NowBlind: Built on Elixir to handle stranger chats at scale
NowBlind is developed by Faeb on Elixir and Phoenix to handle the random and stranger chats on scale with BEAM VM at base.
1. Project Overview
NowBlind is the lobby of the internet where strangers connect instantly through text, voice, and video. The goal was to build a system that feels effortless, fast, and truly live — without relying on third-party APIs or external communication layers.
Faeb engineered both the web platform and Android app as a fully custom system. Built on Elixir and the Phoenix Framework, the platform delivers real-time chat using native architecture powered by PostgreSQL, WebRTC, and dedicated STUN/TURN infrastructure.
The objective: create a fast, scalable, and stable chat system that feels instant and natural, while remaining fully controlled at the core.
2. Client Goals
NowBlind required:
- A real-time chat platform with instant stranger matching
- Seamless switching between text and voice communication
- A system built entirely from scratch — no third-party chat APIs
- A fast, mobile-first experience across web and Android
- A highly stable backend capable of handling live concurrency
- A clean and distraction-free interface
- Secure and controlled communication layers
- A scalable architecture for long-term growth
The core requirement: the platform must feel live, responsive, and effortless — even under scale.
3. Our Approach
We designed NowBlind as a performance-first, real-time system where speed and stability define the experience.
Key decisions:
- Custom-built WebRTC signaling and media handling
- No reliance on services like Agora — everything built in-house
- Phoenix LiveView + channels for real-time state synchronization
- Lightweight UI focused on usability and clarity
- Instant matchmaking logic with intelligent user distribution
- Optimized backend concurrency using BEAM architecture
- Strict control over connection lifecycle and session handling
The platform flow was structured around real-time interaction:
- Landing → Match → Chat (Text/Voice) → Add Friend / Continue → Next Match
- Every interaction is immediate, with no perceived delay.
4. Design Framework
- Minimal Interface System
- A clean, neutral interface that removes friction and keeps focus on conversation
- Typography System
- Satoshi Variable Font chosen for its precision, readability, and neutrality
- Clear, readable type optimized for fast scanning and long conversations
- Layout Philosophy
- Compact, mobile-first layouts
- Fast transitions between states
- No unnecessary UI elements
- Interaction Design
- Tap-first controls
- Instant feedback on actions
- Zero clutter during live chat
5. Technical Strategy
- Core Stack
- Elixir
- Phoenix Framework
- PostgreSQL
- WebRTC
- STUN/TURN servers for NAT traversal
- Advanced Systems
- BEAM VM for massive concurrency
- ETS for ultra-fast state handling
- Phoenix Channels for real-time messaging
- Custom signaling server for WebRTC negotiation
- Code Highlights
- Fully custom matchmaking engine
- Live chat architecture built from the ground up
- State-driven UI using LiveView principles
- Low-latency communication pipelines
- No external SDK bloat
- Horizontal scalability readiness
6. PageSpeed Performance Results
- Mobile
- Overall Performance Score: 99
- Accesibility Score: 100
- Best Practices Score: 100
- SEO Score: 100
- First Contentful Paint (FCP): 1.4 seconds
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): 2.1 seconds
- Total Blocking Time (TBT): 0 milliseconds
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): 0
- Speed Index: 1.4 seconds
- Desktop
- Overall Performance Score: 100
- Accesibility Score: 100
- Best Practices Score: 96
- SEO Score: 100
- First Contentful Paint (FCP): 0.4 seconds
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): 0.5 seconds
- Total Blocking Time (TBT): 0 milliseconds
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): 0
- Speed Index: 0.7 seconds
7. Final Outcome
NowBlind is:
- Fully free with a robust real-time system
- Blazing fast and highly responsive
- Built from scratch with complete backend control
- Stable under live concurrent usage
- Mobile-friendly and optimized for continuous interaction
- Safe and secure with controlled communication layers
- Designed for natural, uninterrupted conversations
- Equipped with features like adding users as friends and unique usernames
The final result is a powerful real-time platform that proves high-performance communication systems can be built without external dependencies — fast, scalable, and engineered with precision.