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LAN messaging apps

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patogit edited this page Sep 18, 2018 · 10 revisions

What p2p apps do we know of that work on computers and/or cell phones that can do chat (asynchronous?), calls, and/or file sharing on the LAN? Peer auto-discovery is optional? By p2p we mean that a person installs the app on two phones and now they can communicate when they're on the same LAN (and maybe when they're on the internet or the same WAN but different LANs), without installing an always-on server anywhere. We could also list server-dependent apps if that server can be installed on a router running LibreMesh. This is starting as a list based on our needs, inspired by and simpler than the charts at https://secushare.org/comparison. This page grew from this thread. Maybe someone can make a chart based on this info.

RetroShare

  • platform:
  • LAN peer auto-discovery:
  • functions:
  • stability/usability:
  • languages of user interface:
  • website:
  • other notes:

Ring

  • platform:
  • LAN peer auto-discovery:
  • functions:
  • stability/usability:
  • languages of user interface:
  • website: https://ring.cx/

Briar

  • platform: Android
  • LAN peer auto-discovery: no, initial connection face-to-face scanning QR codes
  • functions: text chat
  • stability/usability:
  • languages of user interface:
  • website: https://briarproject.org/

Scuttlebutt / Patchwork / Patchbay

  • platform: Linux/Windows/Mac yes, Android in alpha
  • LAN peer auto-discovery:
  • functions:
  • stability/usability:
  • languages of user interface:
  • website: www.scuttlebutt.nz

Bitmessage

  • platform:
  • LAN peer auto-discovery:
  • functions:
  • stability/usability:
  • languages of user interface:
  • website:

ZeroNet

  • platform:
  • LAN peer auto-discovery:
  • functions:
  • stability/usability:
  • languages of user interface:
  • website:

KouChat

  • platform: Linux, Android
  • LAN peer auto-discovery: yes
  • functions: synchronous text messaging, file sending
  • stability/usability: some messages get dropped, otherwise very simple and easy
  • languages of user interface:
  • website:

WiFi Walkie Talkie

  • platform:
  • LAN peer auto-discovery:
  • functions:
  • stability/usability:
  • languages of user interface:
  • website:

Tox

  • platform: Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, Mac, FreeBSD
  • LAN peer auto-discovery: maybe? LAN discovery thread
  • functions: chat, file transfers, audio/video calling, desktop sharing (both as video and inline screenshots), text group chats with audio groups
  • stability/usability: no real offline messaging yet, how does it affect phone battery life?
  • languages of user interface:
  • website: https://tox.chat/
  • notes:

Cabal

  • platform: Android, iOS, desktop via Electron
  • LAN peer auto-discovery:
  • functions: LAN and internet, text chat, channels
  • stability/usability: doesn't work on my phone
  • languages of user interface:
  • website: https://cabal-club.github.io/

Meshenger (by Freifunk)

  • platform: Android
  • LAN peer auto-discovery: no. Contact setup by scanning QR code.
  • functions: audio and video chat via WebRTC, no text chat, LAN only no internet
  • stability/usability:
  • languages of user interface: English, German, French
  • website: https://github.com/dakhnod/Meshenger

Twisted

  • platform: LibreMesh/OpenWRT
  • LAN peer auto-discovery:
  • functions:
  • stability/usability: I don't know if this is actually a useful thing. It's on the list of search results for "chat" in the LibreMesh package database.
  • languages of user interface:
  • website:

Wind

Launched in May 2018, in alpha as of September 2018.

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