Spacebar

Spacebar is a free and open source communication platform that reimplements Discord’s core user experience as a self-hostable, full-stack system. It aims for compatibility with Discord clients and bots while providing control over configuration, theming, and deployment.

Key Features

• Discord-compatible API behavior to reuse many existing clients and bots with minimal changes
• Real-time text chat with gateway-style events
• Voice and video calling via WebRTC
• Built-in content delivery (CDN-style) for media and attachments
• Admin dashboard and configurable limits for communities and deployments
• Theme system and design customization
• Plugin/extension approach for adding functionality
• Decentralization-oriented design goals to reduce single points of failure

Use Cases

• Host a Discord-like community server for a company, school, or gaming group
• Run a private collaboration chat with full control over data retention and policies
• Provide a compatible backend for custom clients, integrations, or bots

Limitations and Considerations

• Compatibility with all Discord features and third-party clients/bots may vary due to ongoing reimplementation work

Spacebar is a strong option for teams and communities that want a familiar Discord-style experience while retaining control over hosting, customization, and platform behavior. It is especially appealing when Discord API compatibility and real-time communication features are key requirements.