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Conduit

Conduit is a lightweight, self-contained Matrix server written in Rust for running your own chat backend with minimal setup and low system requirements.

  • Communication
  • Productivity
Conduit is a lightweight, self-contained Matrix server written in Rust for running your own chat backend with minimal setup and low system requirements. It runs as a single binary with an embedded database and is fully configurable through environment variables, implementing the Matrix protocol so it works with standard Matrix clients. As a beta project it supports joining and participating in most Matrix rooms, though some features are still being added and occasional bugs are possible. It's a good choice for homelab users who want a resource-friendly alternative to heavier Matrix server implementations.

Platform availability

Available on 2 of 9 platforms

  • Unraid
  • TrueNAS (not listed)
  • Umbrel (not listed)
  • ZimaOS (not listed)
  • Proxmox (not listed)
  • Helm
  • Mac (not listed)
  • Windows (not listed)
  • Linux (not listed)

Health score?A 0-100 score computed nightly from four factors: maintained (40%: recent commits and steady activity), popular (25%: GitHub stars, log scale), easy to install (20%: platforms, install notes, setup guides, Docker image) and light to run (15%: minimum RAM, ARM support). When the source code has been checked, a fifth factor, security check (20%: automated scan for committed secrets, unsafe desktop-app settings, known-vulnerable dependencies and project hygiene; any serious finding caps it at 20), is added. Factors without data are left out and the rest are rescaled.

75/100 Good

Maintained
100last commit 8 days ago
Popular
59924 GitHub stars
Easy to install
452 install platforms, install notes, Docker image
Light to run
No data

Based on 3 of 4 factors.

Availability: platform listings confirmed today, links checked 12 days ago

GitHub stars
924
Open issues
14
Last commit
2026-10-07
Latest release
v0.16.31
License
MIT
Activity
rising

Checked 7 days ago - source: GitHub (ConduitPlatform/Conduit)

Resources & Compatibility

ARM (e.g. Raspberry Pi) is supported.

Checked 17 days ago - source: Docker Hub image tags and published docs

First-install notes

  • Install, start, and enable Conduit Download the Conduit program to /usr/local/bin as matrix-conduit, give it permission to run, then start and enable the Conduit service on your Linux machine. This makes the homeserver run now and automatically after a reboot, instead of staying off when you restart. source
  • Get a certificate for your domain Use Certbot to create an SSL certificate (the key that proves your server is who it says it is) for your server name. Matrix clients need a trusted certificate to connect safely, or they may show warnings or refuse to connect. source
  • Use Docker Compose to start Conduit If you are using Docker (a way to run the app in a packaged container), save your compose and Conduit config files first, then run docker compose up -d to start Conduit in the background. This is what actually launches your homeserver; if you skip it, Matrix clients cannot reach it. source

Fetched 16 days ago - each note links to its source

Alternatives (12)

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  • Element - A secure collaboration app with end-to-end encryption and interoperability across web, desktop, and mobile.
  • Jitsi Meet - Jitsi Meet is an open-source, self-hosted video conferencing platform offering HD audio and video, screen sharing, in-meeting chat, and unl…
  • Matrix - Matrix is a free, open-source protocol and server for secure, decentralized real-time messaging.
  • Mumble - Mumble is an open-source, low-latency voice chat system for gaming groups and team communication.
  • Pidgin - Pidgin is a cross-platform chat program that lets you log into multiple messaging networks at once, such as XMPP (Extensible Messaging and…
  • Signal - Signal is a messaging app with privacy at its core.
  • Slack - Slack is a secure team messaging and collaboration platform, provided here as a Kasm container that gives you a private, dedicated workspac…
  • Stoat Chat - Instant messaging with text, voice, video calling, screen sharing, privacy controls, customizable permissions, moderation, bots, and open-s…
  • Telegram - Telegram is a cloud-based mobile and desktop messaging app.
  • Tox - With the rise of widespread government monitoring programs, Tox is an easy to use application that allows you to connect with friends and l…
  • WhatsApp - Free messaging without SMS fees, web sync, and multimedia sharing, supporting group and video chats, available on iPhone, Android, and desk…

Checked 14 days ago - source: AlternativeTo

Common questions

How do I back up Conduit data?

Stop Conduit, make a copy or file system snapshot of the database directory, then start Conduit again. With a file system snapshot, stopping the server is not required, but it is still recommended as the safest option.

Do I need a certificate for Matrix clients to connect?

Matrix clients need a trusted certificate to connect safely, or they may show warnings or refuse to connect. Use Certbot to create an SSL certificate for your server name.

How do I start Conduit with Docker Compose?

Save your compose and Conduit config files first, then run docker compose up -d to start it in the background. This is what actually launches the homeserver; if you skip it, Matrix clients cannot reach it.

Which database does Conduit use by default?

Conduit is a single binary with an embedded database. It uses RocksDB for the database by default.

Answers sourced from conduit.rs, famedly.gitlab.io, github.com, github.com

Community

Collected 16 days ago - public community threads