wifi aware wip

app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
     <!-- Internet permissions for Nostr relay connections -->
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CHANGE_NETWORK_STATE" />
     
     <!-- Bluetooth permissions -->
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BLUETOOTH" android:maxSdkVersion="30" />
@@ -20,6 +21,12 @@
     <!-- Notification permissions -->
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS" />
 
+    <!-- Wi‑Fi / Wi‑Fi Aware permissions -->
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE" />
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CHANGE_WIFI_STATE" />
+    <!-- Android 13+ runtime permission for Wi‑Fi operations (including Aware) -->
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.NEARBY_WIFI_DEVICES" />
+    
     <!-- Microphone for voice notes -->
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO" />
 
@@ -38,6 +45,8 @@
     <!-- Hardware features -->
     <uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.bluetooth_le" android:required="true" />
     <uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.bluetooth" android:required="true" />
+    <!-- Device support hint for Wi‑Fi Aware (optional) -->
+    <uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.wifi.aware" android:required="false" />
 
     <application
         android:name=".BitchatApplication"

app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/BitchatApplication.kt

@@ -38,6 +38,12 @@ class BitchatApplication : Application() {
         // Initialize debug preference manager (persists debug toggles)
         try { com.bitchat.android.ui.debug.DebugPreferenceManager.init(this) } catch (_: Exception) { }
 
+        // Initialize Wi‑Fi Aware controller with persisted default
+        try {
+            val enabled = com.bitchat.android.ui.debug.DebugPreferenceManager.getWifiAwareEnabled(false)
+            com.bitchat.android.wifiaware.WifiAwareController.initialize(this, enabled)
+        } catch (_: Exception) { }
+
         // TorManager already initialized above
     }
 }

app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/onboarding/OnboardingCoordinator.kt

@@ -209,6 +209,7 @@ class OnboardingCoordinator(
         return when {
             permission.contains("BLUETOOTH") -> "Bluetooth/Nearby Devices"
             permission.contains("LOCATION") -> "Location (for Bluetooth scanning)"
+            permission.contains("NEARBY_WIFI") -> "Nearby Wi‑Fi Devices (for Wi‑Fi Aware)"
             permission.contains("NOTIFICATION") -> "Notifications"
             else -> permission.substringAfterLast(".")
         }

app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/onboarding/PermissionExplanationScreen.kt

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Notifications
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Power
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Mic
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Security
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Wifi
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Settings
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Warning
 import androidx.compose.material3.*
@@ -242,6 +243,7 @@ private fun getPermissionIcon(permissionType: PermissionType): ImageVector {
         PermissionType.PRECISE_LOCATION -> Icons.Filled.LocationOn
         PermissionType.MICROPHONE -> Icons.Filled.Mic
         PermissionType.NOTIFICATIONS -> Icons.Filled.Notifications
+        PermissionType.WIFI_AWARE -> Icons.Filled.Wifi
         PermissionType.BATTERY_OPTIMIZATION -> Icons.Filled.Power
         PermissionType.OTHER -> Icons.Filled.Settings
     }

app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/onboarding/PermissionManager.kt

@@ -67,6 +67,11 @@ class PermissionManager(private val context: Context) {
             Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
         ))
 
+        // Wi‑Fi Aware: Android 13+ requires NEARBY_WIFI_DEVICES runtime permission
+        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.TIRAMISU) {
+            permissions.add(Manifest.permission.NEARBY_WIFI_DEVICES)
+        }
+
         // Notification permission intentionally excluded to keep it optional
 
         return permissions
@@ -177,6 +182,20 @@ class PermissionManager(private val context: Context) {
             )
         )
 
