Teamspeak still requires a license above a small user size, but has multiple clients that can accomodate different target audicences. The TS3 client still looks like it did back in the windows 7 days and the TS5 client is just copying discords homework (Not a clue what happend to 4 and I believe 6 is under development). Both use the same server backend and database structure so both work with one server and different user expirences.

Mumble is still the gold standard for handling large user bases (there is a reason big EvE Online alliances use mumble). It will take longer to set up, the configuration is handled by the server, not through authorized user accounts like TS.

Honestly the name choice adds difficulty in getting friends to take it seriously. Why did they pick “stoat”

Just a fair warning in reply to this that the self-hosted version of Stoat doesn’t currently have voice chat. It’s an open issue that’s currently paused until they can finish their rework.

If you have the skill for it, it seems like you can patch work the existing voice chat back in, but it’s not part of their initial setup and there’s no instructions on how to do so properly

Where is the documentation for self-hosting it?

Is there a significant benefit over matrix?

has anyone tried their iOS client? from their description it seems like it’s less mature than the android version, kinda concerning as my friend group has some iphone users.

Wait, requiring a face scan of everyone?? I know they started doing that as an age verification thing for some people, but everyone?

To create an invite you:

# drop into mongo shell
docker compose exec database mongosh

# create the invite
use revolt
db.invites.insertOne({ _id: "enter_an_invite_code_here" })

That’s pretty jank.

Also - I’m getting pretty fed-up with self-hosting documentation that assumes very specific environments and goes into detailed configuration for that environment. Don’t tell me how to setup a server and how to enable/configure SSH and setup UFW as part of setting up your software. Just tell me how to setup your software and what ports it uses.

Bummer that it doesn’t have voice chat yet in the self hosted version. Hopefully soon - I would probably switch if they had that.

As an archivist and data hoarder I hate discord with a burning, visceral passion.

Is it worth preserving though?

Jitsi is great as a Skype/Zoom replacement. It’s not a ‘room’ on a server, but voice and video chats are stable and fast.

Not a bad recommendation, but I disagree.

Rocket chat is just as heavy (in fact, it federates to Matrix), uses MongoDB, and has steadily pulled features behind a paywall for years. To me, if I’m hosting the service on my own machines and I’m not using their live support, the idea of paying for the privilege of using it is absurd.

Matrix has come a long way, including integrated voice and video chats.

Matrix is pretty lightweight if you use something like Conduit or its spinoffs for a homeserver instead of Synapse, which is very heavy.

Can confirm, I host Matrix (homeserver synapse) and Element. Voice is a pain to get set up but I hear there are other matrix services which will do this for you easier. It’s a process though. You can get text chat up in a day, voice is going to be a bit after that, a lot of tinkering.

Ventrillo.

Dammit, son, makin’ me feel old now

What’s that you say? IRC?

Yeah, we’re using Conversations and it’s fine for most things.

Will be self hosting prosidy “sooon”… and it’ll all be in-house.

Zulip is great… on a PC. On mobile is a totally different thing, and not in a good way. 😕

It’s a shame, zulip doesn’t have e2ee. not even DMs. but they seem to be working towards federation of some sort? there are no good/perfect solutions out there.

Dont knock matrix for being slow, it updates just as fast as anyone else’s network speed is and it is focused on encryption and security. Given [gestures broadly to everything these days] people moving away from major platforms should really take into account their digital footprint and privacy.

could you recommend a good xmpp setup? i heard good things about snikket, maybe something else too?

may i ask which homeserver and client you use? it seems like synapse and element is not the best choice especially for small number of people.

You se knowledgeable on this, so I hope you’ll allow me to ask this.

I don’t know anything about Discord, but I selfhost the Mattermost chat system for my family. They, too, are narrowing the free tier.

Can Matrix replace Mattermost for a family? Several separate “rooms” for various topics, plus 1-to-1 chats.

E2EE group chats on matrix seems to be a huge problem still. I look forward to their MLS implementation. Hopefully that fixes a lot of these UX issues.

Element and Element Call, although no streaming audio support on the horizon anytime soon.

matrix-construct.github.io/tuwunel/…/docker.html?…

tuwunel seems to have some docker guides for how to set up voice & docker.

Setting up Element Call on my instance was difficult on its own, I understand why Synapse doesn’t come with it out of the box, essentially you spin up Matrix’s JWT service for authenticating clients and it if approved forwards the connection to the Livekit ports which must be opened on your firewall (ie port forwarded), otherwise people will not be able to connect to calls.

Big PIA and in my experience, on my home network, can conflict with games with VOIP chats.

Edit: I don’t suggest running Element Call standalone, it has issues of its own, once you get Livekit and JWT running and follow This guide you should have your element call running, pro-tip for those running synapse behind docker and get confused on the whole ./well-known part of the documentation you can edit your ./well-known in your homeserver.yaml file like such:

serve_server_wellknown: true

extra_well_known_client_content:
  option1: client
  "org.matrix.msc4143.rtc_foci": [
      {
          "type": "livekit",
          "livekit_service_url": "https://livekit-jwt.your.domain/"
      }
  ]