Connect Rocket.Chat with Nextcloud in order to build a strong communication platform

[GoetheG]

Nextcloud as such offers collaboration features like circles, file sharing and so on. With Nextcloud Talk an app was introduced for self hosted video conferences. Due to the fact that Nextcloud is pushing towards a central communication device, wouldn't it be great to combine Nextcloud with Rocket.Chat? Maybe implement Rocket.Chat into Nextcloud and also Nextcloud Talk? Rocket.Chat is open source.

[MarekPikula]

In my company we're using Nextcloud with Rocket.Chat as external app, so it opens within the NextCloud's scope. We use LDAP as user backend, so there is no problem with sharing users, but we're thinking about giving OAuth2 a try (so that NextCloud is OAuth2 provider and Rocket.Chat is a client). That's some basic integration possible at the moment.
I've considered different approaches in Rocket.Chat/Rocket.Chat#7791 issue.

[GoetheG]

Hey @MarPiRK
Very interesting what you wrote. Can you please tell me a little bit more about your connection between Rocket.Chat and Nextcloud?

[UplandsDynamic]

I was just thinking along the same lines. There are a few FLOSS alternatives for Slack style collaboration/chat services (Rocket.Chat, Mattermost, Riot.im), and it seems to me like the seamless integration of one of these into NextCloud could represent another step towards positioning NC as a really competitive all-round collaboration/productivity solution for SME, non-profits etc, education, etc.

Personally, I use both NC and Rocket.Chat and think they'd make a great pairing. But also would be happy to see open source alternatives that offers similar features if Rocket.Chat isn't deemed a good fit for NC, for whatever reason.

[MarekPikula]

@GoetheG Well, at the moment the only connection is that we use LDAP as user backend, so credentials are shared between NC and RC, so if anyone changes password via LDAP panel (we use FusionDirectory) it is used seamlessly by both NC and RC afterwards.

About OAuth2 I think I've seen someone using NC as OAuth2 provider and RC as client. It works similar to these "Login by Google" buttons (well, it's basically the same technology), but it's NC managing user data and credentials. RC would have custom OAuth2 button authenticating against NC provider.

At the moment it's tricky to make it the other way around (so RC as OAuth2 provider and NC as client), because of lack of official NC OAuth2 client plugin. There is one, but I didn't test it yet.

[MorrisJobke]

Maybe implement Rocket.Chat into Nextcloud and also Nextcloud Talk? Rocket.Chat is open source.

We also thought about this, but our talk app currently is based on web RTC and an integration of another protocol here is not that easy.

Also integrating with other chat protocols (matrix, xmpp) is not yet on the roadmap.

Also as this is not part of the server, but a completely separate component I would ask you to raise the question in the talk app: https://github.com/nextcloud/spreed/

[isabellarussell]

Good news guys! It's happening! https://rocket.chat/2018/09/17/RC-Nextcloud-partnership-post/

[GoetheG]

Yes, @isabellarussell! It really happened! I am really happy that after I started this topic in March 2018 this kicked off.

[Elfanar]

No information how to authenticate nextcloud users on rocket chat seamlessly ?