hello,
I would like to try to write a delta.chat client for kaios. Is it possible to implement this only with html5 / js?
no, because the core needs access to tcp sockets to speak imap and smtp.
I like you’re idea, though.
Isn’t there any way to make native kaios apps or is it only 100% html5 apps?
Also is there a way to run web-assembly on kaios? (when it only supports webapps that could be a solution to run the core faster than when we were to compile it to asm.js)
Looks like native apps for kaiOS require a special partnership (https://www.kaiostech.com/mwc-2018-kai-announces-partnerships-with-mobile-industry-giants/)
It’s possible to make a deltachat client in only html5 but it requires the use of a ebsocket to tcp proxy and without web-assembly it will be painfully slow especially on low-end devices.
So I’ll say we should contact kaiOS and ask them whether merlinux (the company that manages deltachat) could become a partner and develop a native application with a html5 frontend.
I think we can use tcp https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Archive/B2G_OS/API/TPC_Socket_API
and till kaios 2.4 it was possible to execute from the javascript shell scripts
but I’am not a pro only a hobby coder
there is also an active group that does not share all the “interest of kaios”
I’am not a pro only a hobby coder
That’s not a big problem, we can help you to get started and maybe make use of having a company (merlinux) on our side to get needed privileges.
But at the moment we’re really busy with releasing for our current platforms, so I can’t promise anything quick.
I really like the idea of DeltaChat on lowend devices (this could also be interesting for activists in need of cheap burner phones) because it enables more people to enjoy decentralized messaging.
That API requires privileges so we need to verify the app or use rooted devices to develop it.
@strukturart Do you have a KaiOS device to test stuff?
You gave me an idea…
When we use a phone that was “banana hacked” we could install a deltachat backend there and communicate with it over local websocket. (Its just a linux bellow so that schould work)
Maybe that is possible.
If you want you can start coding an frontend with dummy data (to design how the app should look and feel).
We plan to make an websocket+json/protobuff api to the core soon anyway.
So we can work on something that works on jailbroken/rooted devices first and then sometime in the future we can still ask KaiOS how we can bring it officially on their devices.
yes i have the N8110-4G (rooted) with the gerda rom
kaios 3 has web-assembly. based on firefox 84. I think current os will be more compatible.
I know, though wasm itself might miss a few features that we need, also the WhatsApp app on kaiOS uses a native lib signal (https://github.com/kaiostech/api-daemon) so it might be to slow using wasm for the crypto?
Also I’d need to buy a new device for testing as it does not look like kaiOS 3 is coming to the current Nokia devices…
The current limiting factor is the time we can throw at the project. In the meanwhile I tested the native binary as local Webserver for the web app thing and it works fine, the thing is just that I don’t had the time yet to implement the remaining api methods. So the plan is there, just not enough time currently to realise it.
I want to revive the question here. I know there has been some experimental releases on KaiOS in the meantime. Yet is there some kind of dossier or primer on that? I’m not a coder (yet), so is there any chance to have Delta.Chat on a mobile device not dependent on Google, Apple or any of those price and attention driving corporations, without becoming a coder first!?
I’d love to see any e2ee messaging app on KaiOS, so why not Delta.Chat?! There is no messaging app I know of at all, not even without e2ee. Some Discord and some Telegram experiments exist. You know what this means!
I just got hold of a TCL Flip 3 with KaiOS 3.1 and it would be perfect, not only for kids, to have a phone that is not as “smart” as all those expensive phones out there. With unencrypted SMS service ending sooner or later, developing permission-less alternatives might be even more valuable.
I am using Deltatouch on a Pinephone running Mobian. Duopoly-free! Educational, too.
There are a few bugs, but very usable.
Once someone sues KaiOS into opening up installation of third-party apps, or Google sets a precedent and KaiOS complies, making a KaiOS app will become much more possible.
Feel free to check out flop.chat, a messaging app I released for KaiOS 2 and KaiOS 3. It has a very simple design, and data is stored only on the devices, not on any server.
Thanks for your replies. I see the major advantage of Feature Phones over Touch Phones in the fact that they’re not only cheaper but also less distracting. This is a huge benefit, especially for families and communities, no matter where in the world they are. Who benefits from having people glued to big screens?
And when it comes to KaiOS apps and experiments, aside from traditional email (not being encrypted and with overflowing mailboxes), I’ve unfortunately only seen messaging apps so far that work between KaiOS devices, but not with services available elsewhere.
Any other suggestions are welcome.
If you have any questions about KaiOS, feel free to join the Discord server: r/KaiOS
btw: You can use Flop on any device that has a browser and supports WebRTC; it’s a classic PWA and open source.