Signal without smartphone

A Desktop application to register an account with Signal and link it with Signal Desktop, all without requiring a smartphone.

https://github.com/almet/signal-without-smartphone

@almet ah super !

Du coup je suis curieux, comment ça maintient la connexion "primaire" au compte Signal ? Dans le use-case de signal-cli, il faut que le signal-cli soit paramétré pour faire un `receive` régulièrement, parce qu'il y a des évènements qui ne sont pas envoyés directement aux devices secondaires (genre, si j'ai bien compris, les MAJ de groupe et d'expiration de messages) ?

[edit] cf. le "hint" en bas du paragraphe usage du readme https://github.com/AsamK/signal-cli

GitHub - AsamK/signal-cli: signal-cli provides an unofficial commandline, JSON-RPC and dbus interface for the Signal messenger.

signal-cli provides an unofficial commandline, JSON-RPC and dbus interface for the Signal messenger. - AsamK/signal-cli

GitHub

@olasd

C'est pas quelque chose que j'ai vu de mon côté, en pratique, et quand un compte secondaire récupère les données; mais je manque de recul sur l'outil qui est encore jeune.

Du coup, actuellement :

- Pas de `receive` qui se fait depuis le compte principal ;
- Le cas où tu te fait "desync" est prévu, mais plutôt pour pouvoir resync avec les mêmes clés.

@almet alors je peux t'assurer que le compte secondaire va finir par se désynchro (dans quelques semaines ? quelques mois ? à la prochaine mise à jour du protocole ?), c'est en tout cas ce que j'ai pu constater quand le signal-cli receive arrête de marcher
@almet (mais du coup j'essaie de garder ton outil en tête pour voir quand tu auras quelques mois de recul, parce que l'UX de signal-cli, comment dire... :D)
@olasd Ah, mais le compte secondaire, dans ce que j'imagine, c'est ton signal desktop, et du coup, s'il reste utilisé il se désynchronise pas.
@almet
ben... si ! le symptôme que j'ai déjà constaté, c'est une désynchronisation du Signal Desktop environ 5 minutes après qu'il ait servi à envoyer un message (le signal-cli avait arrêté de receive parce qu'on avait raté une maj à faire pour supporter la dernière version du protocole)
@almet apparently there is an effort to have this feature in the official app https://aboutsignal.com/news/signal-desktop-without-a-mobile-phone-standalone-version-in-development/
Signal Desktop without a smartphone, standalone version in development

Signal is working on a standalone version of its desktop app that does not require a smartphone. Signal Desktop will also gain additional options when used as a linked device.

AboutSignal
@steko Yep, I've seen these claims, and I would like them to be true but… I see no evidence that goes this way, unfortunately, see my message to them here: https://tutut.delire.party/@almet/116557240946918234

@aboutsignal @almet @steko

Quick user request: it would be fantastic to have Signal also integrate with services such as Rambox https://rambox.app/ where all my other communication channels reside.

Workspace productivity app for all your work apps - Rambox

Organize all your work apps, accounts, and workflows in one desktop workspace. Use Rambox to reduce tab chaos and stay focused every day.

Rambox
@steko @almet Probably not, the guy who saw the commit didn't really understand what this was about.

RE: https://mastodon.social/@aboutsignal/116657976632074570

@fla We do understand, but FYI, see the other update/commit here. The future will tell :)

@almet does this tool store data that's critical to recovering stuff like backups?

i dont see an option to backup from the signal desktop app

@ShadowJonathan I never tried to use backups, so… I don't know! I'm creating an issue to remember this and do some research
Explore how backups work · Issue #3 · almet/signal-without-smartphone

From masto: does this tool store data that's critical to recovering stuff like backups?

GitHub

@ShadowJonathan

So, it seems that Signal Desktop doesn't do backups. As its the primary intended linked device in my use cases, I don't think I should add support for it so far.

More details here: https://github.com/almet/signal-without-smartphone/issues/3#issuecomment-4574799677

Thanks for asking!

Explore how backups work · Issue #3 · almet/signal-without-smartphone

From masto: does this tool store data that's critical to recovering stuff like backups?

GitHub
@almet Backups locally, for privacy - especially facing the AI surge and inevitable hacking increase, following.
@almet Does this require a phone number though? ​
@cody yes, you still need one.
@almet agh that kinda sucks... still very cool, especially for dumbphone users who still wanna use Signal at home ​:3:​

@almet

Signal lost me at "Enter your phone number".

@almet
I guess let's wait until Signal dev complains that this unofficial app uses their servers, same as LibreSignal
@almet but still requires a phone number...

@almet still requires a phone number, the single most insecure fucking thing that refuses to die and nobody fights hard enough against.

Edit: I would rather use DeltaChat|ArcaneChat or other stuff made by myself or some random guy than anything that requires a phone number

@SteveManticore @almet
Thanks, but still tied to a phone number and therefore i am out
@almet But still need a phone number...
@tusooa @almet
Yes, i think its at least a step in the right direction but not yet the freedom and safety we need
@almet i wish it was there 8 years ago when i was choosing what to use
@almet never put unaudited tools as the man in the middle of your secure communication
@almet great, but unsure I understand what is installing "application" (primary device) or "signal desktop"(secondary device?
@perina I'm not sure to get what you would like clarified?
@almet
I think there's Molly too ?
@Strabisme Molly is running on Android, and is using the Signal network. It can be seen as an hardened client for Signal on Android.
Curieux de tester ça de pair avec la signal-cli-rest-api ! Merci
cc: @amin FYI

@rl_dane

This looks cool and I'm glad it exists! It does seem rather new though, I think I'll wait around a bit and see where the project goes. Also, I don't think there would be a way to migrate from my existing account?

@almet i'm curious, does this work with already existing accounts? documentation isn't 100% clear on that lol
@almet just tried it, it works, so yay, now i don't need my outdated pixel phone nor my *really* outdated cat S22 flip to manage signal lmfao
@EeveeEuphoria yay, Thanks for the feedback!
YYAAASS!!! This is something I have been struggling with the last couple of days!! Hurra!! ååååh hvor godt, ÆLSKER!!
Taaaaktakatakataktaktak!!!