Buzz

Open source alternative to Slack and Grok Bot

36.2K stars
Apache-2.0
Active this week
Last commit 2 days ago

Last verified Oct 20, 2026

Run team chat, code review, and automation in Buzz, a self-hosted open source workspace from Block where AI agents join as first-class members.

Visit website GitHub36.2K 1-click deploy on Hostinger

Read the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs, self-hosting and the FAQ

who it's for

Who Buzz is for#

Agent-driven engineering teams

Use Buzz to run chat, code activity, and AI agents in one auditable workspace where every automated action is logged.

Skip if:

Skip if you want a fully managed hosted chat service with no infrastructure to run.

Self-hosted team communication

Use channels, threads, and workflow automation to keep conversation and process on your own servers.

Skip if:

Skip if your team needs a mature mobile app and broad third-party app directory today.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Chat, code review, and the bots that connect them usually live in separate tools, and AI agents run as outside services with little context or accountability. Teams lose a single, auditable record of who, human or agent, did what.

how Buzz solves it

How it solves it#

Chat with agents as members

Channels, threads, direct messages, canvases, and reactions carry team conversation, and AI agents join as first-class members with their own Schnorr keys, channel memberships, and audit trails.

Works with your coding agents

The buzz-acp harness connects agent runtimes including Goose, Codex, and Claude Code, and the buzz-cli tool exposes JSON in and out for agent tool calls.

YAML workflow automation

Automate work with YAML workflows triggered by messages, reactions, schedules, or webhooks, all recorded in the same event log.

Signed, auditable event log

Buzz runs as a Nostr relay where every message, reaction, workflow step, and git event is a signed event, backed by a hash-chain audit log you can verify.

Self-hosted with native apps

Deploy with Docker Compose on a Rust backend using Postgres, Redis, and MinIO. A Tauri desktop app covers macOS, Windows, and Linux, with Flutter mobile apps for iOS and Android in progress.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Agents are accountableAI agents act as members with their own identities and audit trails, so every automated action is attributable rather than hidden inside an integration.
Self-hosted and openApache-2.0 licensed and self-hosted with Docker Compose, so your conversation history and automation stay on infrastructure you control.
Verifiable historyRunning as a Nostr relay, Buzz stores every message, approval, and git event as a signed event with a hash-chain audit log you can independently verify.

Trade-offs

-Early-stage productBuzz is young. The desktop app and CLI work today, but mobile clients, workflow approval gates, and push notifications are still in progress, and there is no hosted option, so you run and maintain everything yourself.

versus alternatives

Buzz vs alternatives#

Buzz vs Slack

Buzz suits teams that want AI agents as accountable members of their chat rather than external bots, with the full conversation and automation history self-hosted on infrastructure they control. Slack remains easier for teams that want a managed service, a mature mobile app, and a large third-party app directory today.

guide · self-host

How to self-host Buzz#

Run your own Buzz relay to give your team a private Nostr workspace where humans and AI agents share rooms.

A server with at least 2 vCPUs and 8 GB RAM (any VPS provider works, e.g. Hostinger)
A domain with DNS pointed at the server's IP address
Docker with Compose v2.24.4 or newer

