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Building a Modern Video Call Application: React, Go, WebRTC, and Redis

Published September 17, 2025

Video calling has become an essential part of modern communication. In this comprehensive guide, we'll build a full-featured video call application similar to Google Meet, using modern web technologies. Our application will feature real-time peer-to-peer communication, signaling server coordination, and a polished user interface.

Technology Stack

  • Frontend: React 18 with TypeScript, Tailwind CSS
  • Backend: Go with Gorilla WebSocket and Mux router
  • Database: Redis for real-time data and pub/sub messaging
  • WebRTC: For peer-to-peer audio/video communication
  • Containerization: Docker and Docker Compose

Architecture Overview

Our video call application follows a signaling server architecture:

  1. Frontend (React): Handles user interface and WebRTC peer connections
  2. Signaling Server (Go): Manages room creation, user coordination, and message relay
  3. Redis: Provides real-time messaging and session management
  4. WebRTC: Establishes direct peer-to-peer connections for media streaming
┌─────────────┐    WebSocket     ┌─────────────────┐    Redis     ┌─────────┐
│   React     │◄────────────────►│   Go Server     │◄────────────►│ Redis   │
│   Frontend  │                  │   (Signaling)   │              │ Pub/Sub │
└─────────────┘                  └─────────────────┘              └─────────┘
       ▲
       │
       │ WebRTC P2P
       ▼
┌─────────────┐
│   React     │
│   Frontend  │
│   (Peer)    │
└─────────────┘

Step 1: Setting Up the Development Environment

Prerequisites

First, ensure you have the following installed:

  • Node.js (18+ recommended)
  • Go (1.21+)
  • Docker and Docker Compose

Project Structure

Create the following directory structure:

video-call-app/
├── frontend/          # React TypeScript application
├── backend/           # Go signaling server
├── docker-compose.yml # Container orchestration
└── README.md

Step 2: Backend Implementation (Go Signaling Server)

Setting Up the Go Module

Create the backend directory and initialize a Go module:

mkdir backend && cd backend
go mod init video-call-backend

Main Server Setup

The main server file sets up our HTTP server with WebSocket and REST endpoints. See the complete main.go implementation

WebSocket Handlers

The heart of our signaling server handles WebSocket connections and message routing. View the WebSocket handler code

Redis Integration

Add Redis support for scalability and persistence. See Redis integration code

Step 3: Frontend Implementation (React)

Setting Up React Application

Create a new React TypeScript application:

npx create-react-app frontend --template typescript
cd frontend
npm install @radix-ui/react-avatar @radix-ui/react-slot class-variance-authority clsx lucide-react tailwind-merge tailwindcss-animate socket.io-client

WebRTC Service

This service handles all WebRTC logic including peer connections, signaling, and media streams. View the complete WebRTC service

Main App Component

The main App component manages routing between the home page and video call room. See App component code

Home Page Component

The home page provides room creation and joining functionality. View HomePage component

Step 4: Docker Configuration

Docker Compose Setup

Set up the complete application stack with Docker Compose. View docker-compose.yml

Backend Dockerfile

Multi-stage Docker build for the Go backend. See Dockerfile

Step 5: Running the Application

Development Setup

  1. Start Redis: docker-compose up redis -d
  2. Start Backend: Navigate to backend directory and run go run .
  3. Start Frontend: Navigate to frontend directory and run npm start

Production Deployment

For production deployment:

  1. Full Stack with Docker: docker-compose up --build
  2. Environment Variables:
    • Set appropriate CORS origins
    • Configure STUN/TURN servers for NAT traversal
    • Use HTTPS certificates for WebRTC

Key Features Implemented

1. Real-time Signaling

  • WebSocket-based communication between peers
  • Message routing for offers, answers, and ICE candidates
  • Room management and user coordination

2. WebRTC Peer-to-Peer Communication

  • Direct audio/video streaming between clients
  • ICE candidate exchange for NAT traversal
  • Connection state monitoring

3. Modern UI/UX

  • Google Meet-inspired interface
  • Responsive design with Tailwind CSS
  • Real-time participant management

4. Scalable Backend

  • Go-based signaling server
  • Redis integration for session management
  • RESTful API for room operations

Security Considerations

1. WebRTC Security

  • Peer-to-peer connections encrypt media streams automatically
  • DTLS encryption for data channels
  • SRTP for media encryption

2. Authentication

  • Implement proper user authentication
  • Room access controls and permissions
  • Rate limiting for API endpoints

3. Production Requirements

  • HTTPS required for getUserMedia API
  • STUN/TURN servers for production NAT traversal
  • Secure WebSocket connections (WSS)

Troubleshooting Common Issues

1. getUserMedia Errors

Ensure HTTPS or localhost for development:

// Ensure HTTPS or localhost for development
if (location.protocol !== 'https:' && location.hostname !== 'localhost') {
  console.error('WebRTC requires HTTPS in production');
}

2. Connection Issues

  • Check firewall settings for WebRTC ports
  • Verify STUN/TURN server accessibility
  • Monitor browser console for WebRTC errors

3. Performance Optimization

  • Implement adaptive bitrate for different network conditions
  • Add connection quality monitoring
  • Optimize video resolution based on available bandwidth

Conclusion

This comprehensive guide demonstrates how to build a modern video calling application using WebRTC, React, and Go. The architecture provides:

  • Scalability: Redis-backed signaling server
  • Real-time Communication: WebRTC peer-to-peer connections
  • Modern UI: React with TypeScript and Tailwind CSS
  • Production-Ready: Docker containerization and proper error handling

The application can be extended with additional features like screen sharing, chat messaging, recording capabilities, and advanced room management. The modular architecture makes it easy to add new functionality while maintaining code quality and performance.

For production deployment, consider implementing user authentication, room permissions, connection quality monitoring, and proper STUN/TURN server configuration for reliable connectivity across different network environments.