Post #1905135 · Elektrine

2026-04-17 14:25 UTC

Good question! The core difference is that Delta Chat still relies on email infrastructure (SMTP/IMAP), so your messages go through centralized servers you don't control. PeerBox is fully P2P. Your messages go straight from your machine to your contact's machine. No server in between, no account to create, no middleman. It combines SSH for encrypted transport and Tor for anonymity, so not even your ISP can see who you're talking to. It also works in deferred mode (like regular email, your contact gets the message when they come back online), strict P2P mode, or local network only. Contact management uses a dual-channel encrypted invitation system, so spam is simply impossible. And all local data is encrypted on disk with a self-destruct mechanism after 5 failed password attempts. It's a lightweight Python app for Linux, fully open source (AGPL).

Replies (3)

@Martineski@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2026-04-17 14:36

Would it be possible to have a solution where a server running 24/7 acts the same as the client does now to be then remotely accessed by the user/owner from different devices? So not in a way where it's a server where peple can register creating centralisation but one person node in a form of dedicated device to allow high uptime and thus availability and little friction? This would be of benefit for everyone contacted by and contacting a person with good availability as there would be no place for delayed/missed messages.

Open ##1905143
@pglpm@lemmy.ca 2026-04-17 14:30

Thank you for the explanation. But I don't understand how it can work if: 1. I send a message while my contact is offline, 2. then I go offline, 3. my contact comes back online while I'm still offline. The message needs to be somewhere in between. This is a situation that occurs quite often when you message with people in very different time zones.

Open ##1905145
@amzd@lemmy.world 2026-04-18 07:28

> your messages go through centralized servers you don't control. Chatmail relays(the delta chat “servers”) are decentralized and you can host one on a raspberry pi for thousands of users.

Open ##1905146