IdeaWell

Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

Open Oscar Server: open-source server compatible with AIM and ICQ clients

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

1. Nostalgia for classic IM services
Users fondly recall the era of ICQ, AIM, and MSN Messenger, sharing personal memories of their old screen names and how those platforms felt like early social hubs.
- “ICQ? Now that's a name I've not heard in a long time… a long time.” — ventana
- “As TinCan phones are getting popular in my kid’s friend circle, I am getting second hand pride at her low number like I had (have?) for my ICQ number.” — derwiki
- “I was always more of an MSN Messenger guy.” — CursedSilicon

2. Enthusiasm for reviving old protocols via open‑source projects
Commenters highlight modern efforts—like the Open OSCAR Server, logon.chat, and Pidgin’s retro‑prpl—to bring AIM/ICQ‑style chatting back to life.
- “Hey all, If you're looking for a public server to jump into to start chatting on aim again, please check out https://logon.chat/ It is fully backed by OOS :)” — himynameisjoeyc
- “The Open OSCAR Server project is a fantastic labor of love stewarded by a kind soul.” — CursedSilicon
- “If you want to use Pidgin with it, check out https://github.com/pidgin/retro-prpl” — rw_grim

3. Technical tinkering and testing with retro clients
Several participants enjoy experimenting with obscure third‑party clients, filing bugs, and seeing how they behave against the revived servers.
- “They put up with (if not were outright amused at) me digging up the weirdest 3rd party clients I could … and just kicking them around against the server software to find bugs.” — CursedSilicon
- Links to client wiki and issue tracker show active debugging: https://wiki.cursedsilicon.net/wiki/AIM_Clients and https://github.com/mk6i/open-oscar-server/issues/120‑123.

🚀 Project Ideas

OSCARBridge: Cross‑Platform Legacy Chat Client

Summary

  • A modern, open‑source desktop client that revives the OSCAR (ICQ/AIM) protocol with a polished UI, plugin support, and optional bridges to Matrix/Slack.
  • Core value proposition: lets nostalgic users chat on historic networks while enjoying contemporary features like themes, file drag‑&‑drop, and end‑to‑end encryption via plugins.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Former ICQ/AIM users, open‑source enthusiasts, privacy‑conscious chatters
Core Feature Multi‑protocol client (OSCAR + optional Matrix/IRC) with plugin architecture and customizable UI
Tech Stack Tauri (Rust backend) + Svelte frontend, libpurple for OSCAR, optional Matrix SDK
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • HN users lamented being locked into modern clients: “I wish modern chat platforms would let me use a client of my own choosing” (Avamander). This gives them that freedom.
  • Provides a practical way to experiment with legacy protocols while retaining modern usability, likely sparking discussion on HN about protocol openness.

OSCAR‑Server‑as‑a‑Service

Summary

  • A hosted, managed Open OSCAR Server offering one‑click deployment, web admin UI, spam controls, and optional LDAP/OAuth authentication.
  • Core value proposition: eliminates the operational burden of running your own OSCAR server, letting communities resurrect retro chat instantly.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Sysadmins, hobbyist communities, educational groups wanting to run ICQ/AIM‑style servers
Core Feature Deployable OSCAR server with web dashboard, user management, rate‑limiting, and backup
Tech Stack Go (backend), PostgreSQL, React admin UI, Docker‑Compose for deployment
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: tiered monthly plans (Free hobby tier, $5/mo Standard, $20/mo Pro)

Notes

  • Commenters noted the joy of “second hand pride at her low number” (derwiki) and the desire to run personal servers; a hassle‑free hosted option would be welcomed.
  • Enables nostalgia‑driven projects and could become a showcase for retro‑tech enthusiasts on HN.

OSCAR‑Matrix Bridge Service

Summary

  • A bidirectional bridge that connects OSCAR (ICQ/AIM) networks to Matrix, allowing users to chat with legacy contacts from any Matrix client (Element, FluffyChat, etc.).
  • Core value proposition: solves the frustration of locked‑down modern platforms by letting users keep their preferred client while talking to friends on historic networks.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Power users, Matrix enthusiasts, anyone with friends still on ICQ/AIM
Core Feature Transparent message relay, presence sync, and file transfer between OSCAR and Matrix rooms
Tech Stack Matrix Application Service (Go), libpurple/oscar‑library, Redis for state
Difficulty High
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • Users complained about being forced to use subpar official clients: “The hacked MSN client from mess.be was amazing…” (Y_Y) and “Matrix gives you plenty of options to be flooded with CSAM…” (CursedSilicon). This bridge offers a legit, user‑controlled alternative.
  • Provides a concrete integration project likely to generate HN discussion about interoperability and decentralized chat.

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