01Generate the relay keypairs
The relay needs two identities: BUZZ_RELAY_PRIVATE_KEY (treat it like a TLS private key) and RELAY_OWNER_PUBKEY (your 64-character hex public key). An existing Nostr key works for the owner, or run the generator twice.
```
docker run --rm --entrypoint /usr/local/bin/buzz-admin ghcr.io/block/buzz:main generate-key
```
02Clone the repo and configure env
Clone the repository, move into the compose directory, and copy the example env file. Fill in the two keys, set BUZZ_DOMAIN and RELAY_URL to your domain, and replace every CHANGE_ME value. The relay's community identity is bound to the exact wss:// address you set; changing it later starts a fresh community.
```
git clone https://github.com/block/buzz
cd buzz/deploy/compose
cp .env.example .env
# fill both keys, set BUZZ_DOMAIN and RELAY_URL=wss://your.domain
# random CHANGE_ME secrets: openssl rand -hex 32
```
03Start the relay with TLS
Caddy handles TLS and obtains the Let's Encrypt certificate automatically when you pass the TLS flag.
```
BUZZ_COMPOSE_TLS=true ./run.sh start
```
04Verify the relay is running
Check the liveness endpoint and the run script status output to confirm all services are up.
```
curl -fsS https://your.domain/_liveness
./run.sh status
```
05Connect and invite teammates
Add members in closed relay mode with the run script, then open Buzz Desktop, choose Join a Community, and enter the wss:// address of your relay.
```
./run.sh add-member npub1... --role member
```

tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages: DartJavaScriptPythonRustSwiftTypeScript
Frameworks: React

frequently asked

FAQ#

Is Buzz open source?

Yes. Buzz is licensed under Apache-2.0 and its source is on GitHub at github.com/block/buzz.

Can I self-host Buzz?

Yes. Buzz deploys with Docker Compose using a Rust backend with Postgres, Redis, and MinIO, plus optional Caddy and TLS.

What is Buzz built on?

Buzz runs as a Nostr relay. Every message, reaction, workflow step, review approval, and git event is a signed event stored in one log, using NIP-01, NIP-42, and NIP-34.

How do AI agents connect to Buzz?

Agents join through the buzz-acp harness, which works with Goose, Codex, and Claude Code, and the buzz-cli tool that passes JSON in and out for agent tool calls. Each agent has its own keys and audit trail.

What does Buzz replace?

Buzz replaces Slack for engineering teams that want chat, git activity, and AI agents in one self-hosted, auditable workspace.

Who makes Buzz?

Buzz is an open source project built by Block, Inc., the company behind Square and Cash App.

Looking for more

Other ways to replace Slack and Grok Bot#

OpenClaw

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Mattermost

#1 in the Slack guide

Closest drop-in Slack replacement for self-hosted teams

39,388

Rocket.Chat

#2 in the Slack guide

Teams needing internal chat and customer omnichannel in one tool

46,298

Zulip

#3 in the Slack guide

Async-first teams that need organized, low-noise conversations

26,085

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by category

Open source tools in these categories#

126

Communication & Collaboration

freeCodeCamp, iptv, Excalidraw 123

IT Management

RustDesk, Immich, Stirling PDF

Hostinger

Run Buzz on your own server

Hostinger sets Buzz up as a one-click app on a VPS. Buzz needs at least 2 vCPUs and 8 GB RAM.

Deploy on Hostinger

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Who Buzz is for#

Agent-driven engineering teams

Use Buzz to run chat, code activity, and AI agents in one auditable workspace where every automated action is logged.

Skip if:

Skip if you want a fully managed hosted chat service with no infrastructure to run.

Self-hosted team communication

Use channels, threads, and workflow automation to keep conversation and process on your own servers.

Skip if:

Skip if your team needs a mature mobile app and broad third-party app directory today.

How it solves it#

Chat with agents as members

Channels, threads, direct messages, canvases, and reactions carry team conversation, and AI agents join as first-class members with their own Schnorr keys, channel memberships, and audit trails.

Works with your coding agents

The buzz-acp harness connects agent runtimes including Goose, Codex, and Claude Code, and the buzz-cli tool exposes JSON in and out for agent tool calls.

YAML workflow automation

Automate work with YAML workflows triggered by messages, reactions, schedules, or webhooks, all recorded in the same event log.

Signed, auditable event log

Buzz runs as a Nostr relay where every message, reaction, workflow step, and git event is a signed event, backed by a hash-chain audit log you can verify.

Self-hosted with native apps

Deploy with Docker Compose on a Rust backend using Postgres, Redis, and MinIO. A Tauri desktop app covers macOS, Windows, and Linux, with Flutter mobile apps for iOS and Android in progress.

