yes i meant separate instance also we just have to put this, dark souls wiki also uses it

You don’t need to rewrite the whole page—just inject the pieces for Socket .io and your chat UI where indicated. Here’s exactly what to add or change in existing HTML (THIS PAGE):

---

1. Include Socket.IO on the client

Find the closing </head> tag and just before it insert:

  <!-- Socket.IO client library (served automatically by your server) -->
  <script src="/socket.io/socket.io.js"></script>
  <!-- Optional: simple styles for the chat box -->
  <style>
    #chat-container {
      position: fixed;
      bottom: 0;
      right: 0;
      width: 300px;
      max-height: 400px;
      background: white;
      border: 1px solid #ccc;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      font-family: sans-serif;
      z-index: 1000;
    }
    #chat-messages {
      flex: 1;
      overflow-y: auto;
      padding: 8px;
    }
    #chat-form {
      display: flex;
      border-top: 1px solid #eee;
    }
    #chat-input {
      flex: 1;
      border: none;
      padding: 8px;
    }
    #chat-send {
      border: none;
      padding: 8px 12px;
      cursor: pointer;
    }
  </style>
</head>

---

2. Add the chat HTML

Find the closing </body> tag and just before it paste:

  <!-- Chat widget -->
  <div id="chat-container">
    <div id="chat-messages"></div>
    <form id="chat-form">
      <input id="chat-input" autocomplete="off" placeholder="Type a message…" />
      <button type="submit" id="chat-send">Send</button>
    </form>
  </div>

---

3. Wire up the client-side JavaScript

Right below that (still before </body>), add:

  <script>
    // connect using the global io() function
    const socket = io();

    const form = document.getElementById('chat-form');
    const input = document.getElementById('chat-input');
    const messages = document.getElementById('chat-messages');

    // render incoming messages
    socket.on('message', ({ from, text }) => {
      const div = document.createElement('div');
      div.textContent = from + ': ' + text;
      messages.appendChild(div);
      messages.scrollTop = messages.scrollHeight;
    });

    // on submit send to server
    form.addEventListener('submit', e => {
      e.preventDefault();
      const msg = input.value.trim();
      if (!msg) return;
      socket.emit('message', msg);
      input.value = '';
    });
  </script>
</body>
</html>

---

4. Ensure your server is serving this page and Socket.IO

On your Node/Express server (the same one you use to serve the Lemmy/lemm.ee front-end), you need to:

1. Install Socket.IO:

   npm install socket.io
   

2. Hook it up to your HTTP server (roughly as in the example I shared before), making sure you share sessions so only logged-in users connect.

   The minimal changes in your server.js (or equivalent) are:

   const http = require('http');
   const socketIO = require('socket.io');
   // … your existing Express `app`
   
   const server = http.createServer(app);
   const io = socketIO(server);
   
   // (if you have session middleware already:)
   io.use((socket, next) => {
     // reuse your Express session middleware here…
     sessionMiddleware(socket.request, socket.request.res || {}, next);
   });
   
   io.on('connection', socket => {
     const user = socket.request.session.user; 
     if (!user) return socket.disconnect(true);
   
     socket.broadcast.emit('message', {
       from: 'SYSTEM',
       text: `${user.name} joined.`
     });
   
     socket.on('message', msg => {
       io.emit('message', { from: user.name, text: msg });
     });
   
     socket.on('disconnect', () => {
       io.emit('message', {
         from: 'SYSTEM',
         text: `${user.name} left.`
       });
     });
   });
   
   server.listen(3000);
   

---

Summary of “what changed” in your HTML

1. Head: added <script src=“/socket.io/socket.io.js”> + minimal CSS
2. Body: injected a <div id=“chat-container”>…</div> chat widget
3. Footer: added a <script>…</script> block to wire up io()

With those three small patches, your existing site will host a floating chat box that’s only usable by authenticated users. Let me know if you need help wiring up the session middleware or adjusting the styles!