+        // Wi‑Fi Aware category (Android 13+)
+        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.TIRAMISU) {
+            val wifiAwarePermissions = listOf(Manifest.permission.NEARBY_WIFI_DEVICES)
+            categories.add(
+                PermissionCategory(
+                    type = PermissionType.WIFI_AWARE,
+                    description = "Enable Wi‑Fi Aware to discover and connect to nearby bitchat users over Wi‑Fi.",
+                    permissions = wifiAwarePermissions,
+                    isGranted = wifiAwarePermissions.all { isPermissionGranted(it) },
+                    systemDescription = "Allow bitchat to discover nearby Wi‑Fi devices"
+                )
+            )
+        }
+
         // Notifications category (if applicable)
         if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.TIRAMISU) {
             categories.add(
@@ -262,6 +281,7 @@ enum class PermissionType(val nameValue: String) {
     PRECISE_LOCATION("Precise Location"),
     MICROPHONE("Microphone"),
     NOTIFICATIONS("Notifications"),
+    WIFI_AWARE("Wi‑Fi Aware"),
     BATTERY_OPTIMIZATION("Battery Optimization"),
     OTHER("Other")
 }

app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/SidebarComponents.kt

@@ -576,9 +576,21 @@ private fun PeerItem(
                     tint = Color.Gray
                 )
             } else {
+                val wifiAwarePeers by com.bitchat.android.wifiaware.WifiAwareController.connectedPeers.collectAsState()
+                val isWifiAware = wifiAwarePeers.containsKey(peerID)
+                val icon = when {
+                    isWifiAware -> Icons.Filled.Wifi
+                    isDirect -> Icons.Outlined.SettingsInputAntenna
+                    else -> Icons.Filled.Route
+                }
+                val cd = when {
+                    isWifiAware -> "Direct Wi‑Fi Aware"
+                    isDirect -> "Direct Bluetooth"
+                    else -> "Routed"
+                }
                 Icon(
-                    imageVector = if (isDirect) Icons.Outlined.SettingsInputAntenna else Icons.Filled.Route,
+                    imageVector = icon,
-                    contentDescription = if (isDirect) "Direct Bluetooth" else "Routed",
+                    contentDescription = cd,
                     modifier = Modifier.size(16.dp),
                     tint = colorScheme.onSurface.copy(alpha = 0.8f)
                 )

app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/debug/DebugPreferenceManager.kt

@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ object DebugPreferenceManager {
     // GCS keys (no migration/back-compat)
     private const val KEY_GCS_MAX_BYTES = "gcs_max_filter_bytes"
     private const val KEY_GCS_FPR = "gcs_filter_fpr_percent"
+    // Transport master toggles
+    private const val KEY_BLE_ENABLED = "ble_enabled"
+    private const val KEY_WIFI_AWARE_ENABLED = "wifi_aware_enabled"
+    private const val KEY_WIFI_AWARE_VERBOSE = "wifi_aware_verbose"
 
     private lateinit var prefs: SharedPreferences
 
@@ -100,4 +104,26 @@ object DebugPreferenceManager {
     fun setGcsFprPercent(value: Double) {
         if (ready()) prefs.edit().putLong(KEY_GCS_FPR, java.lang.Double.doubleToRawLongBits(value)).apply()
     }
+
+    // Transport toggles
+    fun getBleEnabled(default: Boolean = true): Boolean =
+        if (ready()) prefs.getBoolean(KEY_BLE_ENABLED, default) else default
+
+    fun setBleEnabled(value: Boolean) {
+        if (ready()) prefs.edit().putBoolean(KEY_BLE_ENABLED, value).apply()
+    }
+
+    fun getWifiAwareEnabled(default: Boolean = false): Boolean =
+        if (ready()) prefs.getBoolean(KEY_WIFI_AWARE_ENABLED, default) else default
+
+    fun setWifiAwareEnabled(value: Boolean) {
+        if (ready()) prefs.edit().putBoolean(KEY_WIFI_AWARE_ENABLED, value).apply()
+    }
+
+    fun getWifiAwareVerbose(default: Boolean = false): Boolean =
+        if (ready()) prefs.getBoolean(KEY_WIFI_AWARE_VERBOSE, default) else default
+
+    fun setWifiAwareVerbose(value: Boolean) {
+        if (ready()) prefs.edit().putBoolean(KEY_WIFI_AWARE_VERBOSE, value).apply()
+    }
 }

app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/debug/DebugSettingsManager.kt

@@ -36,6 +36,16 @@ class DebugSettingsManager private constructor() {
     private val _packetRelayEnabled = MutableStateFlow(true)
     val packetRelayEnabled: StateFlow<Boolean> = _packetRelayEnabled.asStateFlow()
 
