feature: host-join mode, ngrok HTTPS tunnelling, and session UX improvements

README.MD

@@ -113,12 +113,58 @@ start server:
 python cmd_chat.py serve 0.0.0.0 3000 --password mysecret
 ```
 
+start server and join as host:
+
+```bash
+python cmd_chat.py serve 0.0.0.0 3000 --password mysecret --join alice
+```
+
 connect:
 
 ```bash
 python cmd_chat.py connect SERVER_IP 3000 username mysecret
 ```
 
+### ngrok (internet access)
+
+expose your server over the internet without port forwarding using [ngrok](https://ngrok.com):
+
+```bash
+python cmd_chat.py serve 0.0.0.0 3000 --password mysecret --ngrok
+```
+
+with a free ngrok account (removes session limits):
+
+```bash
+python cmd_chat.py serve 0.0.0.0 3000 --password mysecret --ngrok --ngrok-token YOUR_TOKEN
+```
+
+on startup a panel is printed with the public address and ready-to-run connect command, e.g.:
+
+```
+╭─────────────── Public Access ────────────────╮
+│ ngrok tunnel active (HTTPS)                  │
+│                                              │
+│ Address: https://abc1-2a04.ngrok-free.app:443│
+│                                              │
+│ Connect: python cmd_chat.py connect          │
+│   abc1-2a04.ngrok-free.app 443 <username>    │
+│   mysecret                                   │
+╰──────────────────────────────────────────────╯
+```
+
+remote participants connect via the ngrok address (TLS encrypted end-to-end):
+
+```bash
+python cmd_chat.py connect abc1-2a04.ngrok-free.app 443 username mysecret
+```
+
+to host and chat simultaneously over ngrok:
+
+```bash
+python cmd_chat.py serve 0.0.0.0 3000 --password mysecret --ngrok --join alice
+```
+
 ![Example](example.gif)
 
 ## features

cmd_chat.py

@@ -1,4 +1,12 @@
-from cmd_chat import main
+import sys
+import os
+
+_venv_dir = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)), "venv")
+_venv_python = os.path.join(_venv_dir, "bin", "python3")
+
+if os.path.exists(_venv_python) and os.path.realpath(sys.prefix) != os.path.realpath(_venv_dir):
+    os.execv(_venv_python, [_venv_python] + sys.argv)
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
+    from cmd_chat import main
     main()

cmd_chat/__init__.py

@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 import argparse
-from cmd_chat.server.server import run_server
-from cmd_chat.client.client import Client
+import getpass
+
+
+def _prompt(label: str, secret: bool = False) -> str:
+    while True:
+        value = (getpass.getpass(label) if secret else input(label)).strip()
+        if value:
+            return value
 
 
 def main():
@@ -10,24 +16,50 @@ def main():
     serve_p = subparsers.add_parser("serve", help="Run server")
     serve_p.add_argument("ip_address")
     serve_p.add_argument("port")
-    serve_p.add_argument("--password", "-p", required=True)
+    serve_p.add_argument("--password", "-p", default=None)
+    serve_p.add_argument("--join", "-j", nargs="?", const=True, default=False, metavar="USERNAME",
+                         help="Join chat as host (prompts for username if not given)")
+    serve_p.add_argument("--ngrok", action="store_true", help="Expose server via ngrok tunnel")
+    serve_p.add_argument("--ngrok-token", metavar="TOKEN", help="ngrok authtoken")
 
     connect_p = subparsers.add_parser("connect", help="Connect to server")
     connect_p.add_argument("ip_address")
     connect_p.add_argument("port")
-    connect_p.add_argument("username")
-    connect_p.add_argument("password")
+    connect_p.add_argument("username", nargs="?", default=None)
+    connect_p.add_argument("password", nargs="?", default=None)
 
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     if args.command == "serve":
-        run_server(host=args.ip_address, port=int(args.port), password=args.password)
+        password = args.password or _prompt("Password: ", secret=True)
+
+        if args.join is True:
+            join_as = _prompt("Your username: ")
+        elif args.join:
+            join_as = args.join
+        else:
+            join_as = None
+
+        from cmd_chat.server.server import run_server
+        run_server(
+            host=args.ip_address,
+            port=int(args.port),
+            password=password,
+            join_as=join_as,
+            ngrok=args.ngrok,
+            ngrok_token=args.ngrok_token,
+        )
+
     elif args.command == "connect":
+        username = args.username or _prompt("Username: ")
+        password = args.password or _prompt("Password: ", secret=True)
+
+        from cmd_chat.client.client import Client
         Client(
             server=args.ip_address,
             port=int(args.port),
-            username=args.username,
-            password=args.password,
+            username=username,
+            password=password,
         ).run()