README

Columba

Columba is a simple messaging and voice app for the Reticulum network on Android. Send LXMF messages and make LXST voice calls without relying on the internet, cell towers, or any central servers.

Built with a native Android interface and Material Design 3, Columba brings mesh networking to your pocket in a familiar, easy-to-use package.

  

 What You Can Do

- Message without infrastructure - Send messages even when the internet is down or unavailable
- Connect multiple ways - Use Bluetooth LE to connect to those around you anywhere, Wifi for those at home, LoRa radio via RNode for those at a distance, or use TCP to connect to any Reticulum server around the world 
- Stay private - End-to-end encryption with no accounts, no tracking, and no central servers
- Share location - Share your location securely with others, viewable from a dedicated map
- Download maps for offline use - Download or import map files. Supports vector and raster, in MBTiles format
- Browse NomadNetwork - Access nomadnet pages over Reticulum networks
- Build your network - Help relay traffic for others and expand the mesh
- Keep your identity - Generate your messaging identity right on your device
- Manage multiple identities - Easily swap between multiple identities
- Export and import identities - Keep an external backup of your keys, or migrate to a new device. Import from other Reticulum clients like Sideband
- Share your identity via QR Code - Built in QR code scanner and generator for sharing your identity with others
- Custom Color Themes - Don't like the default colors? Rice to your heart's content! 

 Getting Started

Download the latest release from Releases and install on your Android device. See SECURITY.md for APK verification instructions.



Alternatively, you can download the apk via NomadNet at 8d1788fdb4e9f85303cfdf7481e721c7:/page/index.mu

 About Reticulum

Reticulum is a networking stack that lets devices communicate directly with each other, forming resilient mesh networks. It is optimized for low bandwidth, high latency connections, and can communicate over nearly any medium. Columba uses LXMF (Lightweight Extensible Message Format) to send messages across the Reticulum network, and uses a native Android implementation of ble-reticulum to enable messaging over BLE with other Android and Linux devices.

Want to learn more? Visit Reticulum's documentation.

 Why "Columba"

Columba, latin for "dove," is a constellation) in the southern sky depicting a dove. Doves are commonly a symbol of peace and hope, and have been used as messengers throughout history.

Top issues

Discussions

Latest release

Columba 2.2.6

 What's new in v2.2.x
This stable release includes the following new features since v2.0.9:

- voice call history screen
- voice message attachments, interopable with sideband and meshchatx
- displays LXMF resource transfer progress in message bubbles
- export columba's shared reticulum instance config
- in-app theme override (set dark mode even if your system is light or doesn't expose system level theme)
- RNode battery level displayed on interface card and persistent notification
- nomadnet truecolor support and newlines in form fields
- experimental pyxis flasher