# DCTS - Direct Communication Through Sockets
[Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/dcts/) •  [Discord](https://discord.gg/AYq8hbRHNR) • [Public Instance](https://chat.network-z.com/) • [Tutorial Playlist](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1RXJ-ykdgc&list=PL2xF-BCo1FWav36ktSvBG4nDsbhfLkFR-&index=1) • [Website](https://dcts.community/) • [Documentation](https://docs.dcts.community/) • [Desktop Client](https://desktop.dcts.community) • [Android app](https://android.dcts.community) • [Distribution](https://dist.dcts.community/)

[![ko-fi](https://ko-fi.com/img/githubbutton_sm.svg)](https://ko-fi.com/M4M719FPNG) 

DCTS was originally just a test about CSS and learning web sockets which was eventually turned into a serious project in 2023. Ever since then we ended up with a very broad and reusable software landscape that allows us to work efficiently and create new projects with ease, since we want to be as independent as possible and strive for long-term stability. All of these are open source and can be found [here](https://github.com/NETWORK-Z-Dev).

Our goal is not to be yet another discord alternative. We made DCTS with the intent to make a communication platform for the future, meaning it needs to be independent, reliable, self-hosted and easy to use and setup all while being completely free which is why we're also working on other projects, like [our gif](https://github.com/GiFz-Project/gifz) solution in response to the tenor api shutdown.

You can find more infos about us [here](https://docs.dcts.community/Lore/About%20DCTS)

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## Key Features

DCTS is not just a porject. Its  a vision about an independent, reliable, decentralized communication **platform**. Some of the features we are really proud of are:

- encrypted server direct messages (DMs),
- dedicated desktop client with enhanced client functionality,
- a **fully featured** mobile app (android and on google play!) with the same client enhancements,
- an **integrated, decentralized, self-hostable messenger** in the mobile app and desktop client,
- a pterodactyl egg for automated deploys and docker,
- working voice chat, including screensharing and camera support,
- our custom-made libraries to stay independent and develop new tools/project when needed,
- built-in plugin and theme system
- ... and more!

If you wanna learn more about DCTS, checkout [our website!](https://dcts.community/features.html).

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## Installing

A guide on how to setup DCTS manually or with Docker can be found online [here](https://docs.dcts.community/Getting%20started) or in the `/docs/` folder » `Getting started.md`.

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## Support the Project <3

To stay independent DCTS will only accept donations and no investors or alike. Unlike others we wont use any FOMO-like *(fear-of-missing-out)* tactics or artificial perks. If you donate, you're funding the communication of the future!

- [Donate via PayPal](https://www.paypal.me/devilsstore) / [Ko-fi](https://ko-fi.com/shydevil)

> [!TIP]
>
> You can also **support the project by** regularly **sharing it and letting** as many **people know**  as possible!

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## Tested Versions

### Bun:

- ✔️ 1.3.14
- ✔️ 1.3.11
- ✔️ 1.3.5

### Node:

- ✔️ v24.18.0
- ✔️ v24.11.1
- ✔️ v21.7.3
- ✔️ v20.19.2
- ✔️ v18.20.2
- ✔️ v16.16.0
- 🚫 v12.22.9

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## Screenshots (custom theme)

![image-20260529214146477](./assets/image-20260529214146477.png)

![image-20260529214529621](./assets/image-20260529214529621.png)

![image-20260218061015595](./assets/image-20260218061015595.png)