Flotilla
Communities on Nostr. Discord-style spaces built on relay-based groups.
Overview
Flotilla is a Nostr client focused on group messaging and communities. Using the concept of "relays as groups," it provides Discord-like functionality with channels, threads, and moderation — all on the open Nostr protocol.
Key Features
Relay-Based Groups
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Flotilla Architecture │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Traditional Discord: Flotilla: │
│ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ │
│ │ Discord │ │ Your relay │ │
│ │ Server │ │ = Your space│ │
│ │ (owned by │ │ (you control│ │
│ │ Discord) │ │ the rules) │ │
│ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Each relay can host one or more "spaces" │
│ Spaces have channels, threads, and members │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Space Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Channels | Topic-based conversations |
| Threads | Long-form discussions |
| Chat | Real-time messaging |
| DMs | Encrypted private messages |
| Zaps | Lightning payments for content |
Moderation
Built-in moderation tools:
- Join requests and approval
- Member management
- Content moderation
- Admin controls
- Configurable policies
Configurable Features
Per-space settings:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Space Configuration │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ ☑ Enable threads │
│ ☑ Enable chat │
│ ☑ Enable zaps (monetization) │
│ ☐ Require approval to join │
│ ☑ Allow media uploads │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Platforms
| Platform | Status |
|---|---|
| Web (PWA) | Available |
| iOS | Via PWA |
| Android | Via PWA |
NIP-29 Implementation
Flotilla implements NIP-29 (relay-enforced groups):
- Relays enforce membership rules
- Moderation at the relay level
- Interoperable with other NIP-29 clients
Interoperability
Works with other clients supporting group messaging:
- Amethyst
- 0xChat
- Coracle
- Coop
Self-Hosting
Run your own Flotilla instance:
- Full content control
- Custom branding (white-label)
- Censorship protection
- Your rules, your space
Use Cases
Community Building
- Project communities
- Interest groups
- Local communities
- Team collaboration
Content Creation
- Subscriber communities
- Paid access spaces
- Fan clubs with zaps
Organization
- Internal communications
- Working groups
- Event coordination
Comparison
| Feature | Flotilla | Discord | 0xChat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol | Nostr | Proprietary | Nostr |
| Self-host | Yes | No | No |
| Zaps | Yes | No | Yes |
| E2E encrypted | Partial | No | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | No | Yes |
Links
- Website: flotilla.social
- GitHub: coracle-social/flotilla
See Also
- Nostr Protocol — The protocol
- 0xChat — Private messaging
- Coracle — Related web client