selfhost.directory

The index of self-hostable projects — ranked, categorized and served with live updates.
Own your data and stop giving it to big tech.

dcts-shipping logo

Self-host dcts-shipping

v1.3.3.4

Decentralized chat platform you run on your own server

ReleaseOpen SourceAGPL-3.0
Docker ComposeCompose file & guide
sudo docker compose up -d
Updated8 hours ago
LanguageJavaScript
Setup difficultyModerate
MobileNative app
Stars
640
CPU
At a minimum `sse4_2`, ideally `avx` and `avx2`; VPS must support `host` as cpu type
Ports
2052 (Chat web UI served by the app (Caddy example reverse-proxies 127.0.0.1:2052)), 5000 (First-run Setup Page / wizard), 80 (HTTP, handled inside the container (e.g. certificate setup)), 443 (HTTPS), 7880 (Voice/media server API (Caddy example reverse-proxies 127.0.0.1:7880)), 7881 (Voice/media server websocket), 7882 (Voice/media UDP traffic), 3478 (STUN/TURN (UDP)), 5349 (TURN over TLS (TCP))
Requires
MariaDB
Docker
ghcr.io/hackthedev/dcts-shipping
dcts-shipping screenshot 1dcts-shipping screenshot 2dcts-shipping screenshot 3

What is dcts-shipping?

DCTS is a free, open-source chat platform aimed at people who want an independent, decentralized way to communicate while running everything themselves. On a self-hosted server it offers encrypted direct messages, voice chat with screensharing and camera support, a built-in plugin and theme system, a web client, a dedicated desktop client and a fully featured Android app with an integrated messenger. Operators deploy it with Docker Compose using the published ghcr.io image; starred requirements such as the database, reverse proxy and TLS certificates are handled automatically inside the default container. On first run the server prints a setup-wizard URL (http://localhost:5000/wizard/) to the logs, and the first registered account is a normal member whose Administrator role must be claimed with a Server Admin Token shown in the console. Public access expects a domain with at least two subdomains, and the project is funded purely by donations.

Should you self-host dcts-shipping?

dcts-shipping scores 50/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #27 of 33 in Communication. It has 640 GitHub stars.

It shipped 14 stable releases in the past year. The latest, v1.3.3.4, came out on 11 October 2026. New versions land roughly every 7 days.

Setup is moderate: expect some configuration beyond a single command. An official Docker image is available. It is AGPL-3.0-licensed and written mostly in JavaScript.

Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is Jitsi Meet (79/100, 30 159 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See dcts-shipping vs Jitsi Meet side by side.

Features

  • Administrator role via redeemable token
  • Config.json settings file
  • Desktop client
  • Encrypted Direct Messages
  • Integrated decentralized messenger
  • Plugin System
  • Pterodactyl egg
  • Setup Wizard
  • Theme System
  • Voice chat

dcts-shipping README

How to install dcts-shipping

Install dcts-shipping with Docker Compose

Environment variables
DCTS_IMAGE, VERSION, DEBUG
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hackthedev/dcts-shipping/main/Docker/docker-compose.yml -o docker-compose.yml

sudo docker compose up -d

First run prints a setup-wizard URL (http://localhost:5000/wizard/...) in the container logs. A Pterodactyl egg is also offered for automated deploys.

How to configure dcts-shipping

  • DCTS_IMAGEOverride the container image used by docker-compose

    Override the container image used by docker-compose

    values: ghcr.io/hackthedev/dcts-shipping:${VERSION:-latest}

  • DEBUGfalseEnables debug mode in the container environment

    Enables debug mode in the container environment

    values: true/false

  • VERSIONlatestTag of the dcts-shipping image pulled by docker-compose

    Tag of the dcts-shipping image pulled by docker-compose

dcts-shipping releases & version history

More in Communication

Rate this project

Click to rate — no account needed.

0 comments

Posting as guest
Loading comments…