HAI Messenger

What it is for

A free, self-hosted messenger with encrypted real-time chat, media sharing, voice notes, in-chat games, groups, and ephemeral Nearby conversations.

Everyday messaging should not require advertising profiles or surrender of conversation content. HAI explores a privacy-first communication stack that can be hosted and operated independently.

Keep a conversation going

Use live direct messages with presence, typing state, and read updates.

Share more than text

Exchange supported media and voice notes, or start an in-chat game.

Use the app on your device

Open the responsive web client or install the PWA where supported.

Try this project

This is the professional showcase. Visit my playground on myhai.org to try the live app, find downloads, or explore the project.

Features and workflow

Encrypted direct messages

Hybrid RSA-OAEP and AES-256-GCM envelopes keep message bodies as ciphertext while passing through the server.

Real-time communication

Socket.IO delivers messages, typing state, presence, read state, and live interaction updates.

Media and voice

Send photos, documents, voice notes, camera captures, and view-once media.

In-chat games

Invite the active contact into Tic Tac Toe, Connect Four, Hangman, trivia, and other live games.

Nearby chat

Enter an anonymous, time-limited conversation mode without adding the other person as a contact.

Installable experience

Use the responsive web client as an installable PWA on desktop or mobile.

1. Create and verify an account, then sign in.
2. Add a contact, join a group, or enter Nearby mode.
3. The browser encrypts supported direct-message content for the recipient.
4. The server relays real-time ciphertext and short-lived interaction events.
5. The recipient decrypts the content in their authenticated browser session.

Architecture

Express serves the web application and account APIs, Socket.IO handles live events, PostgreSQL stores durable account and message records, and Redis supports ephemeral coordination. Docker Compose runs the supporting services, while Cloudflare Tunnel provides public HTTPS without opening inbound ports.

Privacy and limitations

Direct messages use browser-side hybrid encryption, but transport and application metadata still exist and group behavior has different trust boundaries. HAI is a personal open-source project, not an independently audited high-risk communications product.

Status

Live and actively developed. Core messaging, groups, media, games, Nearby, and PWA installation are available; security-sensitive use should account for the project status and documented boundaries.

Availability

Live web app

Cost

Free

Ads

None

Hosting

Self-hosted

Gallery

Questions