Show HN: I recreated AOL Instant Messenger in the browser
Show HN (score: 5)
Found: June 08, 2026
ID: 5020
Description
Show HN: I recreated AOL Instant Messenger in the browser
What's under the hood:
- Real-time messaging powered by Firebase
- Buddy lists, groups & online presence
- Away messages with auto-reply (and the classic %n, %d, %t variables)
- Buddy icons & editable profiles
- Group chat rooms
- The actual AIM sounds
- Full Windows 98 desktop UI — taskbar, desktop icons, start menu, the works.
If you have any suggestions or feedback I would greatly appreciate hearing it. There's still more work to be done with it, but it's been a labor of love.
Right now every user that logs on is automatically put on to your Buddy list. I thought this would be a great way to get people to start chatting with each other.
The other day I had a conversation with this guy about skateboarding in the 90's, Tony Hawk Pro Skater, and he sent me a photo through an IM of his CCS magazine they occasionally send him.
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