From cc014571cc3403046663fd82f55acf0c8ba7d72b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Paul Troeger <41645798+paultroeger@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2026 22:53:39 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] feat: add openinapp plugin to open chat links in shared neko
 instance (#682)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

* feat: add openinapp plugin to open chat links in shared neko instance

* lint.

* feat(openinapp): implement open link handler and route for opening links.

* feat(openinapp): switched to http backend and removed example in docker-compose.yaml

* lint.

---------

Co-authored-by: Miroslav Šedivý <sedivy.miro@gmail.com>
---
 client/src/components/chat.vue               | 32 ++++++-
 client/src/components/markdown.ts            | 26 +++++-
 client/src/components/settings.vue           | 15 ++++
 client/src/neko/events.ts                    |  7 ++
 client/src/neko/index.ts                     |  7 ++
 client/src/store/index.ts                    |  3 +-
 client/src/store/openinapp.ts                | 29 ++++++
 client/src/store/settings.ts                 |  6 ++
 server/internal/http/legacy/wstobackend.go   |  9 ++
 server/internal/http/legacy/wstoclient.go    | 16 ++++
 server/internal/plugins/manager.go           |  2 +
 server/internal/plugins/openinapp/config.go  | 30 +++++++
 server/internal/plugins/openinapp/manager.go | 94 ++++++++++++++++++++
 server/internal/plugins/openinapp/plugin.go  | 34 +++++++
 server/internal/plugins/openinapp/types.go   | 16 ++++
 webpage/docs/configuration/plugins.md        | 16 ++++
 16 files changed, 338 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 client/src/store/openinapp.ts
 create mode 100644 server/internal/plugins/openinapp/config.go
 create mode 100644 server/internal/plugins/openinapp/manager.go
 create mode 100644 server/internal/plugins/openinapp/plugin.go
 create mode 100644 server/internal/plugins/openinapp/types.go

diff --git a/client/src/components/chat.vue b/client/src/components/chat.vue
index c8e127de..28ae988e 100644
--- a/client/src/components/chat.vue
+++ b/client/src/components/chat.vue
@@ -18,7 +18,11 @@
               <span>{{ member(message.id).displayname }}</span>
               <span class="timestamp">{{ timestamp(message.created) }}</span>
             </div>
-            <neko-markdown class="content-body" :source="message.content" />
+            <neko-markdown
+              class="content-body"
+              :source="message.content"
+              :open-in-app="$accessor.remote.hosting && $accessor.openinapp.enabled"
+            />
           </div>
         </li>
         <li :key="index" class="event" v-if="message.type === 'event'">
@@ -225,6 +229,11 @@
                   display: block;
                 }
               }
+
+              .open-in-app {
+                margin-left: 0.3em;
+                cursor: pointer;
+              }
             }
           }
 
@@ -460,6 +469,27 @@
         target.parentElement.classList.add('active')
         event.preventDefault()
       }
+
+      if (target.classList.contains('open-in-app')) {
+        const href = target.dataset.href
+        if (href) {
+          this.$accessor.openinapp.sendOpenLink(href)
+        }
+        event.preventDefault()
+      }
+
+      if (
+        this.$accessor.settings.links_in_app &&
+        this.$accessor.openinapp.enabled &&
+        this.$accessor.remote.hosting &&
+        target.tagName.toLowerCase() === 'a'
+      ) {
+        const href = target.getAttribute('href')
+        if (href) {
+          this.$accessor.openinapp.sendOpenLink(href)
+          event.preventDefault()
+        }
+      }
     }
 
