In simple English
This tool lets you chat with your team on a server that you control. It looks and acts like Slack or Discord. You can add extra mini-programs inside the chat to track tasks or play games. You keep all your messages private and safe from third-party companies. Running it requires a server and some technical setup time.
What it is
Tailchat is a self-hosted chat application built with TypeScript (a programming language that adds safety rules to JavaScript) and React (a library for building user interfaces). It uses a modular plugin system so you can add new features without breaking the core chat engine.
What it is good for
Solo builders and small teams who want a private chat space like Discord or Slack without paying monthly subscription fees or sharing their data with big companies.
- Runs entirely on your own server so you own all your chat data.
- Includes a plugin system to add extra apps and tools directly into your workspace.
- Supports private group spaces with role-based permissions and invite-only links.
- Requires manual server setup and Docker (a way to run a program inside its own sealed box, so it cannot break anything else on your server) knowledge.
- Microservice backend architecture needs more memory and resources than a single simple script.
- Third-party plugin interfaces may change as the project grows.
Slack or Discord
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docker run -d -p 11000:11000 moonrailgun/tailchat