Show HN: TownSquare, a tiny presence layer for websites(townsquare.cauenapier.com)
260 points by cauenapier 2 days ago | 146 comments
tl;dr: TownSquare is a drop-in `<script>` tag that adds a real-time presence layer to any website, letting visitors see each other as avatars, move around, chat, and interact (jump, high-five) without accounts or signups. It pitches itself as a way to make static web pages feel "inhabited," with a network of participating sites shown on a shared map.
HN Discussion:
  • ~Live demo is overrun with offensive spam, undermining the concept's appeal
  • ~Moderation is the critical challenge, potentially solvable via AI/LLM classification
  • ~Client-side moderation with user-controlled filters would be a better approach
  • Similar prior art exists (Third Voice, Cursor Party, p2p chat extensions)
  • ~Cute concept but hesitant to actually adopt it on own site