hack.chat

What it does

Accounts

The service is accountless.checked 5 Oct 2026

Chat channels

websitechecked 20 Sep 2026

Code formatting

The client includes code syntax highlighting provided by highlight.js.checked 5 Oct 2026

Community clients

The linked software list includes browser extensions, desktop and terminal clients, Android apps, and libraries.checked 12 Oct 2026

Deployment

The deployment guide recommends a web server such as Nginx or Apache for serving the client.checked 5 Oct 2026

Development

The server includes new commands and hot-reload support for commands and the protocol.checked 12 Oct 2026

Extensibility

The project says the server has new commands and hot-reload for commands and protocol.checked 5 Oct 2026

Installation

The developer installation instructions clone the repository, install dependencies with npm, and launch with npm start.checked 12 Oct 2026

Installation requirements

The project lists Node.js v16.14.0 or higher and npm 8.5.4 or higher as prerequisites.checked 12 Oct 2026

Integrations

The current client names KaTeX and highlight.js as included rendering and syntax-highlighting components.checked 12 Oct 2026

LaTeX

The client includes LaTeX rendering provided by KaTeX.checked 5 Oct 2026

Message retention

The service is described as logless, with disappearing chat.checked 5 Oct 2026

Open source

The project is licensed under the MIT License.checked 5 Oct 2026

Open source license

The project is licensed under the MIT License.checked 12 Oct 2026

Purpose

hack.chat is a minimal, distraction-free, accountless, logless, disappearing chat service.checked 12 Oct 2026

Rendering

The client includes LaTeX rendering provided by KaTeX and code syntax highlighting provided by highlight.js.checked 12 Oct 2026

Self-hosting

The service is designed to be deployable as your own service.checked 12 Oct 2026

Server requirements

The repository lists Node.js v16.14.0 or higher and npm 8.5.4 or higher as prerequisites.checked 5 Oct 2026

Support and documentation

The repository links to documentation and deployment instructions; it does not state a support service or response time.checked 12 Oct 2026

Third-party software

The project links to a community-maintained list of bots, clients, Docker containers, and other software for hack.chat.checked 12 Oct 2026

TLS limitation

The deployment guide says TLS is not natively supported by the hack.chat server software and recommends a reverse proxy for SSL.checked 5 Oct 2026