Fluxer — Open Source Self-Hosted Messaging and VoIP Platform

Introduction

Fluxer is an open-source instant messaging and VoIP platform designed for communities, teams, and friend groups who want full control over their communication infrastructure. It provides text channels, voice calls, and media sharing in a self-hosted package with a modern web interface.

What Fluxer Does

• Provides real-time text messaging with channels, threads, and direct messages
• Supports voice and video calls through built-in WebRTC integration
• Offers file and media sharing with configurable storage backends
• Enables community management with roles, permissions, and moderation tools
• Delivers push notifications across web, desktop, and mobile clients

Architecture Overview

Fluxer is built with TypeScript using a modern web stack. The backend handles real-time communication through WebSocket connections, with WebRTC for voice and video. Messages and user data are stored in a relational database. Media files go to configurable object storage (local filesystem or S3-compatible). The frontend is a single-page application that connects to the backend API and WebSocket server. Authentication supports local accounts and OAuth providers.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Deploy using Docker Compose with the provided configuration templates
• Requires a PostgreSQL database and Redis for session management and pub/sub
• Configure SMTP settings for email verification and password resets
• Set up S3-compatible storage (MinIO or AWS S3) for media file uploads
• Customize branding, registration policies, and rate limits through environment variables

Key Features

• End-to-end WebRTC voice and video without external service dependencies
• Rich text messaging with markdown, embeds, reactions, and file attachments
• Granular role-based access control for servers, channels, and features
• Mobile-responsive web client with progressive web app support
• Federation-ready architecture for connecting multiple Fluxer instances

Comparison with Similar Tools

• Discord — proprietary and cloud-only; Fluxer is open-source and fully self-hosted
• Rocket.Chat — mature but heavier; Fluxer offers a lighter, more modern experience
• Matrix / Element — federated protocol with steep learning curve; Fluxer is simpler to deploy
• Mattermost — enterprise-focused team chat; Fluxer targets communities and friend groups
• Revolt — similar open-source Discord alternative; Fluxer adds built-in VoIP from the start

FAQ

Q: Can I migrate from Discord to Fluxer? A: Community-built import tools can transfer channel history and user data. The migration path depends on your Discord export format.

Q: Does Fluxer support mobile apps? A: The web client works well on mobile browsers with PWA support. Native mobile apps are on the development roadmap.

Q: How many concurrent users can Fluxer handle? A: A single instance handles hundreds of concurrent users comfortably. For larger communities, horizontal scaling is possible by running multiple backend instances behind a load balancer.

Q: Is end-to-end encryption supported? A: Voice and video use encrypted WebRTC connections. End-to-end encryption for text messages is planned for a future release.

Sources

• https://github.com/fluxerapp/fluxer
• https://fluxer.app