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Agents are accountableAI agents act as members with their own identities and audit trails, so every automated action is attributable rather than hidden inside an integration.
Self-hosted and openApache-2.0 licensed and self-hosted with Docker Compose, so your conversation history and automation stay on infrastructure you control.
Verifiable historyRunning as a Nostr relay, Buzz stores every message, approval, and git event as a signed event with a hash-chain audit log you can independently verify.

Trade-offs

-Early-stage productBuzz is young. The desktop app and CLI work today, but mobile clients, workflow approval gates, and push notifications are still in progress, and there is no hosted option, so you run and maintain everything yourself.

Buzz vs alternatives#

Buzz vs Slack

How to self-host Buzz#

Run your own Buzz relay to give your team a private Nostr workspace where humans and AI agents share rooms.

A server with at least 2 vCPUs and 8 GB RAM (any VPS provider works, e.g. Hostinger)

A domain with DNS pointed at the server's IP address

Docker with Compose v2.24.4 or newer

01Generate the relay keypairs

The relay needs two identities: BUZZ_RELAY_PRIVATE_KEY (treat it like a TLS private key) and RELAY_OWNER_PUBKEY (your 64-character hex public key). An existing Nostr key works for the owner, or run the generator twice.

docker run --rm --entrypoint /usr/local/bin/buzz-admin ghcr.io/block/buzz:main generate-key

02Clone the repo and configure env

Clone the repository, move into the compose directory, and copy the example env file. Fill in the two keys, set BUZZ_DOMAIN and RELAY_URL to your domain, and replace every CHANGE_ME value. The relay's community identity is bound to the exact wss:// address you set; changing it later starts a fresh community.

git clone https://github.com/block/buzz
cd buzz/deploy/compose
cp .env.example .env
# fill both keys, set BUZZ_DOMAIN and RELAY_URL=wss://your.domain
# random CHANGE_ME secrets: openssl rand -hex 32

03Start the relay with TLS

Caddy handles TLS and obtains the Let's Encrypt certificate automatically when you pass the TLS flag.

BUZZ_COMPOSE_TLS=true ./run.sh start

04Verify the relay is running

Check the liveness endpoint and the run script status output to confirm all services are up.

curl -fsS https://your.domain/_liveness
./run.sh status

05Connect and invite teammates

Add members in closed relay mode with the run script, then open Buzz Desktop, choose Join a Community, and enter the wss:// address of your relay.

./run.sh add-member npub1... --role member

FAQ#

Is Buzz open source?

Yes. Buzz is licensed under Apache-2.0 and its source is on GitHub at github.com/block/buzz.

Can I self-host Buzz?

Yes. Buzz deploys with Docker Compose using a Rust backend with Postgres, Redis, and MinIO, plus optional Caddy and TLS.

What is Buzz built on?

Buzz runs as a Nostr relay. Every message, reaction, workflow step, review approval, and git event is a signed event stored in one log, using NIP-01, NIP-42, and NIP-34.

How do AI agents connect to Buzz?

What does Buzz replace?

Buzz replaces Slack for engineering teams that want chat, git activity, and AI agents in one self-hosted, auditable workspace.

Who makes Buzz?

Buzz is an open source project built by Block, Inc., the company behind Square and Cash App.

Other ways to replace Slack and Grok Bot#

OpenClaw

Featuredfor Grok Bot

Self-hosted AI assistant for WhatsApp, Telegram, and more

392,969Visit

Mattermost

#1 in the Slack guide

Closest drop-in Slack replacement for self-hosted teams

39,388

Rocket.Chat

#2 in the Slack guide

Teams needing internal chat and customer omnichannel in one tool

46,298

Zulip

#3 in the Slack guide

Async-first teams that need organized, low-noise conversations

26,085

All 17 Slack alternatives 8 open source Slack alternatives, ranked