nostr VS Signal-Server

Other things that might be worth looking into: Nostr for comms https://github.com/fiatjaf/nostr

nostr (https://github.com/fiatjaf/nostr) seems to be a minimal possible solution. It doesn't seem to be much in use though, so I guess once that happens a few issues will come up.

Nostr [1] seems interesting. I don't trust the idea of "relays" on the long term but it seems like it should be possible to develop alternative ways to distribute the content, and it can be a way to bootstrap the network in the short term. Though at this moment it seems a bit too bare-bones, and it would need some interesting application built on top of it to make it usable.

[1] https://github.com/fiatjaf/nostr

https://github.com/fiatjaf/nostr comes to mind as so far the best example of p2p social networking.

I don’t know if this is the answer you’re looking for because it’s not tied to a cryptocurrency but take a look at nostr: https://github.com/fiatjaf/nostr

It’s a protocol that allows nodes to gossip event messages amongst each other. The event relays can be used as a backend to provide data to your web/desktop/mobile apps.

Nostr stands for "Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays". It is a new type of social experience on the web where "dumb" relays can be used to send messages from one user to another, in a secure, censorship resistant manner.

> They could at least BSL the server code and allow others to verify the server code and host but not compete.

This is exactly what they do (except they use AGPL): https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Server

https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Server/blob/main/service/src/main/java/org/whispersystems/textsecuregcm/push/APNSender.java for APNs push notification payloads

git clone https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Server.git

yes it is available here https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Server/blob/main/service/pom.xml

You could also start your own signal server, but with blackjack, and hookers

The fact that it locks you into using their servers, does not distribute on F-Droid (only Google Play OR an APK with an insecure update mechanism), and has a completely closed-source "abusive message filter" module server side, that could functionally be used for censorship, storing messages for future decryption, or any other number of nefarious purposes - we have no idea since it's not open source (https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Server/blob/main/.gitmod...).

Additionally, you cannot distribute branded forks or Signal, and if you do fork it, your fork is not allowed to connect to Signal's "official" OWS (open whisper systems) servers - hostility to federation should be viewed with prejudice and suspicion at the very least, it suggests a vested interest in a single point of failure (or control), which goes against user interests.

Further reading: https://drewdevault.com/2018/08/08/Signal.html

It’s actually the signal server that isn’t reproducible because of the abusive message filter that’s in a private repository. It’s clear as day here: https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Server