Tinode Instant Messaging Server

Instant messaging server. Backend in pure Go (license GPL 3.0), client-side binding in Java, Javascript, and Swift, as well as gRPC client support for C++, C#, Go, Java, Node, PHP, Python, Ruby, Objective-C, etc. (license Apache 2.0). Wire transport is JSON over websocket (long polling is also available) for custom bindings, or protobuf with gRPC. Persistent storage is any one of MySQL, MongoDB or RethinkDB. Other databases can be supported by writing custom adapters.

Tinode is not XMPP/Jabber. It is not compatible with XMPP. It's meant as a replacement for XMPP. On the surface, it's a lot like open source WhatsApp or Telegram.

Version 0.18. This is beta-quality software: feature-complete and stable but probably with a few bugs or missing features. Follow instructions to install and run or use one of the cloud services below. Read API documentation.

Why?

The promise of XMPP was to deliver federated instant messaging: anyone would be able to spin up an IM server capable of exchanging messages with any other XMPP server in the world. Unfortunately, XMPP never delivered on this promise. Instant messengers are still a bunch of incompatible walled gardens, similar to what AoL of the late 1990s was to the open Internet.

The goal of this project is to deliver on XMPP's original vision: create a modern open platform for federated instant messaging with an emphasis on mobile communication. A secondary goal is to create a decentralized IM platform that is much harder to track and block by the governments.

An explicit NON-goal: we are not building yet another Slack replacement.

Installing and running

See general instructions or docker-specific instructions.

Getting support

Read API documentation and FAQ. Read configuration instructions contained in the tinode.conf file.
For support, general questions, discussions post to https://groups.google.com/d/forum/tinode.
For bugs and feature requests open an issue.
Use https://tinode.co/contact for commercial inquiries.

Helping out

Consider buying paid support: https://tinode.co/support.html
If you are a software developer, send us your pull requests with bug fixes and new features.
If you use the app and discover bugs or missing features, let us know by filing bug reports and feature requests. Vote for existing feature requests you find most valuable.
If you speak a language other than English, translate the apps into your language. You may also review and improve existing translations.
If you are a UI/UX expert, help us polish the app UI.
Let people know about Tinode: write a blog post or an article about Tinode, share your findings and experiences at conferences.
Use it: install it for your colleagues or friends at work or at home.

Public service

A public Tinode service is now available. You can use it just like any other instant messenger. Keep in mind that demo accounts present in sandbox are not available in the public service. You must register an account using valid email in order to use the service.

Web

TinodeWeb, a single page web app, is available at https://web.tinode.co/ (source). See screenshots below. Currently available in English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish. More translations are welcome.

Android

Tinode for Android a.k.a Tindroid is stable and functional (source). See the screenshots below. A debug APK is also provided for convenience. Currently available in English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish. More translations are welcome.

iOS

Tinode for iOS a.k.a. Tinodios is stable and functional (source). See the screenshots below. Currently available in English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Spanish. More translations are welcome.

Demo/Sandbox

A sandboxed demo service is available at https://sandbox.tinode.co/.

Log in as one of alice, bob, carol, dave, frank. Password is <login>123, e.g. login for alice is alice123. You can discover other users by email or phone by prefixing them with email: or tel: respectively. Emails are <login>@example.com, e.g. alice@example.com, phones are +17025550001 through +17025550009.

When you register a new account you are asked for an email address to send validation code to. For demo purposes you may use 123456 as a universal validation code. The code you get in the email is also valid.

Sandbox Notes

The sandbox server is reset (all data wiped) every night at 3:15am Pacific time. An error message User not found or offline means the server was reset while you were connected. If you see it on the web, reload and relogin. On Android log out and re-login. If the database was changed, delete the app then reinstall.
Sandbox user Tino is a basic chatbot which responds with a random quote to any message.
As generally accepted, when you register a new account you are asked for an email address. The server will send an email with a verification code to that address and you can use it to validate the account. To make things easier for testing, the server will also accept 123456 as a verification code. Remove line "debug_response": "123456" from tinode.conf to disable this option.
The sandbox server is configured to use ACME TLS implementation with hard-coded requirement for SNI. If you are unable to connect then the most likely reason is your TLS client's missing support for SNI. Use a different client.
The default web app loads a single minified javascript bundle and minified CSS. The un-minified version is also available at https://sandbox.tinode.co/index-dev.html
Docker images with the same demo are available.
You are welcome to test your client software against the sandbox, hack it, etc. No DDoS-ing though please.

Features

Supported

Multiple native platforms:
- Android (Java)
- iOS (Swift)
- Web (React.js)
- Scriptable command line (Python)
User features:
- One-on-one and group messaging. Voice messages.
- Channels with unlimited number of read-only subscribers.
- Granular access control with permissions for various actions.
- User search/discovery.
- Rich formatting of messages markdown-style: *style* → style, with inline images, file attachments.
- Forms and templated responses suitable for chatbots.
- Verified/staff/untrusted account markers.
- Message status notifications: message delivery to server; received and read notifications; typing notifications.
- Most recent message preview in contact list.
- Server-generated presence notifications for people, group chats.
- Forwarding and replying to messages.
Administration:
- Granular access control with permissions for various actions.
- Support for custom authentication backends.
- Ability to block unwanted communication server-side.
- Anonymous users (important for use cases related to tech support over chat).
- Plugins to extend functionality, for example, to support moderation or chatbots.
Performance, reliability and development:
- Sharded clustering with failover.
- Storage and out of band transfer of large objects like images or document files using local file system or Amazon S3 (other storage systems can be supported with plugins).
- JSON or protobuf version 3 wire protocols.
- Bindings for various programming languages:
  - Javascript with no external dependencies.
  - Java with dependencies on Jackson and Java-Websocket. Suitable for Android but with no Android SDK dependencies.
  - Swift with no external dependencies.
  - C/C++, C#, Go, Python, PHP, Ruby and many other languages using gRPC.
- Choice of a database backend: MySQL, RethinkDB, MongoDB.

Planned

Federation.
Video or audio calling.
Location sharing.
Previews of attached videos, documents, links.
Hot standby.
Different levels of message persistence (from strict persistence to "store until delivered" to purely ephemeral messaging).
Message encryption at rest.
End to end encryption with OTR for one-on-one messaging and undecided method for group messaging.
Full text search in messages.

Translations

All client software has support for internationalization. The following translations are provided:

Language	Server	Webapp	Android	iOS
English	✓	✓	✓	✓
Chinese (simplified)	✓	✓	✓	✓
Chinese (traditional)		✓	✓	✓
French	✓	✓	✓
German		✓	✓
Korean		✓	✓
Romanian		✓
Russian	✓	✓	✓	✓
Spanish	✓	✓	✓	✓
Vietnamese	✓