Umbrachat is a peer-to-peer encrypted discord alternative

https://github.com/openconstruct/umbrachat

Originally Umbrachat was a web app named Peersuite ( that I also developed) that was distributed as a docker image, web site, or electron app. Umbrachat has chat with channels, file sharing, threaded replies, and image preview in chat. Also, audio/video conferencing and screenshare.

I pulled out the non-social business type features ( document editing, whiteboard, and kanban ) and simplified the CSS and the code. I got everything down to under 200k in size and packaged it as a browser extension, which IMO is a way simpler method to use it.

All datastreams ( chat, audio, video) are encrypted end to end. After the initial connection to the server you are connected directly to your friends in a mesh network with superpeer capability.

github: https://github.com/openconstruct/umbrachat peersuite github: https://github.com/openconstruct/Peersuite

Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/umbrachat/

Chrome: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/umbrachat/jdgneoijldkiffdnhkibcdnajchecaip?hl=en-US

Happy to answer any questions!

146 points · 28 comments · view on lemmy.world

28 Comments

farngis_mcgiles@sh.itjust.works · 9 pts · 172d (1 reply)

that's cool as hell

jerrimu@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 172d

thanks!

utopiah@lemmy.ml · 7 pts · 172d

Hi there, how about keeping history of past messages? I mean if all participants leave the channel, can they all keep history using e.g. localStorage and when they come back, see what has been shared until now including when they were away thanks to history of that channel from others?

muzzle@lemmy.zip · 6 pts · 172d (1 reply)

very nice! I just found https://umbrabrowser.online/chat/ do I need the add-on to use it? Any chance this could be an app or a PWA usable on a phone? Also, is there a general chat we can use as a test?

jerrimu@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 172d

Someone created a room earlier, it is a pwa. I'm working on getting it in android store.

muzzle@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 172d (6 replies)

If you want to test this, please join my room. It's called "flat-easy-down-bird" and the password is 1234 :)

Edit: the channel is called #test

muzzle@lemmy.zip · 13 pts · 172d

eodur@piefed.social · 1 pts · 172d (4 replies)

Doesn't seem to be anyone or any channels? Is this thing on? taps mic

muzzle@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 172d (3 replies)

I am there now, the channel is called #test

eodur@piefed.social · 3 pts · 172d (2 replies)

Nope. I still see nothing. I think p2p is not the way to do this.

muzzle@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 172d (1 reply)

It probably does not help that I am on a phone

eodur@piefed.social · 1 pts · 172d

Same

64bithero@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 172d

I am sad I can only upvote this once

TheFinn@discuss.tchncs.de · 3 pts · 172d (1 reply)

License?

jerrimu@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 172d

agpl

Kory@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 172d (1 reply)

Thank you for this, it looks great!

I will have the time to check this out further on the weekend, but quick question before: will people be able to find channels aligned with their interests like they do on Discord? Let's say for certain games or other topics. Because that is why many of my friends are still there.

jerrimu@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 172d

Not at all, you need a room code and a password.

wibble@reddthat.com · 2 pts · 171d (1 reply)

You have a heavy one with the whiteboard, kanban and docs as well?

jerrimu@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 170d

I do not, that was the predecessor, peers suite, It stopped working because it relies on public torrent tracker to set up connection

UltraGiGaGigantic@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 172d

Thank you for your community service

JTskulk@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 171d (2 replies)

Do users have to open ports for it to work?

jerrimu@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 170d (1 reply)

nope

JTskulk@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 167d

How does that work if it's peer to peer? Doesn't at least one person need to open ports?

hylaea@reddthat.com · 1 pts · 168d (1 reply)

Required permissions for core functionality:

Access your data for all websites
Get data from the clipboard
Input data to the clipboard

Required data collection:

The developer says this extension collects: personal communications

Collecting personal communications? doesn't sound that private...

jerrimu@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 167d

It's a chat program. I answered a questionaire on it and they auto-populated the fields. The extension is open source. After discovery you are connected directly to your friends, there is no capture of any text or data sent, it's all encrypted p2p.

ToaofTime@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 172d (1 reply)

Does this support global push to talk keybinds?

jerrimu@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 172d

Sadly not yet, ptt only works with the window active

Duke_Nukem_1990@feddit.org · 1 pts · 172d

This is really cool. Especially as a browser extension.