One thing that seemed interesting in that vein is the Dat software / protocol, and the Beaker web browser.

The aim was basically to create a distributed, peer-to-peer web. When I saw a presentation on it, I thought "hmm, if this works it will be really cool, but I don't think this is going to take off". It seems I was right because the Beaker browser is now gone, and Dat doesn't seem to be getting updates anymore.

But, I still think there's hope for a distributed web. It just needs something like a killer app.

Same!! P2p and self hosting is getting better and better!

I've been searching for an alternative chat platform for a while now and I'm yet to find anything I think I can use with friends and Grandma alike, ya know? 😅 so hearing about this p2p keet app got me really excited!

Sadly, after a bit of reading and such, I'm not so sure... 😕

• play-store or github seem to be the only install methods
• the github is release-delivery only; source code doesn't appear to be public?
• Keet uses Holepunch's (the company behind keet) "HyperDHT", a distributed hash table, to connect peers. So it seems that, while the comms themselves might be p2p, the app still relies on some server(s) to facilitate their initial connection.
• good news (kinda) though! You can self host a 'p2p server'! But the phrasing on that doc page reinforces that the network itself isn't fully p2p= "Creates a new server for accepting incoming encrypted P2P connections"
• Installed it anyway just to see. Immediately prompted to enable Google's push notifications via MicroG 😭
• the splash page of the app proudly announces "no servers!" - documentation says otherwise 😕
• creation of a username first checks whether the username is available.... Where is that being checked? No servers, right? 🤔

I want this to be cool, but no source code and foggy talk about servers has my sus-dar goin off a little 🤔 if anyone knows more I'd love to be persuaded!! The app itself is definitely very beautiful and responsive 🙂