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 or here 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.