Conversations (software)

Conversations (software)
Haansn08 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Conversations
Developer	Daniel Gultsch
Released	2013
Latest release	2026
Programming language	Java, Kotlin
Operating system	Android
Genre	Instant messaging client
License	GPLv3

Conversations (software) is an open-source instant messaging client for mobile devices primarily focused on the Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol used by federated messaging networks. It emphasizes end-to-end encryption, federated interoperability, and modern mobile user experience, integrating with public and private servers maintained by individuals, organizations, and institutions across the Internet. The project has been associated with privacy advocates, academic researchers, and independent developers contributing to the wider federated messaging ecosystem.

Overview

Conversations was created to provide a mobile client that interoperates with federated networks such as those run by DjangoCon, Debian, Electronic Frontier Foundation, EFF, Mozilla, Free Software Foundation, and other entities maintaining XMPP infrastructure. The client implements modern mobile paradigms influenced by projects associated with Google, Canonical, KDE, GNOME, Matrix.org, Signal Foundation, and Tor Project, while remaining focused on the Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol originally specified by the Internet Engineering Task Force. Conversations supports multiple accounts, contact management linked to standards from W3C, and server discovery compatible with deployments by organizations like GitLab, GitHub, Red Hat, and Apache Software Foundation projects.

History and Development

Development began in 2013 by developer Daniel Gultsch with contributions from developers active in communities around XMPP Standards Foundation, Freenode, IRCnet, IETF, and various academic labs at institutions such as ETH Zurich, University of Cambridge, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Early releases addressed limitations observed in clients associated with projects from Google Summer of Code, Open Source Initiative, and mobile platforms driven by Android Open Source Project. Over time the codebase incorporated libraries and tooling maintained by JetBrains, Android Developers, Eclipse Foundation, and other organizations. Major milestones included integration of end-to-end encryption protocols ratified in discussions involving IETF working groups and interoperability testing with server implementations run by Prosody, ejabberd, and Openfire operators.

Features and Functionality

Conversations implements features typical of modern messaging clients, including message threading, media transfer, contact roster management, and presence signaling compatible with servers run by Prosody, ejabberd, and Metronome. It supports inline image previews, file upload, and message synchronization similar to functionality emphasized by clients developed in projects like Element (software), Pidgin, Gajim, Empathy and mobile apps by companies such as Google and WhatsApp LLC. The client exposes account settings for custom domains and server ports used by institutions like Universität Zürich, Harvard University, Stanford University, and NGOs such as Amnesty International. Integration with background services and battery optimizations reflect guidance from Android Developers and independent benchmarking by contributors affiliated with University of Oxford research groups.

Protocols and Standards Support

Conversations adheres to XMPP extensions and standards maintained by the XMPP Standards Foundation and the Internet Engineering Task Force. Implemented specifications include XMPP core features, file transfer and out-of-band data modeled in extensions proposed at meetings attended by representatives from Microsoft Research, IBM Research, and Facebook. The client implements service discovery, roster management, and capabilities negotiation that align with deployments by Cisco Systems, Juniper Networks, and public servers hosted by entities such as Hetzner and DigitalOcean. Conversations also interoperates with encryption standards and negotiation patterns discussed at conferences like RSA Conference and Black Hat Briefings.

Security and Privacy

Security architecture in Conversations centers on end-to-end encryption and server-side privacy controls, using protocols that have been scrutinized by cryptographers from University College London, University of Cambridge, Stanford University, and independent auditors with ties to OpenSSL Project and LibreSSL. The client supports Off-the-Record Messaging patterns and modern OMEMO implementations influenced by research from groups at TU Delft, ETH Zurich, and contributors to protocols discussed at the IETF. Conversations provides certificate validation, STARTTLS negotiation, and SASL mechanisms comparable to implementations used by Postfix, Dovecot, and OpenSSH ecosystems, and has been recommended in privacy guidance from organizations like Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Platforms and Installation

Conversations is distributed primarily as an application for devices running Android (operating system), with packages available through independent app stores and repositories maintained by projects such as F-Droid, Google Play, and community mirrors hosted by GitLab and GitHub. Installation options include direct APK sideloading common in ecosystems managed by LineageOS and deployment in enterprise environments running mobile device management platforms from Microsoft and VMware. The project’s build system relies on tooling from Gradle, Android SDK, and libraries from JetBrains.

Reception and Community

The project has been covered by technology publications and cited in reports by Wired, The Guardian, Ars Technica, TechCrunch, LWN.net, and privacy-focused outlets associated with EFF and ACLU. It maintains an active community of contributors and server operators who participate in channels hosted by organizations such as XMPP Standards Foundation, FOSDEM, DebConf, and annual conferences including GUADEC and KubeCon. User feedback and academic evaluations from labs at University of Oxford and TU Berlin have informed usability and security enhancements.

Licensing and Contribution

Conversations is released under the GNU General Public License version 3, aligning its distribution with the Free Software Foundation’s principles. The source code is hosted on platforms like GitLab and mirrored on GitHub for issue tracking and contribution workflows similar to projects managed by Linux Foundation and Apache Software Foundation. Contributions follow guidelines shaped by community governance models seen in projects such as Debian and Fedora.

Category:Instant messaging clients Category:Free software