Databag: A Federated Messaging Platform for the Self-Hosters
Databag is an innovative messenger service designed for those who prefer self-hosting. It offers a decentralized, federated communication platform allowing users from different nodes to connect seamlessly. The application is designed with efficiency in mind, ensuring minimal hosting resources are required, making it a perfect option even for those with limited infrastructure capabilities.
Key Features
- Decentralized and Federated: Databag allows direct communication between the app and server node, and supports connections between accounts on various nodes.
- Identity and Security: Users' identities are based on public-private key systems not tethered to any blockchain. This offers end-to-end encryption ensuring that even host admins don’t have access to sealed communication topics.
- Versatile Communication Options: Besides messaging, Databag supports audio and video calls. However, it requires a separate relay server for NAT traversal.
- Organization and Participation: Discussions are managed through topic-based threads rather than contacts, and there’s no limit to the number of participants in a group thread.
Performance and Accessibility
- Lightweight and Efficient: The server can run on devices as compact as a Raspberry Pi Zero v1.3, utilizing websockets for low-latency messaging instead of traditional polling.
- Scalability: Databag enables hosting for several users per node, potentially accommodating whole families on a single node.
- Alerts and Security: It supports mobile alerts through UnifiedPush, FCM, and APN for new communications, and offers multi-factor authentication with TOTP integration.
Getting Databag
Databag is readily available for download from various platforms, including F-Droid, Google Play Store, and Apple App Store. A demo is provided to try out features, though it's advised not to post sensitive information as this server is regularly purged. Feedback on user experience and suggestions for improvements are always welcome.
Installation Options
Databag can be installed through various methods:
- Standard Docker Launch: Utilizes Docker Compose for simple deployments.
- Enhanced Security with Certbot: Incorporation of HTTPS certificates via Certbot for secure connections.
- Portainer and Nginx Proxy Integration: Provides step-by-step deployment instructions using these tools.
- Alternative Installations: The app can also be installed directly on platforms like Raspberry Pi Zero, AWS, and more.
Audio and Video Calls
To enable media calls, a session traversal utility for NAT (STUN/TURN) server is necessary. Users can implement their own or utilize available services like Coturn or Cloudflare. For testing, a demo relay server is configured with easy-to-follow instructions for setting it up.
Future Developments
The development roadmap is largely community-driven, with features being prioritized based on user interest. Community feedback is continuously sought to refine and expand Databag’s capabilities.
Databag is an excellent choice for anyone looking to run a capable, secure messaging service on their own terms, offering flexibility, scalability, and robust performance even on minimal setups. Whether you're hosting for family, friends, or a small organization, Databag has you covered.