tor-project/torchat
tor-project/torchat
1
0
Fork 0
Code Issues Pull requests Projects Releases Packages Wiki Activity Actions
A completely decentralised peer-to-peer chatting networking, there are no central servers, blazing fast and feature rich. https://torchat.org
3 commits 1 branch 0 tags 99 KiB
Find a file
Optimus 3179d348d5 Fixed syntax errors
2025-06-23 14:35:21 +00:00
.gitignore Initial commit 2025-06-23 14:13:48 +00:00
LICENSE Initial commit 2025-06-23 14:13:48 +00:00
README.md Fixed syntax errors 2025-06-23 14:35:21 +00:00

README.md

🕶️ TorChat

Decentralized. Private. Undeniable.
TorChat is the anti-censorship chat layer for the underground internet. Secure, unstoppable, and anonymous — this is what messaging should’ve always been.

🌐 Overview

TorChat is a fully decentralized, Tor-based messaging protocol and chat client built for total freedom of speech and association.
There are no servers, no corporate intermediaries, no identity leaks — only encrypted peer-to-peer communication over the Tor network.

  • ✅ End-to-End Encryption (ECC, ECDH + ChaCha20Poly1305)
  • ✅ gRPC over Onion: High-performance communication via Tor
  • ✅ Offline Message Persistence via trusted forwarders
  • ✅ Signed Identity Graphs for trust bootstrapping
  • ✅ Federated Group Chats with on-chain moderation rules
  • ✅ Forward secrecy, metadata protection, and more...

📦 Features

Feature Status Description
🔐 End-to-End Encryption ✅ Uses Ed25519 keys and modern AEAD for message security
🧅 Onion Routed gRPC ✅ gRPC over SOCKS5 for strong anonymity and multiplexed streams
📬 Asynchronous Delivery 🛠️ Store-and-forward routing via trusted nodes with spam prevention
👥 Group Messaging 🛠️ Federated group identity, roles, voting, moderation
🧠 Identity Reputation Layer 🛠️ Web-of-trust over signed attestations
📜 Anti-Spam ZK Proofs 💡 Idea Messages must include ZK token to prove identity stake or PoW
🧩 Modular Plugin System 💡 Idea Add bots, bridges (e.g., IRC, XMPP), file sharing, media channels
💻 Cross-Platform Client ✅ Built in Dart/Flutter with native Rust crypto backend
💾 IPFS-Backed Message Vault 💡 Idea Optionally enable message history vaulting in IPFS bundles
⚙️ Scriptable Automation 💡 Idea Autoresponders, programmable agents, trading bots...

🚀 Roadmap

🔹 Phase 1 – Core Protocol (MVP)

  • Onion-based transport (Tor SOCKS5 support)
  • Peer discovery (via embedded seed node list + gossip)
  • Identity model (Ed25519 keys, signature attestations)
  • Chat session establishment (ECDH, gRPC)
  • Forwarding protocol for offline delivery
  • Basic CLI and Flutter-based UI client
  • Minimal spam prevention via time-locked messaging

🔸 Phase 2 – Social Layer

  • Group chat architecture
  • Group-level moderation: bans, mutes, admin rotation
  • Identity trust graphs (signed attestations)
  • Optional profile metadata (bio, avatar, etc.) stored off-chain

🔻 Phase 3 – Extension & Hardening

  • Native emoji, file attachments, stickers
  • Message expiration & disappearing chats
  • Optional censorship-resistant history via IPFS
  • “Stealth” mode: make node unreachable except via invite

🔺 Phase 4 – Plug-in & Monetization

  • Plugin framework (Rust or Dart)
  • Bot scripting: p2p trading, atomic swaps, moderation
  • Integration with Monero-based payments
  • Tokenless (or optional stake-based) spam control

🛠️ Tech Stack

  • Frontend: Flutter (Dart)
  • Backend Protocol: gRPC over Tor (SOCKS5 proxy)
  • Encryption: Ed25519, ECDH, ChaCha20Poly1305
  • Persistence: Dart/Rust hybrid binary
  • Decentralization: Tor hidden services, optionally dHT or gossip relay
  • Identity Model: Public keys signed by other peers in attestations

📁 Project Structure

TorChat/
├── lib/                   # Flutter/Dart client
├── proto/                 # gRPC protospecs
├── rust/                  # Rust backend (crypto, networking, etc.)
├── tor/                   # Tor bootstrapping and routing code
├── seednode/              # Optional seednode bootstrap peer (only required until network consensus is well established)
└── README.md

🔐 Security Philosophy

TorChat is designed for real-world censorship resistance.
That means:

  • Metadata-resistant communication
  • No third-party servers
  • Forward secrecy
  • Optional multi-device support via per-device keys
  • Message padding / traffic obfuscation (future)

🌍 Vision

We want TorChat to become the base layer for p2p chat —
Something like if Briar, Session, and Monero had a privacy-focused lovechild.
No app store bans. No governments blocking traffic. No KYC. Just pure encrypted messages flying across an anonymous mesh of nodes.

🤝 Get Involved

  • Open a discussion
  • Submit issues or ideas
  • Contribute to the protocol spec or write plugins
  • Help us build bridges to other networks

🧠 Inspired by

📜 License

AGPLv3+ — because freedom is viral.