How to Set Up a Self-Hosted Team Chat
in Under 30 Minutes

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have:

• Windows 10/11 (64-bit) or any Linux/macOS with Docker installed
• 4 GB RAM minimum (8 GB recommended for production)
• 500 MB free disk space for the application (more for message history)
• A MongoDB instance — local, Docker, or free tier on MongoDB Atlas
• A Redis instance — local or Docker (required for real-time features)
• Optional: a Gemini API key if you want the built-in AI assistant

Step 1 — Download Chativa

Head to the Chativa GitHub repository and grab the latest release. You have two options:

• Windows installer (.exe) — recommended for most users. Download chativa-setup-x.x.x.exe from the Releases page.
• Docker Compose — recommended for Linux/macOS or production servers. Clone the repo and use the included docker-compose.yml.

Step 2 — Run the Installer (Windows) or Docker Compose

Option A — Windows Installer

Double-click the .exe file and follow the setup wizard. The installer will:

1. Install Node.js dependencies automatically
2. Create a chativa service in Windows Services
3. Open the configuration wizard in your browser at http://localhost:3000/setup

Option B — Docker Compose

Clone the repository and start all services with a single command:

git clone https://github.com/sassisouid/chativa.git
cd chativa
docker-compose up -d

Docker will pull the Node.js, MongoDB and Redis images and start everything automatically. The app will be available at http://localhost:3000.

Step 3 — Configure the Setup Wizard

Open http://localhost:3000/setup in your browser. The guided wizard will ask for:

• MongoDB URI — e.g. mongodb://localhost:27017/chativa or your Atlas connection string
• Redis URL — e.g. redis://localhost:6379
• App URL — the public URL where your server will be accessible (e.g. https://chat.yourcompany.com)
• Admin email & password — your first admin account
• Gemini API key (optional) — for the built-in AI assistant

Step 4 — Create Your Admin Account

After the wizard completes, you'll be redirected to the admin dashboard. Log in with the credentials you set in Step 3. From here you can:

• Create agent accounts for your team members
• Set up channels and projects
• Configure the live chat widget for your website
• Upload your company logo (Pro license)

Step 5 — Invite Your Team

Go to Settings → Agents and create accounts for your team members. Each agent gets a login URL, username and password. They can access Chativa from:

• Any browser at your server URL
• The Electron desktop app (Windows/macOS/Linux)
• The mobile-responsive web interface

Step 6 — Send Your First Message

Log in as an agent, open a channel and send a message. You'll see it appear in real time for all connected team members. End-to-end encryption is active by default — your private server chat is already secure.

Step 7 — (Optional) Activate the Pro License

If you purchased the Pro license, go to Settings → License and enter your license key. This unlocks white-label branding, removes the "Powered by Chativa" badge, and enables commercial use rights.

Conclusion

You now have a fully functional self-hosted team chat running on your own infrastructure. Real-time messaging, HD video calls, E2EE and an AI assistant — all without paying a monthly subscription or handing your data to a third party.

The free edition covers everything most teams need. If you want white-label branding, commercial use rights and priority support, the Pro license is a one-time $79 investment that pays for itself in the first month compared to Slack.