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Running My Own XMPP Server

This guide meticulously details how to self-host a modern XMPP server using Prosody in Docker, enabling federated messaging with end-to-end encryption, file sharing, and voice calls. It appeals to Hacker News's ethos of digital self-ownership and privacy, offering a robust, decentralized alternative to mainstream messaging apps. The author presents a comprehensive, step-by-step walkthrough, proving XMPP's viability for a personal, private communication hub.

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First Seen
Feb 16, 2:00 PM
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Feb 16, 10:00 PM
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The Lowdown

The author, Danny, outlines his journey into digital self-ownership by detailing the setup of a personal XMPP server. Driven by a desire for a federated, open-source alternative to services like Signal, he provides a comprehensive guide to deploying Prosody in Docker, ensuring robust features like end-to-end encryption, file sharing, and voice/video calls.

  • The motivation stems from a 'privacy reboot,' seeking to move beyond single-vendor messaging solutions like Signal.
  • XMPP is chosen for its federated nature, preventing vendor lock-in and allowing message ownership on personal hardware.
  • The guide covers prerequisites including a server with Docker, a controlled domain, and TLS certificates (using Let's Encrypt).
  • Detailed steps for configuring DNS SRV records for client and server connections, plus CNAME/A records for HTTP file uploads and group chats.
  • Instructions for obtaining and renewing TLS certificates with Certbot and the Cloudflare DNS challenge.
  • A docker-compose.yml setup for Prosody, exposing necessary ports and mounting volumes for data, config, and certificates.
  • Key Prosody modules are highlighted for a modern mobile experience, including carbons (multi-device sync), smacks (reliable delivery), cloud_notify (push notifications), and mam (message archive management).
  • Security configurations include requiring encryption for all connections, secure server-to-server authentication, and manual user registration.
  • OMEMO end-to-end encryption is discussed as a client-side feature, building on Signal's encryption, providing strong privacy even from the server operator.
  • Configuration for message archiving (1 year default) and HTTP file uploads (via a reverse proxy like Caddy) is provided, along with multi-user chat (MUC) components.
  • Instructions for creating user accounts via prosodyctl and configuring firewall rules (UFW) for XMPP and HTTP.
  • A crucial section details enabling voice and video calls using a coturn STUN/TURN server, including its Docker setup, shared secret configuration with Prosody, and necessary firewall rules.
  • Recommended XMPP clients for various platforms include Monal (iOS/macOS), Conversations (Android), and Gajim (Linux/Windows), all supporting modern features.
  • Verification steps involve using Prosody's built-in prosodyctl check and the XMPP Compliance Tester to ensure proper setup.

The author concludes that this comprehensive setup, though a 'good weekend project,' provides a powerful, self-owned communication platform. It serves as a valuable fallback to mainstream services, reinforcing the principles of digital independence by allowing messaging with anyone on any XMPP server.