Jannis Braun
6fb38d391c
Multi-pass mobile chat polish landed across this session. - MessageInput is now a floating glass-bubble (`position: absolute`) on both desktop and mobile — last messages scroll *behind* the translucent bubble. MobileChatScreen wraps MessageList + MessageInput in a `relative` parent so absolute positioning resolves. Removed the prior in-flow mobile branch that clipped message-list bottom against an invisible barrier. - iOS PWA keyboard handling: new `useVisualViewportInset` hook subscribes to `visualViewport.resize/scroll` AND polls `vv.height` for ~600ms after focusin (iOS PWA standalone often fails to dispatch resize for keyboard transitions). MobileShell sizes its container to `vv.height` when keyboard is open — `bottom: 0` on the composer naturally lands flush with the keyboard top, regardless of how reliably resize events fire. Composer uses 6px gap above home indicator (keyboard closed) and 0px gap above keyboard (keyboard open). Added `interactive-widget=resizes-content` viewport meta as the cleaner native equivalent for Chrome/Android. - MessageList bottom padding is dynamic via `--composer-clearance` CSS variable. MessageInput writes `composerHeight + bottomOffset + 12px` to its parent via ResizeObserver — re-fires on textarea autosize, reply banner, attachment tile growth, parent resize. Last message always has 12px breathing room above the bubble regardless of composer state. - AttachmentRenderer generic file chip: `max-w-full sm:max-w-[400px]` on outer + `min-w-0` + `flex-shrink-0` on icon + `flex-1` on text + `flex-wrap` on badge row. Long filenames now ellipsize cleanly on narrow viewports instead of pushing the chip off-screen. - New `useDragToClose` hook: shared bottom-sheet drag-down-to-dismiss gesture. Spread on handle/header only (body scrolling unaffected). 6px deadzone, 100px or 0.5px/ms velocity threshold, 200ms `cubic-bezier(0.22, 1, 0.36, 1)` close-out animation, rAF-staged transform for a stable from-value. `hasInteracted` latch prevents the open keyframe from re-firing mid-close (the bounce-up-then-vanish bug). Wired into InputPopover (emoji/GIF), MobileVoiceJoinSheet, MobileFolderSheet. Specs: docs/systems/mobile-ui.md (Floating Composer + Drag-to-Close sections), docs/systems/message-list.md (--composer-clearance), docs/systems/design-system.md (glass-bubble row references).
Backspace
Open-source, self-hosted Discord alternative built with TypeScript.
Features
- Real-time text messaging with WebSocket
- Servers, channels, and role-based permission management
- Voice and video chat via LiveKit
- Screen sharing with configurable quality (VP9)
- Direct messages (1-on-1 and group DMs up to 10)
- DM voice/video calls with ringing
- Friend system with requests
- File uploads and image sharing
- Markdown message formatting with syntax highlighting
- Message reactions, replies, and editing
- Typing indicators, presence status, and read states
- Invite system with shareable codes
- Instance-level admin panel (streaming limits)
- Desktop app (Electron)
- Mobile-responsive web UI
- Docker deployment
Tech Stack
| Layer | Technology |
|---|---|
| Backend | Fastify + TypeScript |
| Database | SQLite (better-sqlite3) + Drizzle ORM |
| Auth | JWT + bcrypt |
| Real-time | WebSocket (ws) |
| Frontend | React 18 + Tailwind CSS + Zustand |
| Voice/Video | LiveKit |
| Desktop | Electron |
| Build | Vite + pnpm workspaces |
Quick Start with Docker
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/your-username/backspace.git
cd backspace
# Create environment file
cp .env.example .env
# Generate a JWT secret
echo "JWT_SECRET=$(openssl rand -hex 32)" >> .env
# Start Backspace
docker compose up -d
Open http://localhost:3000 in your browser. A default server "Backspace" is created automatically.
Default admin account: admin / admin123 (change this after first login).
Development Setup
Prerequisites
- Node.js 20+
- pnpm 8+
Install
pnpm install
Configure
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env with your settings (generate a JWT_SECRET)
Run
# Start both server and web dev server
pnpm dev
# Or start individually
pnpm dev:server # API server on :3005
pnpm dev:web # Vite dev server on :5173
Build
pnpm build
This builds the shared types, server, and web frontend. The server serves the built frontend in production mode.
Project Structure
Backspace/
├── packages/
│ ├── shared/ # Shared TypeScript types & permissions
│ ├── server/ # Fastify API + WebSocket server
│ ├── web/ # React frontend (Vite + Tailwind)
│ └── desktop/ # Electron desktop app
├── data/ # SQLite DB + uploads (created at runtime)
├── Dockerfile
├── docker-compose.yml
└── .env.example
Voice & Video
Voice and video requires a LiveKit server. Set these in your .env:
LIVEKIT_URL=wss://your-livekit-server
LIVEKIT_API_KEY=your-api-key
LIVEKIT_API_SECRET=your-api-secret
Without LiveKit configured, text chat works fully but voice/video channels will not connect.
API
The server exposes a REST API and WebSocket endpoint:
- REST API:
http://localhost:3000/api/* - WebSocket:
ws://localhost:3000/ws - Health check:
GET /api/health
See CLAUDE.md for the full API reference.
Desktop App
The Electron desktop app wraps the web UI and adds system tray, notifications, and native window controls.
cd packages/desktop
pnpm build:ts # Compile TypeScript
pnpm dev # Run in development
pnpm build # Package for distribution
License
MIT