No Wi-Fi? Stay in the conversation.
Bluetooth mesh messaging is built to work without an internet connection. Other nearby peers can help a message travel further.
A small app. A new connection. Early preview A little closer.
A little closer.
Even offline.
less scrolling,
more connecting
more connecting
BitChat, with room to breathe. A native desktop app for conversations nearby — and a little further afield.
YOUR CHAT. YOUR KIND OF QUIET.
looks like home.
because it is.
because it is.
Bluetooth mesh Nostr location channels Open source, always Native by design
GOOD CONVERSATIONS FIND A WAY
The network is
the people around you.
On a train. At a meetup. Somewhere the Wi-Fi isn't.
Nearby devices can connect over Bluetooth and relay messages through the mesh.
> hello, nearby_
you, at your deskmMaya
jJules
nNoor
a little hellofinds its wayIllustrative mesh · device support and range vary A DESKTOP APP THAT BELONGS HERE
Small footprint.
Plenty of personality.
No bundled browser. No extra ceremony. Just native controls, a proper sidebar, and space for the conversation.
Take a closer look8.7MB DOWNLOAD
A little app, on purpose.
Compressed macOS early-preview DMG.
Apple silicon. No bundled Chromium.
Bubbles or a blinking-cursor mood.
Choose Bubble or Terminal chat in Settings. Then pick a theme that feels like you.
A face. A name. A way to verify.
Peer details and QR verification put identity checks within reach. Private messaging uses upstream Bitchat encryption.
Yours to inspect. Yours to build on.
No account to create. Open source under the Unlicense. Read the code, report a bug, or make it your own.
SMALL BEGINNINGS. OPEN POSSIBILITIES.Make room for
Make room for
a good conversation.
The macOS early preview is here.
Help us shape what comes next.
Made for your Mac.
EARLY PREVIEWApple silicon · macOS 13+ · v0.1.0-preview.1
Download for macOSZIP alternativeRelease notes & checksums
Ad-hoc signed. Not notarized by Apple. Review the first-open instructions before installing. This is preview software; features and compatibility are still being tested.
Windows
A native app is on the roadmap.
Linux
Built for the desktop, from the start.
A FEW THINGS TO KNOW
Good questions.
Straight answers.
Is this the official Bitchat app?
No. BitChat Desktop is an independent, open-source project by Youhana Sheriff, following the work of permissionlesstech/bitchat. It brings a desktop-focused experience to that foundation and is not an official upstream release.
Does it really work without the internet?
The Bluetooth mesh transport is designed for nearby communication without internet access. It needs compatible, available Bluetooth hardware and other peers within reach. Nostr location channels use the internet. Real-device interoperability testing for this desktop preview is still underway.
Which computers can run the preview?
The current download is for Apple silicon Macs. Windows and Linux implementations are planned; downloads are not available yet. See the release notes for the exact requirements and tested systems.
How do I open the macOS early preview?
Open the downloaded DMG and drag BitChat Desktop into Applications. Eject the disk image, then launch the app from Applications. This preview is ad-hoc signed and is not notarized by Apple, so macOS may block its first launch.
If you trust the download, open System Settings → Privacy & Security and use Open Anyway for this specific app. Follow Apple's confirmation prompts. See Apple's guidance and the release notes. Do not disable system-wide security settings.
Are the screenshots from the real app?
Yes. They are captures of the native macOS interface with fictitious sample conversations. The sample messages illustrate the UI, not a verified live mesh session. Bubble and Terminal layouts and the themes shown are implemented in the app.
How can I help?
Try the preview, share reproducible issues, help test real devices, or contribute to the code and platform work. Issues and contributions are welcome. There is no account or mailing list required to download the app.
Built in the open.
Better with you in it.