I have been working on an Android App quite a while now, starting from a simple idea.

A messenger where messages travel directly between phones with no servers in between. Using direct WebRTC encrypted connections (SRTP/DTLS), there are no servers that stores, reads, or relays content. Group chats use a gossip protocol where members relay to other members.

The only infrastructure the app touches is a signalling relay to set up the connection (no message content), a push notification to wake up a sleeping phone (also no content), and a TURN relay for restricted networks (encrypted packets only).

I wrote a detailed white paper explaining the full architecture: https://www.mindtheclub.com/white-paper.html

The app is in Open Testing on Google Play (1,000 tester cap): https://www.mindtheclub.com/beta-signup.html

I’m interested in this community’s perspective on whether the architecture holds up.

  • GradleSurvivor@lemmy.mlOPEnglish
    12·
    4 days ago

    The initial identity exchange between two devices isn’t done via Firestore, it’s done offline (shared by QR code). The key material used to verify a peer is authentic never touches the internet. Signalling is done through Firestore, and here it’s fair to say metadata isn’t hidden: Firestore knows that userId 01 contacted userId 02 at a certain date and time.