Deploy your XMPP server and Kaiwa client on DigitalOcean
Inspired by the best and built for XMPP, Kaiwa is a beautiful web-based client for the only standardized chat protocol.
Combined with Prosody, one of the best XMPP servers out there, Kaiwa provides an unparalleled XMPP experience, on par with well-known commercial alternatives.
What is this?
Deploy a ready-to-use XMPP server with Kaiwa. This will create a Droplet on your own DigitalOcean account with Prosody, LDAP and Kaiwa installed and configured according to the details you provide in the form.
You can also do it yourself by following instructions in the README
Is this secure?
Very! The code for this tool is available on Github and everything is done from the browser so you can be sure we don’t do anything weird.
On top of that, the Docker images are pulled from the Docker Registry and are all trusted builds.
What happens next?
The created droplet belongs to you and you can use it as you want (to install other services for example). Because we use Docker images, you can very easily manage or customize the services on the server.
Everything you expect from a chat application
Create rooms to chat on a defined topic. Rooms are automatically created as permanent.
Users can chat privately between them and manage their own contact list.
Using Message Archive Management (XEP-0313), your conversations will be archived on the server.
When using LDAP, manage your users directly through Kaiwa. Users can update their own information.
Use any XMPP clients to connect to a well-tuned Prosody server. Check out our recommended list of clients.
Using Message Carbons (XEP-0280) all of your active conversations will be synced to your Kaiwa client.
Support for user avatars across rooms and private conversations.
Sound and desktop notifications are provided out of the box
Support for user mentions using @username as well as mentioning everybody using @all.
Images, videos and sounds from many websites (like Youtube, Imgur, ...) will be embedded in the chat.
Send confirmation and auto-reconnection using Stream Management (XEP-0198).
Debunking some XMPP myths
XMPP has come a long way in the last few years and is catching up with more recent commercial offerings. Some of the most common grievances against XMPP have been solved through extensions to the protocol called XEPs. Unfortunately, most clients do not support the most recent updates. Kaiwa implements them to offer you the same experience you got accustomed to using closed systems.
A complete package to setup your own private chat system
We provide Docker images to deploy all the needed services in a matter of minutes. Use our online deployment tool to setup a DigitalOcean droplet or follow the instructions in the README to install it on your own server.
Compatible with the latest XMPP specs and backed by PostgreSQL.
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Manage users through LDAP which is compatible with many other services
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Our beautiful web client for XMPP. Works best with Prosody.
Each Docker image is customizable and you can replace any component by your own. For example, it’s trivial to use your already installed OpenLDAP and/or PostgreSQL instances.
Recommended non-web XMPP clients
Using our setup, you’ll get a well-tuned and up-to-date Prosody instance implementing the latest XMPP specs. Not all clients have implemented them so we made a selection for you:
Conversations for Android
If you're an Android user, you're in luck! Conversations is a great Open Source client with support for many XMPP features, notably chat syncing.
Monal for iOS
Unfortunately, the XMPP landscape on iOS is pretty bad. Monal is the only client still maintained and usable although it's still lacking. No support for chat syncing or message history.
Gajim for Linux & Windows
A full-featured XMPP client which implements the latest specs.
Adium for Mac OS
Built using the same core as Pidgin, it is its native Mac OS counterpart.