Skip to content

BLIP [0.7.1] — Portrait

Choose a tag to compare

View all tags
@krwg krwg released this 17 May 22:30
· 38 commits to main since this release
0.7.1
6b4a578
This commit was created on GitHub.com and signed with GitHub’s verified signature.
GPG key ID: B5690EEEBB952194
Verified
Learn about vigilant mode.

Stable Release | LAN-only • P2P • Zero Cloud

The most significant update since 0.6.0: Voice Channels, In-Chat Media Player, Quote Replies, and a complete Visual Overhaul.

Executive Summary

BLIP evolves from a simple LAN messenger into a full-featured local communication hub. Version 0.7.1 consolidates months of development (0.6.0 → 0.7.0.x) into a single stable release, introducing persistent voice channels, a rich media chat experience, and a reactive visual engine—all while maintaining the core promise: no cloud, no registration, pure P2P.

Voice & Groups

Voice Channels (New in 0.7.0+)

  • Persistent Voice Rooms — Every group now has a dedicated Voice channel (formerly "lounge"), accessible directly in the main window. No more separate call windows for standard group conversations.
  • Star Topology — Audio routes through the Group Host (mixer), reducing P2P mesh complexity. Participants connect once to hear the full mix.
  • Smart Fallback — If the host is absent, the mesh auto-reconfigures to direct P2P with mix-minus-self logic.
  • Screen Share in Voice — Broadcast your screen to the entire channel with live tile previews and "On Air" badges.
  • Audio Stability — Fixed AudioContext resume, raw mic input for WebRTC, auto-reconnect on host return, and ghost participant cleanup.

Legacy Group Calls (0.6.x Compatibility)

  • The separate Group Call window remains supported for backward compatibility.
  • Features "Discord-style" drop-in: join ongoing calls via chat banner or VOICE hub badge.

1:1 Calls: Reliability & Polish

  • Stable Signaling — Robust IPC queueing and TCP warm-up ensure incoming/outgoing calls never drop (0.6.4+).
  • Fullscreen & Audio Sync — Remote audio no longer cuts out in fullscreen mode; scene scaling optimized for camera/screen sharing (0.7.0.3).
  • System Audio Sharing — Optional checkbox to broadcast system sound alongside microphone during screen share.
  • Clean Exit — No more frozen frames after screen share ends; explicit "Leave Broadcast" control; graceful hangup signal sent if the app closes during a call (0.7.0.6-0.7.0.7).
  • State Sync — Periodic call-state updates keep mute/deafen/screen status consistent across peers.

Chat & Media: The 0.7.1 Highlight

Native Media Player

  • Images — Inline previews; tap to expand in a dedicated fullscreen viewer.
  • Video — Native pixel-style player (◀◼▶) with ±10s seek, progress bar, and LAN-optimized buffering.
  • YouTube — Links auto-embed as playable cards within the chat (no external browser required).
  • Actions — Share, Download, and Close controls built into the media overlay.
  • Clean UI — Removed redundant [IMG] / File labels; content speaks for itself.

Quote Replies

  • Reply to any message in 1:1 chat via the ↩ button.
  • Contextual "Replying to…" header above the input field; quoted text displayed inline within the message bubble.

Files & Groups

  • Drag & Drop — Send files to groups via drag-and-drop; large files use chunked P2P transfer (respecting size limits).
  • Transfer Hub — Track 1:1 file transfers with progress bars and cancel options.
  • Search — Ctrl+F to find messages within any chat (0.6.0+).
  • Streamlined Invites — Group invitations appear as non-blocking Join/Decline cards directly in chat.

Chat UX Simplification (0.7.0.7)

  • Frictionless Entry — Removed "Trust User" handshake; chats open instantly (unless blocked).
  • Minimal Indicators — Removed read/delivery ticks for a cleaner interface.
  • Reactions — Default reaction set to ➕; customize your default emoji in Settings → Appearance.

Appearance & Reactive Backgrounds

New Themes (0.7.0.x)

Trace, Bloom, Midnight, Aqua, Crimson, and more.

Art-Scene Backgrounds (0.7.1)

  • New Library — Grid/pixel backgrounds replaced with curated art scenes: LAN City, Bloom, Horizon, Sparks, Rift, Depth, Signal Rings.
  • Auto-Migration — Legacy background IDs in your config automatically map to new art scenes.
  • Reactive Audio — Backgrounds pulse subtly with microphone input during voice channels and calls (Settings → Appearance).
  • Accessibility — "Reduce Motion" toggle respects system preferences.

Settings & System Integration

Section New Features
Calls Noise suppression, AGC, device selection, Mic Test (level/volume preview)
Updates Auto-check on startup, background download, "Restart to Install", opt-out toggle
Developer Toggle to receive beta builds (0.7.1-beta.x) alongside stable
Windows Launch at Login integration (0.6.0+)
Network LAN Clipboard Sync (modes: Off / Active Chat Only)
Profile 8×8 Auto-Generated Avatars only (0.6.1+); manual photo uploads deprecated for privacy

Security & Network Model

  • LAN-Only Architecture — No cloud dependency, no external traffic.
  • Mesh Handshake — Verified peer connections with blocklist support.
  • File Limits — Configurable transfer size caps to protect LAN bandwidth.
  • Local Encryption — TCP messages and voice streams remain within your local segment.

Selected Fixes (0.6.0 → 0.7.1)

  • Voice Channels: Roster sync, host/client audio routing, renegotiation on screen share.
  • 1:1 Calls: Fullscreen audio retention, frozen frame cleanup, graceful hangup on exit.
  • Groups: Crash-free group exit; hub filters to show only active memberships.
  • Signaling: IPC delivery guaranteed after renderer ready; group data persistence in main localStorage.
  • Build: Restored formatClipboardToast utility (0.7.0.7).

Migration from 0.6.x

  1. Install BLIP-Setup-0.7.1.exe over your existing version (settings preserved).
  2. Config Auto-Migration — Legacy animated background IDs automatically map to new art scenes.
  3. Update Channel — Stable builds default to 0.7.1; enable "Beta" in Developer settings for pre-releases.
  4. Data Safety — All chats, settings, and blip-config.json remain intact.

Installation

Windows Installer

Download BLIP-Setup-0.7.1.exe (link auto-generated in Assets)

Portable

Download BLIP-Portable-0.7.1.exe

From Source

git clone https://github.com/krwg/BLIP
cd BLIP && git checkout v0.7.1
npm install && npm run build
npm run electron:dev
Assets 5
Loading