# Tinode — Self-Hosted Instant Messaging Platform

> Tinode is a self-hosted instant messaging server with support for group chats, file sharing, push notifications, and mobile and web clients.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# Tinode — Self-Hosted Instant Messaging Platform

## Quick Use
```bash
# Run Tinode server with MySQL backend via Docker Compose
git clone https://github.com/tinode/chat.git && cd chat/docker
docker compose up -d
# Web client available at http://localhost:6060
```

## Introduction
Tinode is an open-source instant messaging server and set of client libraries designed as a modern replacement for XMPP and similar protocols. It provides real-time messaging with features like group chats, read receipts, typing indicators, file attachments, and push notifications, all accessible through official web, Android, and iOS clients.

## What Tinode Does
- Provides one-on-one and group messaging with real-time delivery
- Supports file and image sharing with server-side thumbnail generation
- Sends push notifications via Firebase Cloud Messaging or TNPG
- Handles user authentication with built-in credentials or external providers
- Offers a gRPC-based plugin system for custom server-side logic

## Architecture Overview
The Tinode server is written in Go and communicates with clients over WebSocket or long polling using a JSON-based protocol. It supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or RethinkDB as the data store. The server manages topics (chat rooms), subscriptions, message routing, and presence tracking. Clients connect through a stateful session that handles authentication, message delivery, and real-time updates.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Deploy using Docker Compose with pre-configured database and server containers
- Choose between MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or RethinkDB as the storage backend
- Configure push notifications by providing Firebase credentials in tinode.conf
- Set up TLS by placing certificate files in the config directory
- Use the built-in admin panel or CLI tools to manage users and topics

## Key Features
- Official Android, iOS, and web clients with a consistent modern UI
- Plugin architecture via gRPC for custom chatbots and integrations
- Cluster mode with multiple server nodes behind a load balancer
- Video and voice call support through WebRTC integration
- User search, contact discovery, and tag-based topic browsing

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **Matrix/Synapse** — federated protocol with heavier resource usage; Tinode is simpler and lighter
- **Rocket.Chat** — feature-rich but resource-intensive; Tinode focuses on core messaging performance
- **Mattermost** — team collaboration oriented; Tinode targets general-purpose messaging
- **XMPP (ejabberd)** — mature but complex protocol; Tinode uses a simpler modern API
- **Signal Server** — privacy-focused but hard to self-host; Tinode is designed for easy deployment

## FAQ
**Q: Can Tinode federate with other Tinode servers?**
A: Not currently. Tinode is designed as a single-deployment messaging platform, not a federated protocol.

**Q: How many concurrent users can a single Tinode server handle?**
A: A single instance can handle thousands of concurrent connections. Cluster mode scales further.

**Q: Does Tinode support end-to-end encryption?**
A: Tinode provides TLS for transport encryption. Client-side E2E encryption is not built in but can be layered on top.

**Q: Can I build custom clients using the Tinode protocol?**
A: Yes. Client libraries are available for Go, Python, Java, Swift, and JavaScript with full protocol documentation.

## Sources
- https://github.com/tinode/chat
- https://tinode.co/

---
Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-0d8bad29
Author: Script Depot