+    // Master transport toggles
+    private val _bleEnabled = MutableStateFlow(true)
+    val bleEnabled: StateFlow<Boolean> = _bleEnabled.asStateFlow()
+
+    private val _wifiAwareEnabled = MutableStateFlow(false)
+    val wifiAwareEnabled: StateFlow<Boolean> = _wifiAwareEnabled.asStateFlow()
+
+    private val _wifiAwareVerbose = MutableStateFlow(false)
+    val wifiAwareVerbose: StateFlow<Boolean> = _wifiAwareVerbose.asStateFlow()
+
     // Connection limit overrides (debug)
     private val _maxConnectionsOverall = MutableStateFlow(8)
     val maxConnectionsOverall: StateFlow<Int> = _maxConnectionsOverall.asStateFlow()
@@ -54,6 +64,10 @@ class DebugSettingsManager private constructor() {
             _maxConnectionsOverall.value = DebugPreferenceManager.getMaxConnectionsOverall(8)
             _maxServerConnections.value = DebugPreferenceManager.getMaxConnectionsServer(8)
             _maxClientConnections.value = DebugPreferenceManager.getMaxConnectionsClient(8)
+            // Transport toggles
+            _bleEnabled.value = DebugPreferenceManager.getBleEnabled(true)
+            _wifiAwareEnabled.value = DebugPreferenceManager.getWifiAwareEnabled(false)
+            _wifiAwareVerbose.value = DebugPreferenceManager.getWifiAwareVerbose(false)
         } catch (_: Exception) {
             // Preferences not ready yet; keep defaults. They will be applied on first change.
         }
@@ -140,6 +154,27 @@ class DebugSettingsManager private constructor() {
         ))
     }
 
+    fun setBleEnabled(enabled: Boolean) {
+        DebugPreferenceManager.setBleEnabled(enabled)
+        _bleEnabled.value = enabled
+        addDebugMessage(DebugMessage.SystemMessage(if (enabled) "🟢 BLE enabled" else "🔴 BLE disabled"))
+    }
+
+    fun setWifiAwareEnabled(enabled: Boolean) {
+        DebugPreferenceManager.setWifiAwareEnabled(enabled)
+        _wifiAwareEnabled.value = enabled
+        addDebugMessage(DebugMessage.SystemMessage(if (enabled) "🟢 Wi‑Fi Aware enabled" else "🔴 Wi‑Fi Aware disabled"))
+        try {
+            com.bitchat.android.wifiaware.WifiAwareController.setEnabled(enabled)
+        } catch (_: Exception) { }
+    }
+
+    fun setWifiAwareVerbose(enabled: Boolean) {
+        DebugPreferenceManager.setWifiAwareVerbose(enabled)
+        _wifiAwareVerbose.value = enabled
+        addDebugMessage(DebugMessage.SystemMessage(if (enabled) "🔊 Wi‑Fi Aware verbose logging enabled" else "🔇 Wi‑Fi Aware verbose logging disabled"))
+    }
+
     fun setMaxConnectionsOverall(value: Int) {
         val clamped = value.coerceIn(1, 32)
         DebugPreferenceManager.setMaxConnectionsOverall(clamped)
@@ -198,6 +233,16 @@ class DebugSettingsManager private constructor() {
         _connectedDevices.value = devices
     }
 
+    // Wi‑Fi Aware debug collections
+    private val _wifiAwareDiscovered = MutableStateFlow<Map<String, String>>(emptyMap()) // peerID->nickname
+    val wifiAwareDiscovered: StateFlow<Map<String, String>> = _wifiAwareDiscovered.asStateFlow()
+
+    private val _wifiAwareConnected = MutableStateFlow<Map<String, String>>(emptyMap()) // peerID->ip
+    val wifiAwareConnected: StateFlow<Map<String, String>> = _wifiAwareConnected.asStateFlow()
+
+    fun updateWifiAwareDiscovered(map: Map<String, String>) { _wifiAwareDiscovered.value = map }
+    fun updateWifiAwareConnected(map: Map<String, String>) { _wifiAwareConnected.value = map }
+    
     fun updateRelayStats(stats: PacketRelayStats) {
         _relayStats.value = stats
     }

app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/ui/debug/DebugSettingsSheet.kt

