OwnStream

Your chats. Your data. Your choice.

OwnStream is a privacy-first messaging application where the user controls where their conversation data lives. It separates identity, encryption, message transport, and message storage.

Core Principles

1. User Ownership: You decide where your data is stored (Local, Self-hosted, or Cloud).
2. Strict Separation: Storage, Cryptography, and Transport are independent layers.
3. Privacy First: Designed for end-to-end encryption and authenticated identities.

Current MVP Status

✅ Implemented

• Android Client: Modern Kotlin + Jetpack Compose (Material 3) app.
• Clean Architecture: Use Cases, Repositories, and layered abstractions.
• Local Identity: Choose a username and generate a cryptographic identity (ID prefixed with os_).
• Local Storage: Fully functional persistence using Room (SQLite).
• Storage Abstraction: StorageAdapter allows for future pluggable providers.
• Crypto Abstraction: CryptoProvider isolates the app from specific E2EE protocols.
• Transport Abstraction: MessageTransport isolates the app from network logic.
• Messaging Pipeline: Functional chat UI with local persistence.
• Storage Indicators: Visual feedback on where each conversation's data is stored.
• Dependency Injection: Hilt for modularity and testability.

⚠️ Planned / Under Development

• Real E2EE Protocol: Integration of a vetted messaging protocol (e.g., Signal Protocol) is pending. Current crypto layer uses Android Keystore for identity protection but does not yet implement a full messaging protocol.
• Remote Storage: Self-hosted (Postgres/WebDAV) and Cloud providers.
• Remote Transport: WebSocket/Relay for internet messaging.
• Migration: Tools to move conversations between different storage providers.
• QR Verification: Out-of-band identity verification.

Architecture

Compose UI
    ↓
ViewModels
    ↓
Use Cases (Business Logic)
    ↓
Repositories (Coordination)
    ↓
┌───────────────┬───────────────┬───────────────┐
│               │               │               │
StorageAdapter  CryptoProvider  MessageTransport
    ↓               ↓               ↓
Room/SQLite     Android         No-Op (MVP)
                Keystore

Getting Started

1. Open the project in Android Studio (Koala or newer).
2. Build and run the :app module.
3. Complete the onboarding to create your identity.
4. Use the "+" button to create a local demo conversation.
5. Send messages and observe they persist across app restarts.

Security Disclaimer

This is an MVP/Alpha version. While the architecture is designed for security, the current version does not yet implement a production-grade E2EE messaging protocol. Do not use this for highly sensitive communication until a vetted protocol is integrated.