Live data from Hacker News

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

github.com

21–30 of 457 posts

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

#21

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.

I'm working on a project that uses the same kind of idea as the Bluetooth tracking tags. It's an Arduino library for mesh networking, that works over BLE and UDP, but it can also link to MQTT. An MQTT node routes the packets it sees to the appropriate topics, and subscribes to topics for all the channels local nodes want, so you should be able to talk to anyone anywhere via the gateway. The packet destination address…

Super interesting! Leaving the transport layer as modular is definitely a great choice! I like the idea of MQTT because there’s a lot of methods of serving it. I’ve been in the middle of setting up a meshtastic MQTT mode to try it out.

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

#22
post #14

FYI on X there is a TestFlight link to try it: https://x.com/jack/status/1941989435962212728 Surprised to see Jack pushing code himself. Love to see it.

Is there a link to the TestFlight itself?

https://testflight.apple.com/join/QwkyFq6z

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

#24

Interesting try but Bluetooth LE is a non-starter when talking about building a truly decentralized mesh network at scale. The range isn’t there to build a network unless its very tight (in distance). You need sub MHz and eventually cubesats to build something robust, everything else is a toy.

The big problem with BLE is the insane amounts of packet loss with extended advertising, even with perfect SNR many devices seem to just kind of not have the receive windows lined up right and drop 10% of packets.

The range is perfectly good for a lot of applications where one might actually want to not use the internet, just not all of them.

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

#25
post #14

FYI on X there is a TestFlight link to try it: https://x.com/jack/status/1941989435962212728 Surprised to see Jack pushing code himself. Love to see it.

Is there a link to the TestFlight itself?

Wasn’t sure if a random TestFlight link would be safe/wise to share, so shared original source.

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

#26
post #18

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.

>Universal App For Apple only. In what way is this universal?

It is Apple terminology for an app that supports both iPad and iPhone.

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

#28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm working on a project that uses the same kind of idea as the Bluetooth tracking tags. It's an Arduino library for mesh networking, that works over BLE and UDP, but it can also link to MQTT. An MQTT node routes the packets it sees to the appropriate topics, and subscribes to topics for all the channels local nodes want, so you should be able to talk to anyone anywhere via the gateway. The packet destination address…

Super interesting! Leaving the transport layer as modular is definitely a great choice! I like the idea of MQTT because there’s a lot of methods of serving it. I’ve been in the middle of setting up a meshtastic MQTT mode to try it out.

I was originally going to do OpenDHT, but that would have required building and paying to host a proxy backed for the web app.

I wonder what other transports you could do, like 38khz IR through a telescope?

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

#29
post #26
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Universal App For Apple only. In what way is this universal?

It is Apple terminology for an app that supports both iPad and iPhone.

And Mac.

SwiftUI apps can often do both.

I’m probably gonna rewrite my Bluetooth explorer app in SwiftUI. Doesn’t need any fancy UI.

Post reply on HN