What is Sockethub?

Sockethub is a protocol gateway for the web that bridges the gap between browser-based applications and traditional network protocols. Using ActivityStreams objects as a standardized message format, it acts as an intelligent proxy server that maintains state and connects to services that would otherwise be inaccessible from in-browser JavaScript.

Architecture & Features

Built with modern TypeScript and powered by Bun runtime, Sockethub features a robust multi-process architecture where:

• The main server handles Socket.IO connections through a middleware pipeline
• Each protocol runs as an isolated child process for stability
• A Redis-backed job queue ensures reliable message delivery
• Per-session encrypted credential storage protects user data
• Process isolation prevents failures from affecting other connections

Supported Protocols

Currently implemented platforms include:

• XMPP – Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol with full presence and multi-user chat support
• IRC – Internet Relay Chat for traditional chat networks
• RSS/Atom – Feed processing and aggregation
• Metadata – Link preview generation and metadata extraction

The extensible design allows for straightforward implementation of additional protocols like SMTP, IMAP, Nostr, and more.

Origins & Philosophy

Originally conceived as a sister project to RemoteStorage, Sockethub supports the development of Unhosted and noBackend applications. However, its functionality seamlessly integrates into traditional development stacks, removing the need for custom protocol-specific code at the application layer.

Use Cases

Sockethub enables web applications to:

• Connect to chat networks (XMPP, IRC) without server-side code
• Process and aggregate RSS/Atom feeds
• Generate link previews and extract metadata
• Maintain persistent protocol connections with session management
• Translate between ActivityStreams and traditional protocol formats

Open Source & Actively Maintained

Sockethub is actively developed and maintained by Nick Jennings with support from the NLNET Foundation. With over 390 stars and contributions from 20+ developers, the project continues to evolve with regular updates and improvements.

The architecture is designed to be extensible – implementing new platforms is straightforward by defining a schema and mapping functions to ActivityStream verbs.