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Git as the backend for a messaging app (programming.dev)
submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by xoron@programming.dev to c/git@programming.dev
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this is following a previous post as seen here: https://programming.dev/post/51866250

apps like Whatsapp, Signal and SimpleXChat are great for secure messaging and far more mature than this project, but this approach is yet distict in the market. the core philosophy around secure messaging here is that it can work in a way that avoids installation and registration by enabling users to host their own data.

docs: https://glitr.io/

demo

note: feel free to ask for clarity on any of the details around how the project works.

FAQ:

  • but why? - git over https adds an additional capability i had previously oerlooked https. webrtc cannot work over TOR and similar networks. this way, you can take advantage of the "gold standard" for onion routing while being able to avoid IP leaking from webrtc.

  • when is it ready for production? - not any time soon. standby for updates.

  • audit/review? - no, niether is possible/available. its simply too expensive. this project is close-source so you cannot verify it either. DO NOT "trust me bro"... this demo is proided for testing and demo purposes only. use responsibly.

  • the abridged version of how its put together: https://www.reddit.com/r/VibeCodeDevs/comments/1vme48q/refactor_js_to_rust/

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[-] xoron@programming.dev -1 points 5 days ago

You right. It's slow and unoptimized for it. There is a clear reason this isn't a popular approach.

In the messaging app, I started off by making it so it worked with local-only data. It works over webrtc. I added bells and whistles like the signal protocol and multimedia messaging, but it lacks the ability to send messages offline (because webrtc).

The git approach can allow to publish encrypted messages for peers so when they come and online and your aren't there, it can decrypt a payload specific to them.

With git, it's hardly instant messaging, but I'm working on a feature where git can act as a peer-broker to establish a webrtc connection.

The git approach also would mean that it could work over tor with the signal protocol encryption (albeit hardly instant messaging).

It's a fairly unique approach and there are countless details to consider like how group-messaging would work. So I'll confirm it isn't ready to replace signal or any other app/service.

"Vibecoded" doesn't quite have the bite these days. I've clearly used AI, so let's get that out of the way. In my open source projects I tried to provide code, documentation, live examples. You can find out more about the open source projects at: https://positive-intentions.com/

Feel free to reach out for specifics. While this project is not open source (yet?), I am still trying to make some comprehensive docs.

this post was submitted on 10 Sep 2026
-6 points (28.6% liked)

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