Construct vs Dendrite
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted matrix & xmpp options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Construct | Dendrite |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 11 · At risk | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Matrix & XMPP | Matrix & XMPP |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | C++ | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 394 | ★ 5,625 |
| First released | 2018 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord | Slack, Discord |
What are Construct and Dendrite?
Construct
Construct is a Matrix homeserver implementation written in C++ focused on raw performance and efficiency. It is one of the original alternative homeserver projects in the Matrix ecosystem.
- Written in modern C++
- Designed for low overhead
- Matrix federation support
- Embedded database
Dendrite
Dendrite is a lightweight, efficient Matrix homeserver written in Go by the Matrix.org team. It is designed to be a more resource-efficient alternative to Synapse while remaining fully compatible with the Matrix protocol.
- Lower memory footprint than Synapse
- Federated Matrix protocol
- End-to-end encryption support
- Polylith and monolith deployment modes
Construct vs Dendrite: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Dendrite's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Construct is actively maintained. Construct is written in C++, while Dendrite is built with Go. Licensing differs — BSD-3-Clause for Construct versus Apache-2.0 for Dendrite. Construct is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Dendrite. Dendrite has the considerably larger community, at 5,625 GitHub stars versus 394. Dendrite lists first-class Docker deployment; Construct does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Construct if…
- Released under the BSD-3-Clause license
- Written in C++
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Watch out for
- Complex to build
- Limited documentation
Choose Dendrite if…
- Much lighter than Synapse
- Active development by Matrix.org
Watch out for
- Some Synapse features still missing
- Less battle-tested at large scale
Frequently asked questions
Is Construct or Dendrite better?
Dendrite is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Dendrite if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Construct and Dendrite free and open-source?
Yes. Construct is licensed under BSD-3-Clause and Dendrite under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Construct and Dendrite with Docker?
Construct: check the project docs for container support. Dendrite: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Construct or Dendrite?
Construct has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Dendrite. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.