Live data from Hacker News

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

github.com

111–120 of 457 posts

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

#111

I’ve been toying with a concept inspired by Apple’s Find My network: Imagine a decentralized, delay-tolerant messaging system where messages hop device-to-device (e.g., via Bluetooth, UWB, Wi-Fi Direct), similar to how “Find My” relays location via nearby iPhones. Now add a twist: • Senders pay a small fee to send a message. • Relaying devices earn a micro-payment (could be tokens, sats, etc.) for carrying the messag…

Delta chat does this, without the micropayment.

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

#112

I’ve been toying with a concept inspired by Apple’s Find My network: Imagine a decentralized, delay-tolerant messaging system where messages hop device-to-device (e.g., via Bluetooth, UWB, Wi-Fi Direct), similar to how “Find My” relays location via nearby iPhones. Now add a twist: • Senders pay a small fee to send a message. • Relaying devices earn a micro-payment (could be tokens, sats, etc.) for carrying the messag…

Who would you pay for sending messages? That's your centralization point. Alternatively if you allow "starting balance", how would you prevent from making a lot of accounts for spam sending?

imagine building a lightning client into this.

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

#113
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.

Interestingly only a few commits were written by his account. Almost all were from https://github.com/nothankyou1

He doesn't use personal identifiers on any of his devices, afaik.

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

#114
post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Works best in areas with patchy or no internet, or under censorship. The biggest problem I immediately foresee is that this sounds backwards. It doesn't work best in areas with patchy or no internet, it works best in areas with lots of participating devices. It's most needed in areas with patchy or no internet, but those areas are likely to be the opposite of the areas with lots of participating devices.

> It's most needed in areas with patchy or no internet, but those areas are likely to be the opposite of the areas with lots of participating devices. In fairness to op, the proposed solution seems best intended for comms blackouts in densely populated areas rather than areas with persistently limited access.

[deleted]

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

#115
post #85

A bit different, as it's mainly for voice - but I made an app 'Murmur : Bluetooth Group Calls' - that lets you hold group voice calls and message via a mesh of Bluetooth LE connections. It's available on Android and iOS. https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/murmur-bluetooth-group-calls/i... Doesn't really get any downloads, so not sure there's much demand for this - but I use it with some shokz bone conducting headphones fo…

Cool technology, but what is the usecase? I can imagine traveling abroad without a sim and using it as described. But is it any better than using the cellular network (when you have access to it)?

I commonly Signal call my partner when we are at opposite ends of the house. I can see something like this being useful to prevent using some remote Internet server to facilitate a very local call.

I wonder if there's a home lab / self hosted solution for this.

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

#117

Is this similar to Briar? I reckon a cool feature would be the ability to create a poll. Use case? You're in the middle of a protest. Where to next?

> Use case? You're in the middle of a protest. Where to next?

Hopefully, not in prison.

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

#118

I’ve been toying with a concept inspired by Apple’s Find My network: Imagine a decentralized, delay-tolerant messaging system where messages hop device-to-device (e.g., via Bluetooth, UWB, Wi-Fi Direct), similar to how “Find My” relays location via nearby iPhones. Now add a twist: • Senders pay a small fee to send a message. • Relaying devices earn a micro-payment (could be tokens, sats, etc.) for carrying the messag…

> Relaying devices earn a micro-payment

The thing is, it's almost impossible to guarantee payments work as expected in decentralized system, see "double spend attack". Bitcoin was designed to prevent it but does it by having common ledger which is a bit too much for a chat

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

#119

I’ve been toying with a concept inspired by Apple’s Find My network: Imagine a decentralized, delay-tolerant messaging system where messages hop device-to-device (e.g., via Bluetooth, UWB, Wi-Fi Direct), similar to how “Find My” relays location via nearby iPhones. Now add a twist: • Senders pay a small fee to send a message. • Relaying devices earn a micro-payment (could be tokens, sats, etc.) for carrying the messag…

[dead]

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

#120

I’ve been toying with a concept inspired by Apple’s Find My network: Imagine a decentralized, delay-tolerant messaging system where messages hop device-to-device (e.g., via Bluetooth, UWB, Wi-Fi Direct), similar to how “Find My” relays location via nearby iPhones. Now add a twist: • Senders pay a small fee to send a message. • Relaying devices earn a micro-payment (could be tokens, sats, etc.) for carrying the messag…

> Works best in areas with patchy or no internet, or under censorship. The biggest problem I immediately foresee is that this sounds backwards. It doesn't work best in areas with patchy or no internet, it works best in areas with lots of participating devices. It's most needed in areas with patchy or no internet, but those areas are likely to be the opposite of the areas with lots of participating devices.

[dead]
Post reply on HN