CalsotChat

CalsotChat is an open source tool that lets you securely and anonymously chat with friends using the Tor network.

Requirements

• Python3.7
• Nodejs v12.19.0
• Tor installed as a service

Install tor as a service

• Ubuntu: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Tor
  • Edit torrc file (default location in /etc/tor/)
    • Edit "CookieAuthentication" and set it to "0"
    • Uncomment "SocksPort 9050"
    • Uncomment "ControlPort 9051"
• Windows:
  • Download Windows Expert Bundle: https://www.torproject.org/download/tor/
  • Create a torrc file with the following content:

    SocksPort 9050
    ControlPort 9051
    CookieAuthentication 0
    

  • Install tor service using torrc file

    .\tor.exe -f .\torrc
    

  • More info at https://miloserdov.org/?p=1839

Project setup

yarn install
pip install -r requirements

Compiles and hot-reloads for development

shell 1:

python main.py

shell 2:

yarn serve

Compiles and minifies for production

pyinstaller main.spec && yarn build

Lints and fixes files

yarn lint

Customize configuration

See Configuration Reference.

Electron

Start develop server

shell 1:

python main.py

shell 2:

yarn electron:serve
or
npm run electron:serve

Build app

pyinstaller main.spec && yarn electron:build
or
pyinstaller main.spec && npm run electron:build

Launch 2 instance in the same machine

To be able to launch 2 instance of the app in the same machine we have to add some cmd arguments to start the app:

• --port : local port that we will listen (default: 5000)
• --onion_port : port that will be listen in tor network interface (default: 80)
• --folder: local directory where save persistent data (default: ~/calsotchat)

for example, to launch the second instance we will do the following in a cmd terminal:

./CalsotChat-1.0.0.AppImage --port=5010 --onion_port=8080 --folder=~/calsotchat2

TODO List

• Chat in groups with multiple members
• Static Tor address
• Edit contact names
• Check contacts status (online/offline)
• Resend failed messages when contact reconnects
• Write logs when running in Bundle
• Make ports dynamics
• Mechanism to discover of servers