- What is qalainau/filament-team-chat and what does it add to Filament v5?
- It is a Filament v5 plugin that adds a Slack-like team chat directly inside your Filament panel. It includes public and private channels, direct messages, threads, reactions, @mentions, file attachments, search, and unread tracking. It uses your existing Filament authentication, users, and database, so there is no separate chat service to manage.
- How do I install filament-team-chat in a Laravel application?
- Install qalainau/filament-team-chat with Composer, publish and run the migrations, add the HasTeamChat trait to your User model, and include the package Tailwind styles in your Filament theme. The README describes this as a four-step setup with minimal configuration. You then register the plugin on your Filament panel using panel()->plugin().
- Does filament-team-chat require WebSockets, Pusher, or Redis?
- No. The package is designed to work without external services such as Pusher, Redis, or a WebSocket server. Real-time updates come from Livewire polling with configurable intervals, and self-sent messages refresh instantly. This keeps deployment self-hosted and simpler, but it is not a true push-based WebSocket chat.
- Which Laravel, PHP, and Filament versions are supported?
- The package targets Filament v5, Laravel 13+, and PHP 8.3 or newer, according to the README and technical evaluation. It is built with Eloquent, Livewire, and Tailwind CSS, so it fits modern Laravel stacks. Check the repository badges and composer constraints before installing into older Laravel or Filament versions.
- How does filament-team-chat support multi-tenancy?
- Multi-tenancy is optional and uses team_id scoping with automatic Filament tenant detection. That lets chat data be isolated per tenant without custom middleware in standard Filament tenancy setups. Custom tenant models or non-standard tenancy may need extra configuration, so test isolation carefully.
- Can I customize the chat UI or configure features like file uploads and notifications?
- The package is modular and follows Filament theming, including dark mode support. File uploads, notifications, and multi-tenancy are optional, so you can adopt them gradually. Deep UI changes or new features may require PHP and Livewire expertise, and Tailwind must be set up for styling.
- How does search work in filament-team-chat?
- The package provides full-text search across channel messages so users can find conversations without leaving the panel. It is part of the built-in chat experience alongside channels, DMs, threads, and unread tracking. The README excerpt does not document a separate search API, so treat search as a UI feature unless the repository says otherwise.
- Is there a way to test filament-team-chat or run its test suite?
- The README badge reports 102 passing tests, which indicates the package includes an automated test suite. For local verification, install it in a Laravel 13 and Filament v5 app, run the migrations, and exercise channels, DMs, threads, mentions, uploads, and search. Check the repository for the exact test command and CI setup.
- What are the production concerns with Livewire polling and scalability?
- Polling at configurable intervals avoids WebSocket infrastructure but can feel less immediate than Slack and may add server load at high concurrency. The technical evaluation notes scalability beyond 1,000 concurrent users is untested, so plan database indexes, caching, and monitoring upfront. If responsiveness becomes critical, you may eventually need Laravel Echo or another WebSocket approach.
- How does filament-team-chat compare to Slack or Pusher-based chat alternatives, and is it maintained?
- It is a self-hosted alternative for teams that want chat inside Filament without Slack, Pusher, or a third-party service. Compared with WebSocket packages, it trades true real-time push for simpler Livewire polling and zero external dependencies. The README shows active version badges and 102 passing tests, but you should review the repository recent commits and releases to judge maintenance for your project.