     onKeyDown(event: KeyboardEvent) {
diff --git a/client/src/components/markdown.ts b/client/src/components/markdown.ts
index 38c6c357..f0b62c6e 100644
--- a/client/src/components/markdown.ts
+++ b/client/src/components/markdown.ts
@@ -136,12 +136,21 @@ const rules: MarkdownRules = {
       }
     },
     html(node, output, state) {
-      return htmlTag(
+      const href = md.sanitizeUrl(node.target) as string
+      const link = htmlTag(
         'a',
         output(node.content, state),
         { href: md.sanitizeUrl(node.target) as string, target: '_blank' },
         state,
       )
+      if (!state.openInApp) return link
+      const inAppIcon = htmlTag(
+        'i',
+        '',
+        { class: 'open-in-app fas fa-arrow-up-right-from-square', 'data-href': href },
+        state,
+      )
+      return link + inAppIcon
     },
   },
   url: {
@@ -158,12 +167,21 @@ const rules: MarkdownRules = {
       }
     },
     html(node, output, state) {
-      return htmlTag(
+      const href = md.sanitizeUrl(node.target) as string
+      const link = htmlTag(
         'a',
         output(node.content, state),
         { href: md.sanitizeUrl(node.target) as string, target: '_blank' },
         state,
       )
+      if (!state.openInApp) return link
+      const inAppIcon = htmlTag(
+        'i',
+        '',
+        { class: 'open-in-app fas fa-arrow-right-to-bracket', 'data-href': href },
+        state,
+      )
+      return link + inAppIcon
     },
   },
   strike: {
@@ -257,12 +275,16 @@ export default class extends Vue {
   @Prop({ required: true })
   source!: string
 
+  @Prop({ default: false })
+  openInApp!: boolean
+
   render(h: any) {
     const state: MarkdownState = {
       inline: true,
       inQuote: false,
       escapeHTML: true,
       cssModuleNames: null,
+      openInApp: this.openInApp,
     }
     return h({ template: `<div>${htmlOutput(parser(this.source, state), state)}</div>` })
   }
diff --git a/client/src/components/settings.vue b/client/src/components/settings.vue
index 080aaa4a..5857b2cd 100644
--- a/client/src/components/settings.vue
+++ b/client/src/components/settings.vue
@@ -35,6 +35,13 @@
           <span />
         </label>
       </li>
+      <li v-if="$accessor.openinapp.enabled">
+        <span>Always open Links in App</span>
+        <label class="switch">
+          <input type="checkbox" v-model="links_in_app" />
+          <span />
+        </label>
+      </li>
       <li>
         <span>{{ $t('setting.keyboard_layout') }}</span>
         <label class="select">
@@ -358,6 +365,14 @@
       this.$accessor.settings.setSound(value)
     }
 
+    get links_in_app() {
+      return this.$accessor.settings.links_in_app
+    }
+
+    set links_in_app(value: boolean) {
+      this.$accessor.settings.setLinksInApp(value)
+    }
+
     get keyboard_layouts_list() {
       return this.$accessor.settings.keyboard_layouts_list
     }
diff --git a/client/src/neko/events.ts b/client/src/neko/events.ts
index fc76e83c..bc72be5c 100644
--- a/client/src/neko/events.ts
+++ b/client/src/neko/events.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@ export const EVENT = {
     LIST: 'filetransfer/list',
     REFRESH: 'filetransfer/refresh',
   },
+  OPENINAPP: {
+    INIT: 'openinapp/init',
+    OPENLINK: 'openinapp/openlink',
+  },
   SCREEN: {
     CONFIGURATIONS: 'screen/configurations',
     RESOLUTION: 'screen/resolution',
@@ -78,6 +82,7 @@ export type WebSocketEvents =
   | SignalEvents
   | ChatEvents
   | FileTransferEvents
+  | OpenInAppEvents
   | ScreenEvents
   | BroadcastEvents
   | AdminEvents
@@ -104,6 +109,8 @@ export type ChatEvents = typeof EVENT.CHAT.MESSAGE | typeof EVENT.CHAT.EMOTE
 
 export type FileTransferEvents = typeof EVENT.FILETRANSFER.LIST | typeof EVENT.FILETRANSFER.REFRESH
 
+export type OpenInAppEvents = typeof EVENT.OPENINAPP.INIT | typeof EVENT.OPENINAPP.OPENLINK
+
 export type ScreenEvents = typeof EVENT.SCREEN.CONFIGURATIONS | typeof EVENT.SCREEN.RESOLUTION | typeof EVENT.SCREEN.SET
 
 export type BroadcastEvents =
diff --git a/client/src/neko/index.ts b/client/src/neko/index.ts
index 848f8464..4d350fb2 100644
--- a/client/src/neko/index.ts
+++ b/client/src/neko/index.ts
@@ -375,6 +375,13 @@ export class NekoClient extends BaseClient implements EventEmitter<NekoEvents> {
     this.$accessor.files.setUserDelete(user_delete)
   }
 
