Chat-tails: Throwback terminal chat, built on Tailscale

Brian Scott developed Chat-tails, an IRC-like chat application built using Tailscale and tsnet, to provide a secure and private chat environment for his child during gaming sessions. Unlike modern chat apps, Chat-tails offers an ephemeral, text-only communication space without images or voice chats, ensuring privacy and simplicity reminiscent of early LAN gaming experiences. Users can operate Chat-tails in either "Regular Mode," which involves local network hosting, or "Tailscale Mode," which utilizes Tailscale for secure, shared access across devices. The application, which can run on minimal hardware like a Raspberry Pi, was created with minimalistic aesthetics using the Bubbletea library and is designed for those interested in a retro-futuristic chat experience. While not a full-time developer, Scott leveraged his experience with Go and the tsnet library to create this project, which could serve as a safe learning tool for children and a nostalgic communication platform for groups with specific preferences.