Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

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

github.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

301–310 of 457 posts

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

#301

Post by kosolam »

glitchc wrote: post #278
kosolam wrote: post #264

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I gather you aren’t familiar very well with smart contracts, are you?

More familiar than you can imagine. The fact that you think smart contracts are what are needed to solve a decentralized communications problem suggests that you've learnt a new hammer and everything now looks like a nail to you.

Please check the parent comment which I replied to, this is a solution to “how to implement a robust micropayment system” in this context, not how to solve a “decentralized communications problem”.

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

#303

Post by sunnybeetroot »

apetresc wrote: post #46
lxgr wrote: 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?

Apple added support for this 10 years ago

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/multipeerconnectiv...

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

#304

Post by poisonborz »

hiatus wrote: post #292
Marlinski wrote: post #274

Earlier quoted context omitted.

that was basically Rumble an app I developped 10 years ago: https://github.com/Marlinski/Rumble I worked the field both academic and startup, I even made one of the first implementation of the Bundle protocol for store carry and forward (IETF transport protocol for the deep space network RFC9171). Turns out the Mobile OS are making this kind of communication nearly impossible. To work well, it basically needs backgro…

> Turns out the Mobile OS are making this kind of communication nearly impossible. To work well, it basically needs background job (automatic scan of nearby ble/wifi/radio) and automatic connection without user interaction (imagine being prompted to accept a connection every time you pass by someone), both have been basically made impossible (especially after covid). Isn't this how some covid-specific apps work to le…

They relied only on scanning nearby id-s, without communication.

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

#305

Post by 01HNNWZ0MV43FF »

repeekad wrote: post #218
Aurornis wrote: post #201

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Senders pay a small fee to send a message. • Relaying devices earn a micro-payment (could be tokens, sats, etc.) for carrying the message one hop further. The Helium Network tried something like this, but with a fixed infrastructure: People were incentivized to run Helium network nodes and could earn micropayments for running nodes and handling traffic. It revealed a lot of problems with structures like this, such…

> I think it would be interesting if someone could invent a stable coin cryptocurrency with low overhead Like the US dollar and Postgres? For like $200 anyone can start a business entity in the US with a tax ID and a bank, I’m still yet to understand how crypto is better other than for circumventing regulators

Where's the API for sending and receiving USD?

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

#306

Post by elpakal »

moneywaters wrote: post #96

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…

https://ditto.live

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

#307

Post by lossolo »

BluSyn wrote: 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.

> Surprised to see Jack pushing code himself. Love to see it.

Almost the whole repo is LLM generated. Look at the commits, code, structure and wording of the docs.

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

#308

Post by Ray20 »

zawaideh wrote: post #197
jacobgkau wrote: post #100

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.

First use that comes to mind is Gaza where Israel cut off power, bombed cell towers and internet cables. Something like this could help get messages out.

I don't think this is relevant. Free communication of people is the last thing regimes like those that govern Gaza need. My money on that local authorities will literally execute people for simply having such apps on their phones.

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

#309

Post by zhynn »

moneywaters wrote: post #96

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…

This reminds me a little of [Scuttlebutt](https://scuttlebutt.nz) (positive it has been posted on HN before). But I think these little projects are awesome, even if they have a limited audience. Go forth!

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

#310

Post by b33f »

rlt wrote: post #123

The coolest thing about this is apparently it’s written by Jack Dorsey, billionaire founder of Twitter/Square. https://x.com/jack/status/1941989435962212728 Cool to see he still gets his hands dirty in code.

It's not though, it's written by someone called nothankyou1 https://github.com/jackjackbits/bitchat/graphs/contributors
Post reply on HN