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Ep. 294
Miaou is an open-source, multi-room persistent chat server designed for flexibility and community use, offering features typically found in enterprise software. It prioritizes security through OAuth 2 authentication, ensuring verified identities and preventing impersonation. Unlike standard messengers, Miaou provides a persistent and searchable chat history, treating every conversation as a permanent, accessible record vital for knowledge retention and data sovereignty. The platform enhances the conversation experience with rich markdown formatting, direct support for audio and video via WebRTC, and excellent handling of code snippets and tables. Its extensibility is a key feature, with functionalities like persistent notifications, GitHub hooks, and even embedded games delivered through a plugin architecture, allowing for significant customization. The tech stack is primarily JavaScript, running on Node.js with socket.io for real-time communication, utilizing PostgreSQL for long-term data storage and Redis as a high-speed cache. Passport.js handles secure authentication, and WebRTC enables peer-to-peer audio and video streams. The project has a healthy, active open-source community with a permissive MIT license, encouraging contributions through clear guidelines that emphasize discussing ideas first and thorough testing. Miaou aims to be a comprehensive hub where users own their communication data, making it a powerful tool for various communities and organizations seeking control and rich functionality in their communication platforms.