Story

I built an anonymous messaging app that runs as a Telegram Mini App. Share your link, friends send anonymous messages, unlock them with Telegram Stars (no credit card needed).

Tech stack: Node.js/Express, PostgreSQL, React, Telegraf. Single Hetzner VPS with PM2. Total cost: ~$5/month.

Interesting technical bits: - Auth uses Telegram's initData with HMAC validation (no passwords) - Payments via Telegram Stars API (createInvoiceLink → pre_checkout → successful_payment) - Haptic feedback makes WebView feel native - i18n for English + Russian

Try it: https://t.me/WhisprMe_bot

Happy to answer questions about the Telegram Mini App platform or Stars payment flow.