mirror of
https://github.com/permissionlesstech/bitchat.git
synced 2026-07-25 03:05:19 +00:00
9ccff9cce4
* Make private-message delivery status legible and accessible
The delivery indicator is the most stress-relevant signal in an
off-grid messenger, but it is hard to read:
- The status glyphs are 10pt icons whose only explanation is a
`.help()` tooltip, which does not exist on iOS.
- Delivered vs read is the same double-checkmark distinguished only by
colour.
- No case carries an accessibility label, so VoiceOver announces
nothing.
- Two failure reasons ("Not delivered", "Encryption failed") bypass the
localized reason catalog and are hardcoded English.
Changes (presentation only; the DeliveryStatus enum and the
contract-tested `displayText` are untouched):
- Add `DeliveryStatus.bitchatDescription`, a localized app-layer
description, used as the macOS tooltip, a VoiceOver label on every
status glyph, and — on iOS, where tooltips don't exist — a
tap-to-reveal caption under the message.
- Failure reasons stay visible as a red caption without a tap.
- Read vs delivered is now legible without colour: read uses
filled-circle checkmarks.
- Route the two hardcoded failure reasons through the localized catalog.
New strings are added source-language (en) only.
* Show the failure reason on failed media messages too
TextMessageView gained a visible red failure caption (the status
glyph's .help() tooltip does not exist on iOS), but MediaMessageView
still rendered the bare glyph — so a failed voice-note or image send
showed only a 10pt red triangle with no reason on iOS. Add the same
failure caption to media messages.
* Collapse revealed delivery detail when the status changes
A caption revealed while a message was "sending" stayed open and
silently morphed through later statuses (sent, delivered, read).
Reset showDeliveryDetail when the snapshotted DeliveryStatus changes.
Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
* Add tap-to-reveal delivery detail to media rows
Media rows showed the same delivery glyphs as text rows but offered no
way to explain them on iOS, where .help() tooltips don't exist. Mirror
the text-row pattern: the glyph is now a button that reveals the
localized status caption below the header, failure reasons stay
visible without a tap, and the revealed caption collapses when the
status advances.
Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
* Localize the remaining voice-note failure reasons
ChatMediaTransferCoordinator still passed hardcoded English reasons
into .failed(reason:), which now surface verbatim in the always-visible
failure caption. Route them through String(localized:) under the
existing content.delivery.reason.* convention.
Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---------
Co-authored-by: jack <jackjackbits@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
bitchat
A decentralized peer-to-peer messaging app with dual transport architecture: local Bluetooth mesh networks for offline communication and internet-based Nostr protocol for global reach. No accounts, no phone numbers, no central servers. It's the side-groupchat.
License
This project is released into the public domain. See the LICENSE file for details.
Features
- Dual Transport Architecture: Bluetooth mesh for offline + Nostr protocol for internet-based messaging
- Location-Based Channels: Geographic chat rooms using geohash coordinates over global Nostr relays
- Intelligent Message Routing: Automatically chooses best transport (Bluetooth → Nostr fallback)
- Decentralized Mesh Network: Automatic peer discovery and multi-hop message relay over Bluetooth LE
- Privacy First: No accounts, no phone numbers, no persistent identifiers
- Private Message End-to-End Encryption: Noise Protocol for mesh, NIP-17 for Nostr
- IRC-Style Commands: Familiar
/slap,/msg,/whostyle interface - Universal App: Native support for iOS and macOS
- Emergency Wipe: Triple-tap to instantly clear all data
- Performance Optimizations: LZ4 message compression, adaptive battery modes, and optimized networking
Technical Architecture
BitChat uses a hybrid messaging architecture with two complementary transport layers:
Bluetooth Mesh Network (Offline)
- Local Communication: Direct peer-to-peer within Bluetooth range
- Multi-hop Relay: Messages route through nearby devices (max 7 hops)
- No Internet Required: Works completely offline in disaster scenarios
- Noise Protocol Encryption: End-to-end encryption with forward secrecy
- Binary Protocol: Compact packet format optimized for Bluetooth LE constraints
- Automatic Discovery: Peer discovery and connection management
- Adaptive Power: Battery-optimized duty cycling
Nostr Protocol (Internet)
- Global Reach: Connect with users worldwide via internet relays
- Location Channels: Geographic chat rooms using geohash coordinates
- 290+ Relay Network: Distributed across the globe for reliability
- NIP-17 Encryption: Gift-wrapped private messages for internet privacy
- Ephemeral Keys: Fresh cryptographic identity per geohash area
Channel Types
mesh #bluetooth
- Transport: Bluetooth Low Energy mesh network
- Scope: Local devices within multi-hop range
- Internet: Not required
- Use Case: Offline communication, protests, disasters, remote areas
Location Channels (block #dr5rsj7, neighborhood #dr5rs, country #dr)
- Transport: Nostr protocol over internet
- Scope: Geographic areas defined by geohash precision
block(7 chars): City block levelneighborhood(6 chars): District/neighborhoodcity(5 chars): City levelprovince(4 chars): State/provinceregion(2 chars): Country/large region
- Internet: Required (connects to Nostr relays)
- Use Case: Location-based community chat, local events, regional discussions
Direct Message Routing
Private messages use intelligent transport selection:
-
Bluetooth First (preferred when available)
- Direct connection with established Noise session
- Fastest and most private option
-
Nostr Fallback (when Bluetooth unavailable)
- Uses recipient's Nostr public key
- NIP-17 gift-wrapping for privacy
- Routes through global relay network
-
Smart Queuing (when neither available)
- Messages queued until transport becomes available
- Automatic delivery when connection established
For detailed protocol documentation, see the Technical Whitepaper.
Setup
Option 1: Using Xcode
cd bitchat
open bitchat.xcodeproj
To run on a device there're a few steps to prepare the code:
- Clone the local configs:
cp Configs/Local.xcconfig.example Configs/Local.xcconfig - Add your Developer Team ID into the newly created
Configs/Local.xcconfig- Bundle ID would be set to
chat.bitchat.<team_id>(unless you set to something else)
- Bundle ID would be set to
- Entitlements need to be updated manually (TODO: Automate):
- Search and replace
group.chat.bitchatwithgroup.<your_bundle_id>(e.g.group.chat.bitchat.ABC123)
- Search and replace
Option 2: Using just
brew install just
Want to try this on macos: just run will set it up and run from source.
Run just clean afterwards to restore things to original state for mobile app building and development.
Localization
- Base app resources live under
bitchat/Localization/Base.lproj/. Add new copy toLocalizable.stringsand plural rules toLocalizable.stringsdict. - Share extension strings are separate in
bitchatShareExtension/Localization/Base.lproj/Localizable.strings. - Prefer keys that describe intent (
app_info.features.offline.title) and reuse existing ones where possible. - Run
xcodebuild -project bitchat.xcodeproj -scheme "bitchat (macOS)" -configuration Debug CODE_SIGNING_ALLOWED=NO buildto compile-check any localization updates.