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Bitchat – A decentralized messaging app that works over Bluetooth mesh networks

github.com

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Re: Bitchat – A decentralized messaging app that works over Bluetooth mesh networks

#3

Post by ajr0 »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #2

Looks pretty interesting. From what I can see, it's a native IOS/MacOS app (SwiftUI). I don't see an Android version. Also seems pretty spartan, but it looks like it could be embedded in "friendlier" apps.

I find this interesting, there was a briar app that was spoken about a few months ago that was only for android citing that iOS had issues [0] with apps running in background, wonder if/how this was solved here.

Also, I have not seen unlicense before -- guess I'm one of todays lucky 10,000

[0] https://code.briarproject.org/briar/briar/-/wikis/FAQ#will-t...

Re: Bitchat – A decentralized messaging app that works over Bluetooth mesh networks

#4

Post by syntaxing »

Whoa this is really neat. I’ve been trying to get into Meshtastic but it’s hard to convince others when you need special hardware. Would be super neat if Apple did something similar. Shouldn’t be too hard since the AirTags use the same idea?

Would also be neat if there was a way to build a LoRA proxy to extend the range. I might give this a try with my meshtastic devices.

Re: Bitchat – A decentralized messaging app that works over Bluetooth mesh networks

#6

Post by ChrisMarshallNY »

ajr0 wrote: post #3
ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #2

Looks pretty interesting. From what I can see, it's a native IOS/MacOS app (SwiftUI). I don't see an Android version. Also seems pretty spartan, but it looks like it could be embedded in "friendlier" apps.

I find this interesting, there was a briar app that was spoken about a few months ago that was only for android citing that iOS had issues [0] with apps running in background, wonder if/how this was solved here. Also, I have not seen unlicense before -- guess I'm one of todays lucky 10,000 [0] https://code.briarproject.org/briar/briar/-/wikis/FAQ#will-t...

IOS/Apple Bluetooth is an interesting place.

Backrounding is kinda klunky. I think it's deliberate, as that's a real security vector.

Re: Bitchat – A decentralized messaging app that works over Bluetooth mesh networks

#7

Post by ckcheng »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #2

Looks pretty interesting. From what I can see, it's a native IOS/MacOS app (SwiftUI). I don't see an Android version. Also seems pretty spartan, but it looks like it could be embedded in "friendlier" apps.

No android but “can” be built?

> protocol is designed to be platform-agnostic. An Android client can be built

https://github.com/jackjackbits/bitchat?tab=readme-ov-file#a...

Re: Bitchat – A decentralized messaging app that works over Bluetooth mesh networks

#9

Post by lxgr »

Very nice! Could this be published in the App Store, or does it use any APIs Apple considers off-limits?

I'm regularly frustrated by modern phone's complete inabilities to allow any communication when outside of mobile network or Wi-Fi coverage, not even within the two large walled gardens.

It would be so easy for Apple to extend iMessage to work peer-to-peer, at least between people that have already messaged each other before and while both screens are on. That's literally how AirDrop works, and having to send a "Notes" text back and forth is just silly.

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