@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.items
 import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.RoundedCornerShape
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.Icons
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Bluetooth
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Wifi
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.WifiTethering
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.BugReport
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Cancel
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Devices
@@ -53,6 +55,11 @@ fun DebugSettingsSheet(
     val seenCapacity by manager.seenPacketCapacity.collectAsState()
     val gcsMaxBytes by manager.gcsMaxBytes.collectAsState()
     val gcsFpr by manager.gcsFprPercent.collectAsState()
+    val bleEnabled by manager.bleEnabled.collectAsState()
+    val wifiAwareEnabled by manager.wifiAwareEnabled.collectAsState()
+    val wifiAwareVerbose by manager.wifiAwareVerbose.collectAsState()
+    val wifiAwareDiscovered by manager.wifiAwareDiscovered.collectAsState()
+    val wifiAwareConnected by manager.wifiAwareConnected.collectAsState()
 
     // Push live connected devices from mesh service whenever sheet is visible
     LaunchedEffect(isPresented) {
@@ -76,6 +83,15 @@ fun DebugSettingsSheet(
                     )
                 }
                 manager.updateConnectedDevices(devices)
+                // Also surface Wi‑Fi Aware status
+                try {
+                    val ctrl = com.bitchat.android.wifiaware.WifiAwareController
+                    val known = ctrl.knownPeers.value
+                    val discovered = ctrl.discoveredPeers.value
+                    val discoveredMap = discovered.associateWith { pid -> known[pid] ?: "" }
+                    manager.updateWifiAwareDiscovered(discoveredMap)
+                    manager.updateWifiAwareConnected(ctrl.connectedPeers.value)
+                } catch (_: Exception) { }
                 kotlinx.coroutines.delay(1000)
             }
         }
@@ -198,6 +214,46 @@ fun DebugSettingsSheet(
                 }
             }
 
+            // Transport toggles (BLE + Wi‑Fi Aware)
+            item {
+                Surface(shape = RoundedCornerShape(12.dp), color = colorScheme.surfaceVariant.copy(alpha = 0.2f)) {
+                    Column(Modifier.padding(16.dp), verticalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(12.dp)) {
+                        Row(verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically, horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(8.dp)) {
+                            Icon(Icons.Filled.Devices, contentDescription = null, tint = Color(0xFF4CAF50))
+                            Text("Transports", fontFamily = FontFamily.Monospace, fontSize = 14.sp, fontWeight = FontWeight.Medium)
+                        }
+                        Row(verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically) {
+                            Icon(Icons.Filled.Bluetooth, contentDescription = null, tint = Color(0xFF007AFF))
+                            Spacer(Modifier.width(8.dp))
+                            Text("BLE", fontFamily = FontFamily.Monospace, modifier = Modifier.weight(1f))
+                            Switch(checked = bleEnabled, onCheckedChange = {
+                                manager.setBleEnabled(it)
+                                scope.launch {
+                                    if (it) {
+                                        if (gattServerEnabled) meshService.connectionManager.startServer()
+                                        if (gattClientEnabled) meshService.connectionManager.startClient()
+                                    } else {
+                                        meshService.connectionManager.stopServer()
+                                        meshService.connectionManager.stopClient()
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            })
+                        }
+                        Row(verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically) {
+                            Icon(Icons.Filled.Wifi, contentDescription = null, tint = Color(0xFF9C27B0))
+                            Spacer(Modifier.width(8.dp))
+                            Text("Wi‑Fi Aware", fontFamily = FontFamily.Monospace, modifier = Modifier.weight(1f))
+                            Switch(checked = wifiAwareEnabled, onCheckedChange = { manager.setWifiAwareEnabled(it) })
+                        }
+                        Row(verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically) {
+                            Spacer(Modifier.width(24.dp))
+                            Text("Wi‑Fi Aware verbose", fontFamily = FontFamily.Monospace, modifier = Modifier.weight(1f))
+                            Switch(checked = wifiAwareVerbose, onCheckedChange = { manager.setWifiAwareVerbose(it) })
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
             // Packet relay controls and stats
             item {
                 Surface(shape = RoundedCornerShape(12.dp), color = colorScheme.surfaceVariant.copy(alpha = 0.2f)) {
@@ -289,6 +345,43 @@ fun DebugSettingsSheet(
                 }
             }
 
