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FromChat

FromChat is a 100% free and open-source messenger. This repository is the cross-platform client (Android, Desktop via Compose Multiplatform, and iOS).

Agents: AGENTS.md and .agents/skills/ (ship via release skill, /release); humans: AI policy.

📥 Download • 💬 Telegram Channel • 🖥️ Server

✨ Features

• Voice and video calls — LiveKit
• Screen sharing during calls (Android)
• Public chat — server-wide community
• Direct messages — legal encryption scheme; server-side E2EE planned
• Device management — active sessions
• Dark mode by default
• Open source

📊 Client Comparison

Feature	Android	Desktop	Web	iOS
Messaging and profiles	✅	✅	✅	✅
Voice/video calls	✅	✅	✅	✅
Screen sharing	✅	❌	✅	❌
Push when backgrounded	✅ (FCM)	✅ (persistent WS + tray)	✅	❌ (WS while open)
Message reactions	❌	❌	✅	❌
Rich attachment support	✅	✅	❌	✅

Desktop replaces the former Electron client in the Web repo. Run with ./gradlew :app:desktop:run.

Desktop packaging

Build release packages on the matching OS (or via CI):

Task	Host	Artifacts
./gradlew :app:desktop:packageReleaseMac	macOS	FromChat-<ver>-macOS.dmg
./gradlew :app:desktop:packageReleaseLinux	Linux	.deb, .rpm, .AppImage (needs appimagetool)
./gradlew :app:desktop:packageReleaseWindows	Windows	FromChat-Setup-<ver>.exe, FromChat-Portable-<ver>.exe (Rust toolchain required)
./gradlew :app:desktop:packageReleaseDesktop	current OS	delegates to the task above

Outputs land under app/desktop/build/distributions/release/.

CI: .github/workflows/release.yml runs on workflow_dispatch only (required version input; the v* tag does not need to exist beforehand — the publish step creates it), then uploads assets to a GitHub Release.

Windows portable: the installer unpacks a full app folder (jpackage layout). Run FromChat.exe only — portable mode is set in FromChat.cfg (-Dfromchat.portable=true). Data in fromchat-data/ or fromchat-data-beta/; separate from AppData. No self-extract on launch.

Installed data: Windows %LOCALAPPDATA%\FromChat, macOS ~/Library/Application Support/FromChat, Linux ~/.local/share/FromChat (migrates from legacy ~/.fromchat/cache when present).

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🏗️ Tech Stack

• Kotlin
• Compose Multiplatform
• Material Design 3
• Ktor Client
• LiveKit — calls
• SQLDelight — local storage
• Firebase Messaging — push
• Coil — images

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📥 Build and Development (Android Studio)

Requirements

• Latest Android Studio
• JDK from Android Studio (JetBrains Runtime)

Quick start

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/fromchat-messenger/android.git
   cd android
   

2. Generate keys (Debug & Release):

   DEBUG_STORE_PASS=CHANGEME
   DEBUG_KEY_PASS=CHANGEME
   RELEASE_STORE_PASS=CHANGEME
   RELEASE_KEY_PASS=CHANGEME
   
   mkdir -p app/android/keys
   
   # Quote passwords: characters like & * ? ! break unquoted shell args.
   keytool -genkey -v -keystore app/android/keys/debug.jks \
     -keyalg RSA -keysize 2048 -validity 10000 \
     -alias key0 -storepass "$DEBUG_STORE_PASS" -keypass "$DEBUG_KEY_PASS" \
     -dname "CN=Debug, O=FromChat, C=RU"
   
   keytool -genkey -v -keystore app/android/keys/release.jks \
     -keyalg RSA -keysize 2048 -validity 10000 \
     -alias key0 -storepass "$RELEASE_STORE_PASS" -keypass "$RELEASE_KEY_PASS" \
     -dname "CN=Release, O=FromChat, C=RU"
   
   # Path must be app/android/keys/keystore.properties (matches build.gradle.kts).
   # Outer "…" / '…' around values are optional; Gradle strips them.
   cat > app/android/keys/keystore.properties << EOF
   

releaseStorePassword=$RELEASE_STORE_PASS releaseKeyPassword=$RELEASE_KEY_PASS debugStorePassword=$DEBUG_STORE_PASS debugKeyPassword=$DEBUG_KEY_PASS EOF

3. **Open in Android Studio:** `File → Open` → repo root. Gradle syncs dependencies automatically.

4. **Run:** `Run → Run 'Android'` (or the app debug configuration).  
Debug application id: `ru.fromchat.beta`.

### CLI build

```bash
export JAVA_HOME="/Applications/Android Studio.app/Contents/jbr/Contents/Home"
./gradlew :app:shared:compileAndroidMain :app:android:assembleDebug

APK: app/android/build/outputs/apk/debug/android-debug.apk.

Project structure

android/
├── app/
│   ├── android/          # Android app module
│   └── shared/           # Compose Multiplatform
│       ├── commonMain/
│       ├── androidMain/
│       └── iosMain/      # not ready yet
│           └── …/ru/fromchat/utils/  # shared helpers (settings, crypto, UI)
└── gradle/libs.versions.toml

Code style: CODE_STYLE.md.

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🤝 Contribute

Pull requests are welcome. For large changes, follow CODE_STYLE.md.

📄 License

GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 — see LICENSE.

🔗 Related Repositories

• Backend
• Web
• Website
• Deployment