A real-time, secure, peer-to-peer terminal messenger with end-to-end encrypted texting and file-sharing, built on IPFS pubsub.
IPFS-Chat is a real-time, peer-to-peer messaging application built on IPFS pubsub, offering end-to-end encrypted text communication and file sharing. It operates without central servers, using a distributed network for peer discovery and messaging, with built-in NAT traversal for connectivity across different networks. The application features a terminal-based interface and is designed for efficiency in resource usage.
Developers and users seeking a decentralized, secure messaging solution that can operate over LAN or the internet without relying on central servers, particularly those interested in IPFS-based applications and privacy-focused tools.
IPFS-Chat stands out for its fully decentralized architecture, strong end-to-end encryption, and efficient resource management, providing a censorship-resistant alternative to traditional messaging platforms with no dependency on central infrastructure.
Real-time P2P messenger using go-ipfs pubsub. TUI. End-to-end encrypted texting & file-sharing. NAT traversal.
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Operates without central servers using IPFS pubsub, DHT, and mDNS for peer discovery, making it censorship-resistant as emphasized in the README's philosophy.
All messages and files are encrypted; private messages use ECDH/cv25519 and general messages use AES128 derived from the room name, ensuring strong security as detailed in the Security section.
Implements custom connection management and frequent garbage collection to minimize bandwidth, CPU, and disk usage, with WAN-only and LAN-only modes for optimized performance.
Uses IPFS content addressing for deduplication and encrypted file sharing, reducing storage and bandwidth overhead as described in the File or directory sharing section.
The README admits peer discovery can take up to 30 seconds due to DHT queries and rendezvous nonce updates, hindering real-time communication in dynamic environments.
Requires manual installation of go-ipfs and potentially argon2, along with standard GNU/Linux tools, with no built-in auto-install feature, increasing setup complexity.
Features a very basic TUI without visual enhancements, which may be unappealing for non-technical users and lacks modern UX conveniences.