# Chat System

KayakNet Chat provides end-to-end encrypted messaging with full privacy protection.

## Overview

* **End-to-End Encrypted** - Messages only readable by participants
* **Room-Based** - Public and private chat rooms
* **Direct Messages** - Private 1-on-1 conversations
* **Media Support** - Share images and files
* **Persistent History** - Messages saved locally
* **Real-Time** - Instant message delivery via PubSub

## Accessing Chat

1. Start your KayakNet node with `--proxy`
2. Configure browser proxy
3. Navigate to `http://chat.kyk`

Or access via `http://home.kyk` → Chat tab

## Features

### Public Rooms

Join rooms to chat with multiple people:

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  #general                          [3]  │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  alice: Hello everyone!                 │
│  bob: Hey alice, welcome!               │
│  you: Thanks for having me              │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  [Type a message...]           [Send]   │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

**Creating a Room:**

1. Click "NEW ROOM"
2. Enter room name
3. Optionally set as private
4. Share the room name with others

**Joining a Room:**

1. Enter room name in search
2. Click "JOIN"
3. Start chatting

### Direct Messages (DMs)

Private conversations between two users:

1. Click on a user's name
2. Select "Send Direct Message"
3. Or enter their Node ID manually
4. Messages are E2E encrypted

### Media Sharing

Share images in chat:

1. Click the image icon 📷
2. Select file from device
3. Image is encrypted and sent
4. Recipients see inline preview

### User Presence

See who's online:

* 🟢 Online - Active in last 5 minutes
* 🟡 Away - Inactive
* ⚫ Offline - Not connected

### Message Status

* ✓ Sent - Message left your node
* ✓✓ Delivered - Reached recipient's node
* 👁 Read - Recipient opened message

## Encryption

### Room Messages

Room messages use:

1. **Room Key** - Symmetric key shared by members
2. **ChaCha20-Poly1305** - AEAD encryption
3. **Gossip Protocol** - Distributed delivery

### Direct Messages

DMs use:

1. **X25519** - Key exchange with recipient
2. **ChaCha20-Poly1305** - Encrypt message
3. **Ed25519** - Sign for authenticity

### Key Rotation

Keys are rotated:

* Room keys: When members change
* DM keys: Per message (perfect forward secrecy)

## Commands

| Command       | Description         |
| ------------- | ------------------- |
| `/join #room` | Join a room         |
| `/leave`      | Leave current room  |
| `/nick name`  | Set display name    |
| `/dm user`    | Start DM with user  |
| `/members`    | List room members   |
| `/clear`      | Clear local history |
| `/help`       | Show all commands   |

## Privacy Features

### What's Protected

✅ Message content - E2E encrypted ✅ Sender identity - Pseudonymous ✅ Recipient identity - Hidden by onion routing ✅ Message timing - Obfuscated ✅ Chat history - Stored locally only

### What's Visible

⚠️ Room names - Public rooms are discoverable ⚠️ Online status - Can be disabled ⚠️ Message metadata - Size (padded), timestamp (fuzzy)

## Settings

Access settings via gear icon:

| Setting               | Description                  |
| --------------------- | ---------------------------- |
| Display Name          | Your visible name            |
| Show Online Status    | Toggle presence visibility   |
| Read Receipts         | Send read confirmations      |
| Message Notifications | Desktop notifications        |
| Auto-Delete           | Delete messages after X days |

## Technical Details

### Message Format

```json
{
  "id": "abc123...",
  "type": "room" | "dm",
  "room": "#general",
  "sender": "node_id",
  "sender_name": "alice",
  "content": "<encrypted>",
  "timestamp": 1234567890,
  "signature": "ed25519_sig"
}
```

### Delivery

Messages are delivered via:

1. **Direct** - If recipient is a peer
2. **DHT** - Store and forward
3. **Gossip** - Flood to room members

### Storage

Chat history is stored in:

```
./data/chat/
├── rooms/
│   └── #general.json
└── dms/
    └── <recipient_id>.json
```

## Troubleshooting

### Messages Not Sending

* Check node is connected (peer count > 0)
* Verify recipient is online or using DHT fallback
* Try restarting node

### Can't Join Room

* Room name is case-sensitive
* Room may be private
* Network connectivity issue

### History Not Loading

* Check data directory permissions
* May be syncing from network
* Try clearing cache

## Best Practices

1. **Use unique names** - Avoid impersonation
2. **Verify contacts** - Check Node IDs match
3. **Clear history** - When done with sensitive chats
4. **Private rooms** - For confidential discussions
5. **No personal info** - Keep anonymity intact


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.kayaknet.io/features/chat.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.