+            // Wi‑Fi Aware controls and status
+            item {
+                Surface(shape = RoundedCornerShape(12.dp), color = colorScheme.surfaceVariant.copy(alpha = 0.2f)) {
+                    Column(Modifier.padding(16.dp), verticalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(10.dp)) {
+                        Row(verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically, horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(8.dp)) {
+                            Icon(Icons.Filled.WifiTethering, contentDescription = null, tint = Color(0xFF9C27B0))
+                            Text("Wi‑Fi Aware", fontFamily = FontFamily.Monospace, fontSize = 14.sp, fontWeight = FontWeight.Medium)
+                            Spacer(Modifier.weight(1f))
+                            val running by com.bitchat.android.wifiaware.WifiAwareController.running.collectAsState()
+                            Text(if (running) "running" else "stopped", fontFamily = FontFamily.Monospace, fontSize = 12.sp, color = colorScheme.onSurface.copy(alpha = 0.7f))
+                        }
+                        Row(horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(12.dp)) {
+                            AssistChip(onClick = { com.bitchat.android.wifiaware.WifiAwareController.startIfPossible() }, label = { Text("Start") })
+                            AssistChip(onClick = { com.bitchat.android.wifiaware.WifiAwareController.stop() }, label = { Text("Stop") })
+                            AssistChip(onClick = { com.bitchat.android.wifiaware.WifiAwareController.getService()?.sendBroadcastAnnounce() }, label = { Text("Announce") })
+                        }
+                        Text("Discovered: ${wifiAwareDiscovered.size}", fontFamily = FontFamily.Monospace, fontSize = 12.sp)
+                        if (wifiAwareDiscovered.isEmpty()) {
+                            Text("No discoveries yet", fontFamily = FontFamily.Monospace, fontSize = 11.sp, color = colorScheme.onSurface.copy(alpha = 0.6f))
+                        } else {
+                            wifiAwareDiscovered.entries.take(50).forEach { (peer, nick) ->
+                                Text("• ${if (nick.isBlank()) peer.take(8) + "…" else nick} (${peer.take(8)}…) ", fontFamily = FontFamily.Monospace, fontSize = 12.sp)
+                            }
+                        }
+                        Divider()
+                        Text("Connected: ${wifiAwareConnected.size}", fontFamily = FontFamily.Monospace, fontSize = 12.sp)
+                        if (wifiAwareConnected.isEmpty()) {
+                            Text("No active sockets", fontFamily = FontFamily.Monospace, fontSize = 11.sp, color = colorScheme.onSurface.copy(alpha = 0.6f))
+                        } else {
+                            wifiAwareConnected.entries.take(50).forEach { (peer, ip) ->
+                                Text("• ${peer.take(8)}… @ $ip", fontFamily = FontFamily.Monospace, fontSize = 12.sp)
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
             // Connected devices
             item {
                 Surface(shape = RoundedCornerShape(12.dp), color = colorScheme.surfaceVariant.copy(alpha = 0.2f)) {

