From Alpha to v2.1
A look back at Tavrn Alpha and where the platform is now, 17 months and a lot of rebuilding later.
Development Blog Posts
45 posts published
🧾 Tavrn v2.1.0
This release is weeks of fixes and improvements coming together at once. Conversations are easier to follow, room setup finally behaves the way you'd expect, and the desktop app got a lot more capable. Let's get into it. 🧡
On ID Verification, and Why Tavrn Is Going to Avoid It for As Long As Possible
I want to get ahead of this one before it becomes a thing people ask me about constantly, because it's already heading that direction.
On Open Source, and Why Tavrn Isn't (Yet)
I like open source software. It's something that, at some point, yes, I do want to do. But unfortunately, it's not something that at this point I can in good faith comfortably do with Tavrn.
🧾 Tavrn Version 2
The biggest update Tavrn's ever shipped. A brand new theme system with 16 themes across 7 collections, a completely rebuilt voice engine, Room Events, and TavKit bots and automations finally going live with a full developer API. Alongside that: a redesigned global search, a reworked settings panel, a rebuilt message list, and a long list of fixes and polish underneath it all. Months of Canary work, all landing here at once.
Introducing Tavrn Canary
Today, we're introducing Tavrn Canary, an early access channel where new features and fixes land before they hit the main app.
TavKit: Build on Tavrn
Tavrn is a platform. And platforms are only as powerful as what developers can build on top of them.
Building Better Communities: What's Coming in v1.32.x
v1.32.0 just dropped with custom emojis, server onboarding, and Last.fm integration. But we're not done.
Mobile Matters: Our Commitment to a Better Tavrn Experience
If you've been using Tavrn on mobile lately, you've probably noticed things are getting better.
Tavrn Cocoa: Premium Features Without the Predatory Pricing 🍫
Today, we're launching Tavrn Cocoa.
🧾 Tavrn v1.29.2
This update is all about refinement. We've focused on the small things that make Tavrn feel right.
Your Face. Your ID. Your Privacy. Gone.
Lets talk about the platforms that just decided the best way to protect their hundreds of millions of users is to... ask them to scan their faces and upload government IDs to third party vendors.
Moving Forward: Tavrn Enters Pre-Beta 🚀
We’ve officially wrapped up our Alpha Testing phase.. and now, Tavrn is entering its Pre-Beta stages.
Development Update: Slowing Down, But Still Moving Forward 🚀
Development on Tavrn is still ongoing (don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere). That said, things have slowed down a bit now that school season has kicked back into full swing.
🚀 Tavrn Alpha Has Launched!
After weeks of building, the Tavrn alpha is officially live. Apply now at blog.tavrn.top/alpha-application to get early access.
🧠 Why Every Chat Platform Eventually Loses the Plot
Why does it feel like every chat platform eventually stops being for us? Let’s talk about it.
The Tavrn Press Kit is Here
We’ve officially published the Tavrn Press Kit , a simple, clear, and packed resource for anyone curious about what we’re building.
🎉 Introducing AHA! – Tavrn’s Spotlight for Amazing Communities
No, it’s not an acronym. It doesn’t stand for anything. But it does stand for something special.
Milestone Two: Build 8 Is Here, and It’s a Big One
We’ve officially reached Build 8 , our second milestone , and Tavrn is starting to feel like a real platform. This post covers our new server system, real-time messaging, roles, settings, and a few things we’re still keeping under wraps (👀).
Rebuilt in 3 Days: DMs Are Back , and Better Than Ever
After a major setback wiped our codebase, we rebuilt Tavrn's 1-to-1 DM system from scratch , in just 3 days. This post breaks down how we did it, what’s new, and why it’s already better than before.
Group Chats Deserve Better
You’d think after decades of chat apps, we’d have group chats figured out by now. But somehow, most of them still suck.
We Lost Everything (Well, Almost Everything)
We hit a major setback. Our entire codebase was corrupted, and we have to rebuild Tavrn from scratch.
Why We Believe Tavrn Will Work
Tavrn is a new community-first chat platform built with familiar features, real passion, and a deep respect for its users. Here's why we believe Tavrn will become the new home for great minds to connect.
Hey, Meet Tavrn
A friendly introduction to Tavrn, a new community platform built as an alternative to Discord and Guilded. This post explains why Tavrn was created, what makes it different, and invites readers to join the journey of building a better online hangout,without paywalls or corporate vibes.