Kandan is the friendly, open-source alternative to HipChat that every savvy team has been waiting for. It’s designed for groups looking for a private, collaborative chat service without the hefty price tags or restrictions of commercial platforms. With its clear mission to help users create a more dynamic and engaged workspace, Kandan is anything but another bland chat application; it's packed with cool features and powered by a community vibe. Straight off the bat, what's really neat about Kandan is how it simplifies deployment. Whether you're using CloudFoundry, Heroku, or dotCloud, Kandan is designed to integrate seamlessly. For teams, there's no limit to the number of channels you can create, making it perfect for juggling multiple projects or departments. Plus, it's got the bells and whistles you’d expect in a top-tier chat service, like embedding formats for images and videos—not just from YouTube, but also with potentials for Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. Embrace the nostalgia of old-school IRC with the beloved /me command, and enjoy a unique touch with synchronized sound playback, turning your chat room into an interactive audio experience. And let's not forget your robotic companion in the app—it’s like having a helpful little AI sidekick. Deployment is a breeze, and the project’s DEPLOY.md file gives you the lowdown on everything you need to get Kandan up and running. If you hit any bumps, the issue tracker is your go-to for milestones and todo items. Here's where Kandan really shines: it's not just open-source in name, but in spirit. The creative minds behind Kandan invite you, yes you, to jump in and start contributing. Fix bugs (what bugs?), add features, or scrub through the code. The GitHub issues tracker and their Twitter @kandanapp are bustling hubs for updates, questions, and community spirit. And if you need a direct line, the devs are just an email away at admin@getkandan.com. So, who's up behind this rockstar open-source effort? Shoutouts are due to Sacha Greif for his stellar design work, Andrew Hampton for his initial server install instructions, and many more brilliant contributors who put their heart into this project. Kandan's code is available under AGPL and also under a custom license, giving organizations the flexibility they need. Dive into this GitHub repository, join the Kandan community, and start freeing your team chat from the shackles of proprietary systems.