Open-Source Chat at Scale: Microservices Over Monoliths

This technical evaluation reveals that no single open-source repository can perfectly deliver all features—private chat, groups, moderation, voice/video, and Kubernetes scalability—simultaneously. The recommended approach separates concerns across specialized layers, with OpenIM + LiveKit as the practical PoC starting point and a Custom Go backend with Centrifugo as the stronger long-term architecture. This separation-of-concerns philosophy is critical for teams building production-grade chat systems at scale.