Lightsail Demo
A live chat room, collaborative drawing app, and multiplayer bird game created to explore the capabilities of AWS Lightsail.
About this project
Intent
In mid-2025, I first acquired an AWS Lightsail instance to explore projects that would require a server to function. I was interested in learning more about building server-client programs that used a back-end WebSocket connection, especially with an eye toward tools that enable interaction between multiple users.
The Apps
This project consists of three different apps that each contribute to the tools and processes for enabling server-client programs on an AWS Lightsail instance.
WebSocket Chat
A global chat room where all connected users can chat with one another. Messages sent by one user are automatically delivered to all connected users. A message-history database was intentionally left out, so users only receive chat messages that were sent after they connected.
WebSocket Draw
A global drawing application where all connected users can contribute to a shared canvas and download the resulting art. Similar to WebSocket Chat, a database was not used, and users only receive strokes made after they connected. This was to limit the staying power of any undesirable art from uncouth users.
WebSocket Game
A multiplayer game where users can play as birds roaming around their nest to collect worms for extra energy. This project was a more fun journey than the previous two, and it encouraged me to come up with resource-efficient methods for handling character movement across websocket connections.
Screenshots
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