Show HN: Bobby, Self-Hosted Discord AI Code Assistant with Claude Code
## The Problem
Development teams face constant interruptions: - Stakeholders asking "Does our app support X feature?" - Product managers creating vague tickets that need 3+ refinement cycles - Developers context-switching to answer basic codebase questions - Knowledge silos when team members are unavailable
## The Solution
Bobby acts as an always-available senior developer who knows your entire codebase. Built on Claude Code, it provides instant answers while maintaining complete privacy through self-hosting.
*Core capabilities:* - Analyzes code architecture and explains complex functions - Detects bugs and automatically creates GitHub issues - Answers stakeholder questions without developer interruption - Maintains conversation context via Discord threads - Read-only by design (analysis only, no code modifications)
## Technical Architecture
*Stack:* - Node.js/Bun runtime with Discord.js - Claude Code CLI for AI-powered analysis - GitHub CLI for automatic issue creation - Docker container with automated setup
*Key technical features:* - Streaming responses with real-time JSON parsing - Thread-based session management for context retention - Fire-and-forget concurrency model (each message spawns independent Claude process) - Comprehensive system prompt optimized for Discord constraints - Server whitelisting and permission controls
*One-line deployment:* ```bash docker run -d --name bobby \ -e DISCORD_TOKEN=token \ -e ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=key \ -e GITHUB_REPO=owner/repo \ stewart86/bobby:latest ```
## Privacy-First Design
Unlike SaaS alternatives: - Your code never leaves your infrastructure - You create and control your own Discord bot - Direct API relationship with Anthropic (no middleman) - Isolated Docker environment - Complete audit trail
## Real-World Impact
After months of dogfooding with my team: - 70% reduction in developer interruptions for basic questions - Stakeholders get instant answers instead of waiting for meetings - Product tickets come with proper technical context - Bug detection during normal conversations
*Example workflow:* 1. PM asks: "Can users reset passwords via email?" 2. Bobby analyzes authentication flow and responds in 30 seconds 3. If bugs found, auto-creates GitHub issues with technical details
## Open Source & Production Ready
- *GitHub*: https://github.com/Stewart86/bobby - *Docker Hub*: https://hub.docker.com/r/stewart86/bobby - MIT licensed - Automated Docker publishing via GitHub Actions - Comprehensive documentation and setup guides
The combination of Claude Code's analysis power with Discord's accessibility creates a unique developer experience that closes the gap between AI tooling and team collaboration.
Built for teams who value both AI assistance and data privacy.
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