+  /////////////////////////////
+  // Open in App Events
+  /////////////////////////////
+  protected [EVENT.OPENINAPP.INIT]({ enabled }: { enabled: boolean }) {
+    this.$accessor.openinapp.setEnabled(enabled)
+  }
+
   /////////////////////////////
   // Screen Events
   /////////////////////////////
diff --git a/client/src/store/index.ts b/client/src/store/index.ts
index 2bc6c91a..79abd74e 100644
--- a/client/src/store/index.ts
+++ b/client/src/store/index.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { get, set } from '~/utils/localstorage'
 import * as video from './video'
 import * as chat from './chat'
 import * as files from './files'
+import * as openinapp from './openinapp'
 import * as remote from './remote'
 import * as user from './user'
 import * as settings from './settings'
@@ -111,7 +112,7 @@ export const storePattern = {
   mutations,
   actions,
   getters,
-  modules: { video, chat, files, user, remote, settings, client, emoji },
+  modules: { video, chat, files, openinapp, user, remote, settings, client, emoji },
 }
 
 Vue.use(Vuex)
diff --git a/client/src/store/openinapp.ts b/client/src/store/openinapp.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8265001c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/store/openinapp.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import { getterTree, mutationTree, actionTree } from 'typed-vuex'
+import { EVENT } from '~/neko/events'
+import { accessor } from '~/store'
+
+export const namespaced = true
+
+export const state = () => ({
+  enabled: false,
+})
+
+export const getters = getterTree(state, {
+  //
+})
+
+export const mutations = mutationTree(state, {
+  setEnabled(state, enabled: boolean) {
+    state.enabled = enabled
+  },
+})
+
+export const actions = actionTree(
+  { state, getters, mutations },
+  {
+    sendOpenLink(store, url: string) {
+      if (!accessor.connected) return
+      $client.sendMessage(EVENT.OPENINAPP.OPENLINK, { text: url })
+    },
+  },
+)
diff --git a/client/src/store/settings.ts b/client/src/store/settings.ts
index 28707345..2713b95b 100644
--- a/client/src/store/settings.ts
+++ b/client/src/store/settings.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ export const state = () => {
     autoplay: get<boolean>('autoplay', true),
     ignore_emotes: get<boolean>('ignore_emotes', false),
     chat_sound: get<boolean>('chat_sound', true),
+    links_in_app: get<boolean>('links_in_app', false),
     keyboard_layout: get<string>('keyboard_layout', 'us'),
 
     keyboard_layouts_list: {} as KeyboardLayouts,
@@ -53,6 +54,11 @@ export const mutations = mutationTree(state, {
     set('chat_sound', value)
   },
 
+  setLinksInApp(state, value: boolean) {
+    state.links_in_app = value
+    set('links_in_app', value)
+  },
+
   setKeyboardLayout(state, value: string) {
     state.keyboard_layout = value
     set('keyboard_layout', value)
diff --git a/server/internal/http/legacy/wstobackend.go b/server/internal/http/legacy/wstobackend.go
index e761094d..01483416 100644
--- a/server/internal/http/legacy/wstobackend.go
+++ b/server/internal/http/legacy/wstobackend.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/internal/api/room"
 	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/internal/plugins/chat"
 	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/internal/plugins/filetransfer"
+	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/internal/plugins/openinapp"
 	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/pkg/types"
 	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/pkg/types/event"
 	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/pkg/types/message"
@@ -199,6 +200,14 @@ func (s *session) wsToBackend(msg []byte) error {
 	case oldEvent.FILETRANSFER_REFRESH:
 		return s.toBackend(filetransfer.FILETRANSFER_UPDATE, nil)
 