app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/wifi-aware/WifiAwareController.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+package com.bitchat.android.wifiaware
+
+import android.content.Context
+import android.os.Build
+import android.util.Log
+import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
+import kotlinx.coroutines.Dispatchers
+import kotlinx.coroutines.SupervisorJob
+import kotlinx.coroutines.cancel
+import kotlinx.coroutines.delay
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.StateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.asStateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.isActive
+import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
+
+/**
+ * WifiAwareController manages lifecycle and debug surfacing for the WifiAwareMeshService.
+ * It starts/stops the service based on debug preferences and exposes simple flows for UI.
+ */
+object WifiAwareController {
+    private const val TAG = "WifiAwareController"
+
+    private var service: WifiAwareMeshService? = null
+    private var appContext: Context? = null
+
+    private val scope = CoroutineScope(Dispatchers.IO + SupervisorJob())
+
+    private val _enabled = MutableStateFlow(false)
+    val enabled: StateFlow<Boolean> = _enabled.asStateFlow()
+
+    private val _running = MutableStateFlow(false)
+    val running: StateFlow<Boolean> = _running.asStateFlow()
+
+    // Simple debug surfacing
+    private val _connectedPeers = MutableStateFlow<Map<String, String>>(emptyMap()) // peerID -> ip
+    val connectedPeers: StateFlow<Map<String, String>> = _connectedPeers.asStateFlow()
+
+    private val _knownPeers = MutableStateFlow<Map<String, String>>(emptyMap()) // peerID -> nickname
+    val knownPeers: StateFlow<Map<String, String>> = _knownPeers.asStateFlow()
+
+    private val _discoveredPeers = MutableStateFlow<Set<String>>(emptySet())
+    val discoveredPeers: StateFlow<Set<String>> = _discoveredPeers.asStateFlow()
+
+    fun initialize(context: Context, enabledByDefault: Boolean) {
+        appContext = context.applicationContext
+        setEnabled(enabledByDefault)
+        // Start background poller for debug surfacing
+        scope.launch {
+            while (isActive) {
+                try {
+                    val s = service
+                    if (s != null) {
+                        _connectedPeers.value = s.getDeviceAddressToPeerMapping().entries.associate { (ip, peer) -> peer to ip }
+                        _knownPeers.value = s.getPeerNicknames()
+                        _discoveredPeers.value = s.getDiscoveredPeerIds()
+                    } else {
+                        _connectedPeers.value = emptyMap()
+                        _knownPeers.value = emptyMap()
+                        _discoveredPeers.value = emptySet()
+                    }
+                } catch (_: Exception) { }
+                delay(1000)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    fun setEnabled(value: Boolean) {
+        _enabled.value = value
+        if (value) startIfPossible() else stop()
+    }
+
+    fun startIfPossible() {
+        if (_running.value) return
+        val ctx = appContext ?: return
+        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT < Build.VERSION_CODES.Q) {
+            Log.w(TAG, "Wi‑Fi Aware requires Android 10 (Q)+; disabled.")
+            try { com.bitchat.android.ui.debug.DebugSettingsManager.getInstance().addDebugMessage(com.bitchat.android.ui.debug.DebugMessage.SystemMessage("Wi‑Fi Aware not supported on this device (requires Android 10+)")) } catch (_: Exception) {}
+            return
+        }
+        // Android 13+: require NEARBY_WIFI_DEVICES runtime permission
+        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.TIRAMISU) {
+            val granted = androidx.core.content.ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(ctx, android.Manifest.permission.NEARBY_WIFI_DEVICES) == android.content.pm.PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED
+            if (!granted) {
+                Log.w(TAG, "Missing NEARBY_WIFI_DEVICES permission; not starting Wi‑Fi Aware")
+                try { com.bitchat.android.ui.debug.DebugSettingsManager.getInstance().addDebugMessage(com.bitchat.android.ui.debug.DebugMessage.SystemMessage("Grant Nearby Wi‑Fi Devices to start Wi‑Fi Aware")) } catch (_: Exception) {}
+                return
+            }
+        }
+        try {
+            service = WifiAwareMeshService(ctx).also {
+                it.startServices()
+                _running.value = true
+                try { com.bitchat.android.ui.debug.DebugSettingsManager.getInstance().addDebugMessage(com.bitchat.android.ui.debug.DebugMessage.SystemMessage("Wi‑Fi Aware started")) } catch (_: Exception) {}
+            }
+        } catch (e: Throwable) {
+            Log.e(TAG, "Failed to start WifiAwareMeshService", e)
+            _running.value = false
+            try { com.bitchat.android.ui.debug.DebugSettingsManager.getInstance().addDebugMessage(com.bitchat.android.ui.debug.DebugMessage.SystemMessage("Wi‑Fi Aware failed to start: ${e.message}")) } catch (_: Exception) {}
+        }
+    }
+
+    fun stop() {
+        try { service?.stopServices() } catch (_: Exception) { }
+        service = null
+        _running.value = false
+        try { com.bitchat.android.ui.debug.DebugSettingsManager.getInstance().addDebugMessage(com.bitchat.android.ui.debug.DebugMessage.SystemMessage("Wi‑Fi Aware stopped")) } catch (_: Exception) {}
+    }
+
+    fun getService(): WifiAwareMeshService? = service
+}