System Requirements Document (SRD) for 3AM Strangers

1. Introduction

The 3AM Strangers project is an anonymous late-night chat platform designed to foster raw, judgment-free connections between strangers during the quiet hours of the night. Operating exclusively between 2AM and 5AM local time, 3AM Strangers provides a safe, ephemeral space for users to share thoughts, emotions, and experiences without the burden of profiles, history, or judgment. This document outlines the system requirements for the platform, incorporating recent updates to include AI companions with dynamic conversational capabilities that adapt to the flow of the conversation.

The platform is tailored for users in India (IN), with features such as localized pricing in INR (₹), timezone-based unlocking, and culturally relevant design elements. This document reflects the latest updates requested by Parth Tyagi, ensuring the platform delivers an engaging, empathetic, and seamless experience.

2. System Overview

3AM Strangers is a platform that unlocks during the late-night hours (2AM–5AM local time) and offers users a unique space to connect anonymously. Conversations are temporary and disappear by morning, ensuring privacy and fostering honest interactions. The platform includes features such as mood-based chat rooms, ephemeral 1-on-1 matching, and AI companions that adapt dynamically to user interactions.

Key features include:

• Anonymous, judgment-free chat experiences.
• AI companions with natural conversational styles that adapt dynamically to the flow of the conversation.
• A soothing, late-night aesthetic with calming visuals and sounds.
• Paid subscription tiers for enhanced features, such as priority matching, extended hours, and chat-saving capabilities.
• A 24/7 journal feature for users to record their thoughts.

3. Functional Requirements as Story Points

• As a User, I should be able to chat anonymously with a stranger between 2AM and 5AM local time.
• As a User, I should be able to select a mood room that aligns with my current emotional state.
• As a User, I should be able to interact with AI companions that adapt dynamically to the flow of the conversation.
• As a User, I should be able to choose from AI companions with distinct personas, such as "therapist," "best friend," "girlfriend," "boyfriend," "wife," or "husband."
• As a User, I should be able to hear soothing background music or ambient sounds during my chat sessions.
• As a User, I should be able to save one chat per month with a paid subscription.
• As a User, I should be able to access a journal feature 24/7 to record my thoughts.
• As a User, I should be able to receive AI-initiated conversation prompts when I am idle or quiet.
• As a User, I should be able to see a live count of active users in the lobby.
• As a User, I should be able to unlock special features like "The Void" after 3:30AM.
• As a User, I should be able to purchase one-time features like saving a chat or sending a "Find Me Tomorrow" token.
• As a User, I should be able to report inappropriate behavior or messages.
• As a User, I should be able to experience smooth transitions and animations throughout the platform.

4. User Personas

1. Anonymous User

   • Primary user of the platform.
   • Seeks late-night, judgment-free conversations.
   • May be feeling lonely, restless, or introspective.

2. AI Companion

   • Virtual personas designed to provide dynamic, empathetic conversations.
   • Includes roles such as:
     • Therapist: Calm, insightful, and supportive.
     • Best Friend: Playful, warm, and relatable.
     • Girlfriend/Boyfriend: Romantic, attentive, and affectionate.
     • Wife/Husband: Caring, understanding, and steady.
   • Initiates conversations and adapts to the user’s mood.

3. Paid Subscriber

   • Users who pay for enhanced features like extended hours, priority matching, and chat-saving capabilities.

4. Journal User

   • Users who utilize the 24/7 journal feature to record their thoughts and emotions.
   • May use the journal as a therapeutic outlet or a space for reflection.

5. Visuals Colors and Theme

Color Palette

• Background: #0B132B (Deep Navy Blue)
• Surface: #1C2541 (Dusky Indigo)
• Text: #F5F7FA (Fog White)
• Accent: #FFD700 (Muted Gold)
• Muted Tones: #3A506B (Muted Blue)

Fonts

• Headings: Playfair Display
• Body: Inter

UI Elements

• Soft glow effects.
• Blurred edges for a dreamy aesthetic.
• Gentle fades and transitions.

6. Signature Design Concept

"The Midnight Galaxy" Interactive Homepage

The homepage of 3AM Strangers will immerse users in a serene, interactive galaxy. Upon opening the platform, users will see a dark, starry sky with subtle, twinkling stars. The stars will gently pulse, creating a calming rhythm. As the user moves their cursor, the stars will subtly shift, giving the illusion of floating through space.

At the center of the screen, a glowing clock will count down to 2AM, surrounded by rotating poetic lines like:

• "The night is honest."
• "Some things are only said at 3AM."
• "Waiting for the quiet hours."

Ambient sounds of soft rain or a distant cityscape will play in the background. When the platform unlocks, the stars will part, revealing the entry prompt: "You’re not the only one awake." Users will then be guided through a seamless onboarding process.

7. Non-Functional Requirements

• The system must support real-time chat using WebSockets.
• All conversations must auto-delete at 5AM local time.
• The platform must adapt to the user’s local timezone.
• The system must handle up to 10,000 concurrent users.
• The AI companions must respond within 1 second to user inputs.
• The platform must maintain a 99.9% uptime during operational hours.

8. Tech Stack

Frontend

• React for Web

Backend

• Python
• FastAPI

Database

• MySQL (with Alembic for migrations)

AI Models

• GPT 5.4 for user-friendly responses.
• Claude 4.6 Opas for academic or coding work.
• Gemini 3.1 Pro for friendly responses.

AI Tools

• LangChain for conversational flow.
• LiteLLM for LLM routing.

Orchestration

• Docker and Docker Compose for local development.
• Kubernetes for server-side orchestration.

9. Assumptions and Constraints

• The platform will operate exclusively between 2AM and 5AM local time.
• AI companions will only retain conversational context for the same session.
• Users must have internet access to use the platform.
• The platform will not store any user data beyond the session duration.

10. Glossary

• AI Companion: Virtual personas designed to provide empathetic, dynamic conversations.
• Mood Room: Themed chat rooms that align with the user’s emotional state.
• The Void: A special feature that unlocks after 3:30AM, offering deeper, more introspective conversations.
• Night Token: A symbolic gesture users can send during chats.
• WebSockets: A protocol enabling real-time, two-way communication between the server and clients.
• PWA: Progressive Web App, allowing the platform to function like a native app on mobile devices.

This updated SRD reflects the latest requirements and creative vision for 3AM Strangers. Let me know if there are any additional changes or enhancements you'd like to include, Parth!