+	// Open In App Events
+	case openinapp.OPENINAPP_OPENLINK:
+		request := &openinapp.Url{}
+    if err := json.Unmarshal(msg, request); err != nil {
+			return err
+    }
+    return s.apiReq(http.MethodPost, "/api/openinapp/openlink", request, nil)
+
 	// Screen Events
 	case oldEvent.SCREEN_RESOLUTION:
 		response := &types.ScreenSize{}
diff --git a/server/internal/http/legacy/wstoclient.go b/server/internal/http/legacy/wstoclient.go
index 5e319757..0aba4d45 100644
--- a/server/internal/http/legacy/wstoclient.go
+++ b/server/internal/http/legacy/wstoclient.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/internal/plugins/chat"
 	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/internal/plugins/filetransfer"
+	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/internal/plugins/openinapp"
 	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/pkg/types"
 	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/pkg/types/event"
 	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/pkg/types/message"
@@ -615,6 +616,21 @@ func (s *session) wsToClient(msg []byte) error {
 			Files:        files,
 		})
 
+	// Open In App Events
+	case openinapp.OPENINAPP_INIT:
+    request := &openinapp.Init{}
+    if err := json.Unmarshal(data.Payload, request); err != nil {
+			return err
+    }
+    return s.toClient(&struct {
+			Event   string `json:"event"`
+			Enabled bool   `json:"enabled"`
+    }{
+			Event:   openinapp.OPENINAPP_INIT,
+			Enabled: request.Enabled,
+    })
+
+
 	// Screen Events
 	case event.SCREEN_UPDATED:
 		request := &message.ScreenSizeUpdate{}
diff --git a/server/internal/plugins/manager.go b/server/internal/plugins/manager.go
index 5e18abf7..6b1873d5 100644
--- a/server/internal/plugins/manager.go
+++ b/server/internal/plugins/manager.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/internal/config"
 	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/internal/plugins/chat"
 	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/internal/plugins/filetransfer"
+	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/internal/plugins/openinapp"
 	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/pkg/types"
 )
 
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ func New(config *config.Plugins) *ManagerCtx {
 	// add built-in plugins
 	manager.plugins.addPlugin(filetransfer.NewPlugin())
 	manager.plugins.addPlugin(chat.NewPlugin())
+	manager.plugins.addPlugin(openinapp.NewPlugin())
 
