bitchat-cli 0.2.1

A Python CLI port of bitchat: serverless peer-to-peer public chat over a Bluetooth LE mesh, wire-compatible with the bitchat app (text + image/voice/file media).

Bitchat CLI (Python Version)

This is a Python-based, command-line implementation of bitchat, a secure, decentralized, peer-to-peer messaging app that works over Bluetooth mesh networks. This version is designed to be compatible with the original Swift application's protocol.

Original iOS Version by Jack: github.com/jackjackbits/bitchat

Features

• Decentralized Communication: No internet or servers required.
• Peer-to-Peer: Connects directly with other bitchat users via Bluetooth LE.
• Secure: Implements the core cryptographic principles of the original app.
• Cross-Platform: Built with Python and bleak, with the potential to run on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Installation

Requires Python 3.8+ and a working Bluetooth LE adapter.

From PyPI (recommended)

pip install bitchat-cli

From source

git clone https://github.com/dearabhin/bitchat-cli.git
cd bitchat-cli
pip install -e .

Usage

Once installed, run it from anywhere:

bitchat-cli      # or simply: bitchat

From a source checkout you can also run python -m bitchat_cli.

The application will automatically start scanning for nearby bitchat peers and broadcast your public messages to them.

Commands

• /w: List known peers (peer ID → nickname).
• /name <nickname>: Change your nickname and re-announce.
• /send <path> (alias /file): Send an image, voice note, or file to peers.
• /clear: Clear the screen.
• /help: Show the list of available commands.

Any text that does not start with / is sent as a public (broadcast) message.

How It Works

This application uses the bleak library for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication, acting as a BLE central that discovers, connects to, and exchanges packets with real bitchat peers in range. It implements bitchat's binary wire protocol — announce/leave/public-message packets, PKCS#7 padding, fragment reassembly, and Ed25519 packet signing — so it can take part in public chat with the official app.

Scope and limitations: Only public/broadcast chat is supported. Private (Noise-encrypted) messaging, multi-hop mesh relaying, and advertising as a BLE peripheral are not implemented — bleak is central-only, so this client works one hop with peers it is connected to and is not itself discoverable when idle.

Protocol self-test

You can verify the wire-protocol implementation without any Bluetooth hardware:

python selftest.py

(Run from a source checkout; it imports the bitchat_cli package and needs only cryptography.)

Contributing to bitchat-cli

We welcome contributions from everyone! Here’s how you can help.

Getting Started

1. Fork the repository.
2. Clone your fork: git clone https://github.com/dearabhin/bitchat-cli.git
3. Install the dependencies: pip install -r requirements.txt

Submitting Changes

• Create a new branch for your feature or fix.
• Write a clear commit message.
• Open a Pull Request with a detailed description of your changes.