Stoat

Stoat is an open-source chat and community platform (formerly known as Revolt) that provides text channels, direct messages, role/permission controls, moderation tools, and rich media support. The project is implemented as a modular Rust backend with companion services and a web-native client, designed for self-hosting and community-focused deployments.

Key Features

• Modular Rust-based backend split into multiple crates (REST API, WebSocket events, file server, proxy, daemons) for separation of responsibilities and scalability.
• Deployable with Docker Compose and Nix; includes Dockerfile and compose examples for local and production deployment environments.
• Integrates common infra components documented in the repo: MongoDB for primary storage, Redis for transient/cache needs, MinIO (S3-compatible) for file storage, and RabbitMQ for messaging/queues.
• Provides WebSocket and REST APIs, presence and event servers, a file server with S3-compatible storage handling, and Tenor proxy support for GIFs.
• Web and desktop clients are supported; the repository and docs reference a web client workflow (build with Node/Yarn tooling) and platform downloads.
• Fine-grained permissions, moderation and bot support aimed at community management; emphasis on privacy and GDPR-aligned practices.

Use Cases

• Host community servers for gaming, hobby, or interest groups requiring channel-based chat and moderation tools.
• Private team or organization chat deployments with self-hosted infrastructure and custom integrations.
• Custom deployments that need S3-compatible file storage, event-driven messaging, and WebSocket-based real-time updates.

Limitations and Considerations

• Real-time voice/video features have historically been limited or under active development; audio/voice support may be experimental or staged and can require additional infrastructure (example configs reference LiveKit).
• Federation with external networks is not implemented by default and has been indicated as low priority; cross-server federation is not a built-in feature.
• Self-hosting requires multiple supporting services (MongoDB, Redis, MinIO, RabbitMQ) and moderate operational knowledge; resource and orchestration planning is necessary for larger deployments.

Stoat is a production-focused, open-source alternative to proprietary chat platforms, built primarily in Rust with container-first deployment patterns. It targets communities and teams that want control over their data and infrastructure while providing modern chat features.