Spacebar
Discord-compatible self-hosted chat with voice and video

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.
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TypeScript
WebRTC
Node.js