Delta ChatFeb 4

A lot of messaging systems try to reinvent the email system but many (signal, matrix, xmpp) took over one key traditional design which we actually dropped while retaining SMTP/IMAP compatibility: server-controlled identities.

With #chatmail user identities are cryptographic and reside on end user devices only. Servers are only message relays and have no control over identities or chats, only perform fast message routing. See this fosdem talk by one of our lead developers https://mirror.cyberbits.eu/fosdem/2026/ud2218a/3F9VTU-deltachat-chatmail-relays-multi-transport.av1.webm

Show threadVivekanandan KS (vivek)
@delta
I'm not an expert on these, but this feels very much like what nostr people have achieved. Like identity sovereign and servers are just relays. Something like that. Maybe u should check those out and collab if possible
Feb 5 at 10:36amWeb
Show threadrocking_horseFeb 8
@vivekanandanks @delta what is the real role of relays when end devices can simply communicate with each other as in #meshtastic or #reticulum ?
Show threadDelta ChatFeb 8
@rocking_horse @vivekanandanks two typical p2p messenger problems get remediated by having relays:
- if the receiver's device is offline, you can use a relay to store the messages until it comes online
- relays can help with network restrictions obstructing a p2p connection in ~30% of connections.
So relays are necessary if users expect a messenger which *just works*.
Show threadrocking_horseFeb 8
@delta @vivekanandanks ok but ... can we use #DeltaChat w/o the relayers if we do not have problem with connection to the network or we solved this problem other way? Or with other relayers not dedicated to #DeltaChat that can store and forwatd the messages? I expect to free the communication from unneeded dependencies.
Show threadDelta ChatFeb 8
@rocking_horse @vivekanandanks hopefully at some point - currently we are focusing on getting rid of being dependent on a *specific* relay: https://fosdem.org/2026/schedule/event/3F9VTU-deltachat-chatmail-relays-multi-transport/
FOSDEM 2026 - Multi-relay chat messaging & cryptographic identities with Delta Chat and Chatmail relays

Show threadArcaneChatFeb 8

@rocking_horse you can already use delta chat p2p today via #yggmail and #yggdrasil

for example, see https://apt.izzysoft.de/packages/com.jbselfcompany.tyr

@delta @vivekanandanks

„Tyr - P2P Email“ – IzzyOnDroid F-Droid Repository

True peer-to-peer email using Yggdrasil network. No central servers required.

IzzyOnDroid Repo Browser