on setIsTrialLicenceKey provided.

Java

  FlyCore.registerUser(USER_IDENTIFIER, (isSuccess, throwable, data ) -> {
        if(isSuccess) {
            Boolean isNewUser = (Boolean) data.get("is_new_user");
            JSONObject responseObject = (JSONObject) data.get("data");
           // Get Username and password from the object
        } else {
           // Register user failed print throwable to find the exception details.
        }
   });

Kotlin

  FlyCore.registerUser(USER_IDENTIFIER) { isSuccess, throwable, data ->
        if(isSuccess) {
            val isNewUser = data["is_new_user"] as Boolean
            val responseObject = data.get("data") as JSONObject
            // Get Username and password from the object
        } else {
            // Register user failed print throwable to find the exception details.
        }
     }

Connect to the Chat Server

Once Registration was successful, ChatSDK automatically attempts to connect to the Chat Server and ChatSDK also observes the changes in the application lifecycle, and accordingly, it will try to connect and disconnect the Chat Server.

Observe Connection Events

Once the ChatConnectionListener has been set, you will be able to receive the connection status in the callback method as mentioned below.

Java

ChatManager.setConnectionListener(new ChatConnectionListener() {
    @Override
    public void onConnected() {
        // Write your success logic here to navigate Profile Page or
        // To Start your one-one chat with your friends
    }

    @Override
    public void onDisconnected() {
        // Connection disconnected
    }

    @Override
    public void onConnectionFailed(@NonNull FlyException e) {
        // Connection Not authorized or Unable to establish connection with server
    }

    @Override
    public void onReconnecting() {
        // Automatic reconnection enabled
    }
});

Kotlin

ChatManager.setConnectionListener(object : ChatConnectionListener {
    override fun onConnected() {
        // Write your success logic here to navigate Profile Page or
        // To Start your one-one chat with your friends
    }

    override fun onDisconnected() {
        // Connection disconnected
    }

    override fun onConnectionFailed(e: FlyException) {
        // Connection Not authorized or Unable to establish connection with server
    }

    override fun onReconnecting() {
        // Automatic reconnection enabled
    }
})

Send a One-to-One Message

Use the below method to send a text message to other users,

Java

TextMessage textMessage = new TextMessage();
textMessage.setToId(TO_JID);
textMessage.setMessageText(TEXT);

FlyMessenger.sendTextMessage(textMessage, (isSuccess, error, chatMessage) -> {
    if (isSuccess) {
        // you will get the message sent success response
    }
});

Kotlin

val textMessage = TextMessage().apply {
    toId = TO_JID
    messageText = TEXT
}

FlyMessenger.sendTextMessage(textMessage, object : SendMessageCallback {
    override fun onResponse(isSuccess: Boolean, error: Throwable?, chatMessage: ChatMessage?) {
        if (isSuccess) {
            // you will get the message sent success response
        }
    }
})

Receive a One-to-One Message

You need to initialize the observer MessageEventsListener to receive any message and observe all the incoming messages sent to you.

Java

  ChatEventsManager.setupMessageEventListener(new MessageEventsListener() {
            @Override
            public void onMessageReceived(@NotNull ChatMessage message) {
              //called when the new message is received
            }

        });

Kotlin

 ChatEventsManager.setupMessageEventListener(object : MessageEventsListener {
      override fun onMessageReceived(message: ChatMessage) {
            //called when the new message is received
      }
    })

Moreover, here the listeners would be called only when a new message is received from other user. To get more details please visit this callback listeners

Java

   @Override
    public void onMessageReceived(@NonNull ChatMessage message) {
        super.onMessageReceived(message);
        // received message object
    }

Kotlin

 override fun onMessageReceived(message: ChatMessage) {
        super.onMessageReceived(message)
        // received message object
    }

Conclusion

Well, till now, we have discussed the technical part of building your best chat app for Android using modern tech stacks with the help of MirrorFly.

However, here we made a start with the basic steps of authentication, initialization, requirements, features, license key, and more, with MirrorFly for a better understanding of the process.

I hope you found this Android messaging app tutorial helpful, and don’t forget to check out our related official documents to explore further and learn more about the features and functionalities of your chat app.

If all these interest you in learning more, then stay tuned with us; we are in the process of giving more insights about how to create realtime chat application in android!

Thank you!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)