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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

#51
At first glance this seems like briar except only supports Bluetooth and is made by someone with a less than stellar privacy record. Its cool, but maybe more as a personal project of Jack's than something I'd want to use in the secure-context he's implying it'd be good at.

Am I missing something?

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

#52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've never understood this argument. Apple spends billions of dollars vetting their store for high quality apps. You can't even verify the build you get off Github was compiled from the same posted source. As much as people want to be "leet" and run 3rd party software, it's inherently insecure and that's why Apple shuts it down.

This might sound crazy but some people want the freedom to use their belongings however they want instead of having artificial child locks placed on them by trillion dollar corporate daddies.

But, sadly, as evidenced by apple’s share price, not enough people.

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

#53
post #9

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 o…

Legit curious what the use case would be, that would justify Apple adding it in. Like, when do you need to text someone who's within Bluetooth range but somehow has no WiFi or cell reception?

On top of that “It would be so easy” is almost never true for a billion users network with all kinds of edge cases. Seems like a very narrow use case when there’s things missing from iMessage that could be way more appealing for a bigger group of users.

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

#55
post #9

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 o…

Legit curious what the use case would be, that would justify Apple adding it in. Like, when do you need to text someone who's within Bluetooth range but somehow has no WiFi or cell reception?

When you're at a protest and the government shuts off the internet in response to the protest. It's happening right now in Togo, has been for ten days (https://pulse.internetsociety.org/en/shutdowns/).

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

#56
post #9

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 o…

Legit curious what the use case would be, that would justify Apple adding it in. Like, when do you need to text someone who's within Bluetooth range but somehow has no WiFi or cell reception?

When would you want to peer over third party networks while a direct connection is possible?

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

#58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd much rather Apple allow running something like this (open source) myself rather than use their "just trust me bro" store.

I've never understood this argument. Apple spends billions of dollars vetting their store for high quality apps. You can't even verify the build you get off Github was compiled from the same posted source. As much as people want to be "leet" and run 3rd party software, it's inherently insecure and that's why Apple shuts it down.

> You can't even verify the build you get off Github was compiled from the same posted source

Sure you can: build it and check the hash. If the maintainer prepared for such a check ahead of time it can be as simple as:

    wget https://github.com/owner/foo-project/releases/download/.../foo
    sha256sum foo                       # make note of this 
    nix build github:owner/foo-project
    sha256sum result/bin/foo            # it should match this
A pinky promise from a corporation can never be more trustworthy than something that we can all verify locally.

Of course there's still the should-you-trust-this-code part of the problem, but at least bad guys in that case must operate in public view, which is--once again--a stronger deterrent to shenanigans than anything that happens behind closed doors at Apple.

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

#59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Legit curious what the use case would be, that would justify Apple adding it in. Like, when do you need to text someone who's within Bluetooth range but somehow has no WiFi or cell reception?

Airplane

I use Berkanan for just this purpose. Sometimes my partner and I don’t sit next to each other, and it’s an easy way to message.
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