Thread

1. flymasterv · 1790614590 · focus · HN ↗

   I'm searching for a simple, self-hosted chat system that allows me to host unlimited bots and send messages (with notifications) to my iPhone easily.

   I currently have an XMPP server running, which is fine, I guess. I've looked into chatMail. I have considered hosting an IRC server.

   At this point, I'm considering just setting up my own NTFY server and writing a chat client for it.

   Does anyone have any ideas for what the lightest weight, simplest solution might be?

   1. mxuribe · 1790615136 · focus · HN ↗

      Curious, why the interest in building your own ntfy client (instead of using the one already built/available)?

      By the way, for years now, i have used a little python (cli) app to send messages into a private matrix room. This room has 2 people in it: me and a bot. (The bot is simply the matrix account that sends the messages.) I went this route because i did not want to install another app - such as ntfy - on my mobile simply to receive server notifications, etc. And, since i had ben on matrix already chatting with friends, it happened to be a low-effort approach. To clarify, i am no longer self-hosting my own synapse home server...so i'm simply piggybacking on the matrix.org one...but that has helped at least unify my notifications and comms to a good degree.

      Now, if you were to aske me to implement my "notifications system" via a different approach, funny enough, i would gauge between XMPP and ntfy to see which is lighterweight....because i believe them to both be quite light on the need for resources. I don't know which is lighter (sorry, i know i'm not answering your question). however, i *think* the ntfy server is less hasle....Only because xmpp takes a little more work to setup...at least that was my experience a couple of years ago. I cast no shade on either xmpp nor ntfy - because to me boh are awesome...i' m merely saying that resources needs aside, i wonder if ntfy might need less time from YOU.

      1. flymasterv · 1790621111 · focus · HN ↗

         I'd build my own NTFY client to enable two-way chat. It's not something I'm seriously considering, because it's obviously a bad idea, but that's about where I am.

         1. mxuribe · 1790636882 · focus · HN ↗

            Ah, ok, well, if that's a valid use-case for you, then i'd suggest you consider maybe a more conventional chat service - whether its matrix, xmpp, etc. - because i'll be honest, and with all due respect, if you're trying to get ntfy to be a 2 way chat, is that not sort of like trying to use a shoe as a hammer? I mean, it will work, but will it do so effectively enough for your needs?

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