Retro AIM Server

Retro AIM Server is an instant messaging server that revives AOL Instant Messenger (and ICQ!) clients from the 2000s.

The following features are supported:

AIM

• Windows AIM Clients: v2.x, v3.x, v4.x, v5.x
• Away Messages
• Buddy Icons (v4.x, v5.x)
• Buddy List
• Chat Rooms
• Public & Private Chat Exchanges
• Instant Messaging
• User Profiles
• Blocking (v3.5+)
• Visibility Toggle / Idle Notification
• Warning
• User Directory Search

ICQ

• Windows ICQ Clients: 2000b (more to come soon)
• Instant Messaging
• Profiles
• User Search
• Presence Statuses
• Offline Messaging

🏁 How to Run

Get up and running with Retro AIM Server using one of these handy server quickstart guides:

• Linux (x86_64)
• macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon)
• Windows 10/11 (x86_64)

Don't have AIM installed yet? Check out the AIM Client Setup Guide.

...how about ICQ? Check out the ICQ Client Setup Guide.

🛠️ Development

This project is under active development. Contributions are welcome!

Follow this guide to learn how to compile and run Retro AIM Server.

🌍 Community

Check out the Retro AIM Server Discord server to get help or find out how to get involved.

👤 Management API

The Management API provides functionality for administering the server (see OpenAPI spec). The following shows you how to run these commands via the command line.

Windows PowerShell

Run these commands from PowerShell, not Command Prompt.

List Users

Invoke-WebRequest -Uri http://localhost:8080/user -Method Get

Create Users

Invoke-WebRequest -Uri http://localhost:8080/user `
  -Body '{"screen_name":"MyScreenName", "password":"thepassword"}' `
  -Method Post `
  -ContentType "application/json"

Delete Users

Invoke-WebRequest -Uri http://localhost:8080/user `
  -Body '{"screen_name": "user123"}' `
  -Method Delete `
  -ContentType "application/json"

Change Password

Invoke-WebRequest -Uri http://localhost:8080/user/password `
  -Body '{"screen_name":"MyScreenName", "password":"thenewpassword"}' `
  -Method Put `
  -ContentType "application/json"

List Active Sessions

This request lists sessions for all logged in users.

Invoke-WebRequest -Uri http://localhost:8080/session -Method Get

Create Public Chat Room

Invoke-WebRequest -Uri http://localhost:8080/chat/room/public `
  -Body '{"name":"Office Hijinks"}' `
  -Method Post `
  -ContentType "application/json"

List Public Chat Rooms

Invoke-WebRequest -Uri http://localhost:8080/chat/room/public -Method Get

macOS / Linux

List Users

curl http://localhost:8080/user

Create Users

AIM

curl -d'{"screen_name":"MyScreenName", "password":"thepassword"}' http://localhost:8080/user

ICQ

curl -d'{"screen_name":"100003", "password":"thepassw"}' http://localhost:8080/user

Delete Users

curl -X DELETE -d '{"screen_name": "user123"}' http://localhost:8080/user

Change Password

curl -X PUT -d'{"screen_name":"MyScreenName", "password":"thenewpassword"}' http://localhost:8080/user/password

List Active Sessions

This request lists sessions for all logged in users.

curl http://localhost:8080/session

Create Public Chat Room

curl -d'{"name":"Office Hijinks"}' http://localhost:8080/chat/room/public

List Public Chat Rooms

curl http://localhost:8080/chat/room/public

🔗 Acknowledgements

• aim-oscar-server is another cool open source AIM server project.
• NINA Wiki is an indispensable source for figuring out the OSCAR API.
• libpurple is also an invaluable OSCAR reference (especially version 2.10.6-1).

📄 License

Retro AIM Server is licensed under the MIT license.