instant messaging

XMPP is an open, federated chat protocol: anyone can run a server, and people on different servers can talk to each other, much like email. These guides show how to run your own XMPP server with Prosody, add audio and video calls, choose apps for each platform, and understand the terms used along the way. One guide also compares XMPP with Matrix, Signal and WhatsApp, so you can decide whether running your own chat server is worth it for you.

Configuring a modern XMPP server with Prosody
Install Prosody 13 on Debian with DNS, Let's Encrypt, group chats, file sharing, push and invite-only sign-up, then check it with prosodyctl.
read the guide
Picking and setting up modern XMPP clients
Which XMPP app to use on Android, iPhone, Windows, macOS, Linux and the terminal, checked for recent releases, OMEMO and calls, plus account setup.
read the guide
A beginner's guide to XMPP speak
Plain definitions of the XMPP words you meet when setting up chat: JID, roster, presence, MUC, XEP, OMEMO, MAM, carbons, push, Jingle, components and gateways.
read the guide
Server support for audio and video calls with Prosody and coturn
Add reliable XMPP audio and video calls to Prosody 13: install coturn, share a secret with mod_turn_external, forward the right ports and test with prosodyctl.
read the guide
Have you considered the alternative? Federated chat compared with WhatsApp and Signal
WhatsApp, Signal, Matrix and XMPP compared on federation, self-hosting, metadata and encryption, and when running your own chat server isn't worth it.
read the guide

Configuring a modern XMPP server with Prosody

Picking and setting up modern XMPP clients

A beginner's guide to XMPP speak

Server support for audio and video calls with Prosody and coturn

Have you considered the alternative? Federated chat compared with WhatsApp and Signal