 	return manager
 }
diff --git a/server/internal/plugins/openinapp/config.go b/server/internal/plugins/openinapp/config.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e9bc2ad7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/internal/plugins/openinapp/config.go
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+package openinapp
+
+import (
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"github.com/spf13/viper"
+)
+
+type Config struct {
+	Enabled bool
+	OpenCommand string
+}
+
+func (Config) Init(cmd *cobra.Command) error {
+	cmd.PersistentFlags().Bool("openinapp.enabled", false, "whether to enable openinapp plugin")
+	if err := viper.BindPFlag("openinapp.enabled", cmd.PersistentFlags().Lookup("openinapp.enabled")); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	cmd.PersistentFlags().String("openinapp.open_command", "xdg-open", "command used to open URLs inside the app")
+	if err := viper.BindPFlag("openinapp.open_command", cmd.PersistentFlags().Lookup("openinapp.open_command")); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (s *Config) Set() {
+	s.Enabled = viper.GetBool("openinapp.enabled")
+	s.OpenCommand = viper.GetString("openinapp.open_command")
+}
diff --git a/server/internal/plugins/openinapp/manager.go b/server/internal/plugins/openinapp/manager.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d2beadfa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/internal/plugins/openinapp/manager.go
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+package openinapp
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/url"
+	"os/exec"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/rs/zerolog"
+	"github.com/rs/zerolog/log"
+
+	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/pkg/auth"
+	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/pkg/types"
+	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/pkg/utils"
+)
+
+func NewManager(
+	sessions types.SessionManager,
+	config *Config,
+) *Manager {
+	logger := log.With().Str("module", "openinapp").Logger()
+
+	return &Manager{
+		logger:   logger,
+		config:   config,
+		sessions: sessions,
+	}
+}
+
+type Manager struct {
+	logger   zerolog.Logger
+	config   *Config
+	sessions types.SessionManager
+}
+
+func (m *Manager) Route(r types.Router) {
+	r.Post("/openlink", m.openLinkHandler)
+}
+
+func (m *Manager) openLinkHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) error {
+	session, ok := auth.GetSession(r)
+	if !ok {
+		return utils.HttpUnauthorized("session not found")
+	}
+
+	if !m.config.Enabled {
+		return utils.HttpForbidden("openinapp is disabled")
+	}
+
+	if !session.IsHost() && (!session.Profile().CanHost || !m.sessions.Settings().ImplicitHosting) {
+		return utils.HttpForbidden("only the host can open links")
+	}
+
+	var req Url
+	if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&req); err != nil {
+		return utils.HttpBadRequest().WithInternalErr(err).Msg("failed to parse request body")
+	}
+
+	parsedUrl, err := url.Parse(req.Text)
+	if err != nil {
+		return utils.HttpBadRequest().WithInternalErr(err).Msg("failed to parse URL")
+	}
+
+	if parsedUrl.Scheme != "http" && parsedUrl.Scheme != "https" {
+		return utils.HttpBadRequest().Msg("URL must use http or https scheme")
+	}
+
+	parts := strings.Fields(m.config.OpenCommand)
+	if len(parts) == 0 {
+		return utils.HttpInternalServerError().Msg("open command is not configured")
+	}
+
+	if err := exec.Command(parts[0], append(parts[1:], parsedUrl.String())...).Start(); err != nil {
+		return utils.HttpInternalServerError().WithInternalErr(err).Msg("failed to start open command")
+	}
+
+	return utils.HttpSuccess(w, nil)
+}
+
+func (m *Manager) Start() error {
+	// send init message once a user connects
+	m.sessions.OnConnected(func(session types.Session) {
+		session.Send(OPENINAPP_INIT, Init{
+			Enabled: m.config.Enabled,
+		})
+	})
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (m *Manager) Shutdown() error {
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/server/internal/plugins/openinapp/plugin.go b/server/internal/plugins/openinapp/plugin.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1c3058c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/internal/plugins/openinapp/plugin.go
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+package openinapp
+
+import (
+	"github.com/m1k1o/neko/server/pkg/types"
+)
+
+type Plugin struct {
+	config  *Config
+	manager *Manager
+}
+
+func NewPlugin() *Plugin {
+	return &Plugin{
+		config: &Config{},
+	}
+}
+
+func (p *Plugin) Name() string {
+	return PluginName
+}
+
+func (p *Plugin) Config() types.PluginConfig {
+	return p.config
+}
+
+func (p *Plugin) Start(m types.PluginManagers) error {
+	p.manager = NewManager(m.SessionManager, p.config)
+	m.ApiManager.AddRouter("/openinapp", p.manager.Route)
+	return p.manager.Start()
+}
+
+func (p *Plugin) Shutdown() error {
+	return p.manager.Shutdown()
+}
diff --git a/server/internal/plugins/openinapp/types.go b/server/internal/plugins/openinapp/types.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4e4d8819
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/internal/plugins/openinapp/types.go
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+package openinapp
+
+const PluginName = "openinapp"
+
+const (
+	OPENINAPP_INIT    = "openinapp/init"
+	OPENINAPP_OPENLINK = "openinapp/openlink"
+)
+
+type Init struct {
+	Enabled bool `json:"enabled"`
+}
+
+type Url struct {
+	Text string `json:"text"`
+}
diff --git a/webpage/docs/configuration/plugins.md b/webpage/docs/configuration/plugins.md
index 8a5fc5a4..768b8daa 100644
--- a/webpage/docs/configuration/plugins.md
+++ b/webpage/docs/configuration/plugins.md
@@ -79,3 +79,19 @@ plugins:
 ```
 
 - `filetransfer.enabled` in the room settings context controls whether the file transfer is enabled for any user in the room, and in the user's profile context controls whether the user can transfer files.
+
+## Open In App Plugin {#openinapp}
+
+The open in app plugin allows users to open links directly from the chat inside the shared neko instance.
+
+<ConfigurationTab options={{
+  'openinapp.enabled': true,
+  'openinapp.open_command': 'xdg-open',
+}} />
+
+- <Def id="openinapp.enabled" /> enables the open in app support.
+  If set to `false`, the feature is hidden from all clients.
+- <Def id="openinapp.open_command" /> is the shell command used to open
+  URLs inside the neko instance. Defaults to `xdg-open`. Can be set to a
+  browser-specific command such as `firefox -P default` depending on
+  the app image in use.
\ No newline at end of file