socketchat program for your computer and puts it in a folder on your PATH, the list of folders your terminal searches for commands. You do not need Rust or any other library: the encryption code is built into the program.
Run the installer
- macOS
- Linux
- Windows
Open Terminal and run:The program goes to
~/.local/bin/socketchat. Works on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.Open a new terminal
When it finishes, the installer prints what to do next:socketchat server init with no --host sets up a server only this computer can reach, at localhost. For friends on other computers, pick an address first; Host a server shows how.
Run socketchat on its own before you have a profile, and it lists the same commands. A profile is the encrypted folder where Socketchat keeps your keys, rooms and messages on this computer. socketchat join makes it the first time you use an invite link.
Build from source
Build from source on a system the ready-made programs do not cover. Install the Rust toolchain from rustup.rs. On Linux, also install the OpenSSL headers, which the encrypted local database needs:--features vendored-openssl to that command. It builds OpenSSL from source, which needs the Visual Studio C++ build tools and Strawberry Perl. The first build takes several minutes on a fast machine and much longer on a Raspberry Pi. cargo puts the program in ~/.cargo/bin/socketchat.
Next
Quick start
Set up a server and invite a friend.
Got an invite?
Join a room someone invited you to.