Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Smokesignal – chat via apache logs like xkcd1810

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Smokesignal – chat via apache logs like xkcd1810 launched in 2017; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Shlack▲75

   Whoa, a bash shell inside Slack!

   2016 · shell.playplay.io · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Total.js Messenger▲181

   A small, open-source alternative to Slack

   2017 · totaljs.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   TextCraft▲66

   Slack as old-school MUD client

   2015 · textcraft.co · its alternatives →

4. 4
   HiveFlux + Slack▲93

   Real-time task management meets real-time communication

   2015 · blog.hiveflux.com · its alternatives →

5. 5
   textlog▲63

   Jot down publicly

   2015 · textlog.co · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Metachat▲76

   A news feed for unread Slack messages

   2016 · metachat.io · its alternatives →

7. 7
   aIRChat▲61

   A better looking, browser-based IRC client

   2014 · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Logstash▲72

   Open-source log management tool

   2014 · elastic.co · its alternatives →

9. 9VM
   Volatile messaging (self hosted and open source)▲5

   2014 · volatile-msg.herokuapp.com · its alternatives →

10. 10SA
    Smokex, automatic scheduled HTTP requests▲5

    2020 · smokex.io · its alternatives →

11. 11MF
    MVP for sending debug msgs from backend scripts to web-based chat rooms▲7

    2017 · upflow.space · its alternatives →

12. 12CW
    Chat With Cluster – Debug k8s in natural language▲7

    2025 · tryparity.com · its alternatives →

13. 13XC
    XpanXn – chat designed for how conversations work▲7

    2020 · xpanxn.com · its alternatives →

14. 14AD
    A Decentralized Chat Using JavaScript and Rust (WebAssembly)▲6

    2019 · perlin-network.github.io · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Forestry.io▲11

    A simple CMS for Jekyll and Hugo sites

    2016 · tina.io · its alternatives →

16. 16ED
    Easy distributed logging with Express.JS, Request, and Winston▲6

    2016 · datawire.io · its alternatives →

17. 17ES
    Etherpoke – scriptable network session monitor▲9

    2015 · codeward.org · its alternatives →

18. 18GT
    Generated Twitch chat messages using Markov chains▲5

    2016 · fruitflieslikeabanana.com · its alternatives →

19. 19
    53cr3t – self-destructing group chat▲6

    self-destructing group chat

    2020 · 53cr3t.com · its alternatives →

20. 20MC
    My collection of the most fat programming chats: RoR, JS, iOS etc.▲8

    2017 · blog.standuply.com · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Winds▲9

    An open source RSS reader

    2016 · github.com · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Chat-o-rama▲3

    Talk to other people

    2024 · chat-o-rama.nekoweb.org · its alternatives →

23. 23
    The Digital Campfire▲2

    Four strangers. A crackling fire. Anonymous retro chat.

    May 2026 · campfire.arkwright.work · its alternatives →

24. 24A1
    A 100% Client-Side HAR Analyzer That Parses Logs in Seconds▲6

    22d ago · har-analyzer.onlinetool.workers.dev · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →