uxtirth420/Mern_ChatApp ? reverse-engineered prompt

Build me a simple chat app with a clean web interface, where people can sign up or log in, see a list of chats or users, and send messages back and forth in real time.

I want it to feel like a basic modern messaging app, with a simple layout, message history, and a clear way to start or open a conversation. Use a full stack setup so the front end and backend work together smoothly, and make sure messages are stored and loaded properly when I refresh the page.

Please set it up so it’s easy to run locally, and keep the code organized between the client and server parts. If anything is unclear, make sensible choices that fit a normal chat app, and look up current docs online if you need to.