mastodon/docs/instant-messaging.md

# Instant messaging documentation - by Tykayn
=========
here is detailed the progress and the state of wondering.
By now, **the IM (Instant messaging) aims to be a simple frontend over the direct message structure**.

Come discuss here:
[@tykayn](https://mastodon.cipherbliss.com/@tykayn)
or here
[contact@cipherbliss.com](mailto:contact@cipherbliss.com)

## what is done
The IM is able to
* list followed accounts by the user
    * retrieving contacts from the DB
* talk one to one with an account
    * the input is a simplified compose form, it has predefined settings to have only one recipient. It uses the same mecanism than the compose form to send a private / direct message to somebody. other mentions of persons are not yet recognised.
* components used by the IM are listed under the folder `app/javascript/mastodon/features/ui/components/messaging`

* the addition of bulma CSS enables a reliable set of css classes to have a cool layout and tooling.
* style dedicated to the IM is added in the mastodon style folder
`app/javascript/styles/mastodon/messaging/main.scss`


# TODO
## Work in progress
* retrieve contacts, just like in http://localhost:3000/web/accounts/1/following
* open a new conversation when we click on an account in the contact list

## Research
find how it is already done to:


* retrieve a conversation like http://localhost:3000/web/statuses/103356660630283894
* subscribe to the new messages of a conversation
* send a direct message
* display a page with the routing system

## Paths to explore, reflexions
I would like ideally the IM to be able to:
* send pictures just like in normal messages
* be end to end encrypted
* be able to be a bridge with some other messaging, like Matrix does with IRC and a lot of other.