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patogit edited this page Aug 17, 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:
  • website:
  • other notes:

Ring

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

Briar

  • platform: Android
  • LAN peer auto-discovery: no, initial connection face-to-face
  • functions: text chat
  • stability/usability:
  • website: https://briarproject.org/

Scuttlebutt / Patchwork / Patchbay

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

Bitmessage

  • platform:
  • LAN peer auto-discovery:
  • functions:
  • stability/usability:
  • website:

ZeroNet

  • platform:
  • LAN peer auto-discovery:
  • functions:
  • stability/usability:
  • 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
  • website:

WiFi Walkie Talkie

  • platform:
  • LAN peer auto-discovery:
  • functions:
  • stability/usability:
  • 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?
  • website: https://tox.chat/
  • notes:

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.
  • website:
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