Spatial compute devices form an ad-hoc communication network that comprises includes point-to-point wireless links between the spatial compute devices. The spatial compute devices exchange application data for a user application over the ad-hoc communication network. The spatial compute devices indicate their ad-hoc communication network, user application, and application users to an application server system. A new spatial compute device detects the ad-hoc communication network and queries the application server system. The application server system responds to the new device with the application users that are currently using the user application over the ad-hoc communication network. The new device presents to a user the application users that are currently using the user application over the ad-hoc network, and in response, receives a user selection of the user application. The new device wirelessly exchanges new application data for the user application with the other application users over the ad-hoc communication network.