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Socketchat has two pieces: a server that passes messages along, and the app you chat in. One person runs the server; everyone, that person included, uses the app. If this is new to you, read How Socketchat works first.

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On the server computer

Do this once, on the computer that will stay on and run the server.
1

Install Socketchat

The same program runs the server and the app. See Install.
2

Pick the address your friends will dial

Your friends’ apps reach the server by its host: a name or IP address. Which one depends on how you host:Not sure? Host a server compares the ways in one table.
3

Set up the server

init writes the server’s settings and makes its certificate. Run it with your host:
It prints the acceptable-use statement and the certificate fingerprint. The certificate lets apps check that they reached your server and no other, and invite links carry its fingerprint, a short code that identifies it. Without --host, the host is localhost, which only works on this same computer.
4

Start the server

run keeps the server going so apps can connect:
It prints “Socketchat server listening on” with the address and port, then the certificate fingerprint. Apps connect on TCP port 7444. Leave this terminal open; Ctrl-C stops the server.
5

Make your own invite link

You need a link to join your own server. In a second terminal on this computer:
It prints a one-time socketchat:// link that registers one person. It expires after 24 hours unless you changed that setting. Use it in the next part, on whichever computer you chat from.

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On each person’s computer (the app)

Everyone does this, including the person who runs the server.
1

Install Socketchat

See Install. The app is the same program.
2

Join with your invite link

The link tells your app which server to dial and proves you were invited. Keep the quotes, so your shell passes the link whole:
The first time, Socketchat asks for a display name and a passphrase. The passphrase encrypts everything Socketchat keeps on this computer, and nobody can recover it for you. Then the chat screen opens.
3

Open the chat screen any time after

It asks for your passphrase and shows your rooms.

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Start a room and invite friends

The person who started the group does this in the chat screen.
1

Start a room and make a link

/new starts a room, and /invite makes a one-time link into it. The invite box shows the link and a QR code, and copies an invite message to your clipboard:
Paste it to one friend. Press C to copy it again, and run /invite again for each friend.
2

Keep your app open while they join

Your friend follows On each person’s computer with that link. Their request waits on the server until your app lets them in, so keep the chat screen open. Their app checks that the link came from you and marks you verified.

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Server and app on one computer

The person who starts a group often chats on the computer that runs the server. That works with two terminal windows open side by side: Closing the first terminal stops the server for everyone. To keep it running after you close the terminal and start it again after a reboot, run it as a service; see Cloud server.

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