nymCHAT → Nymstr
TLDR
We’re proposing a three-month sprint to take nymCHAT from MVP to a polished, production-ready messenger: Nymstr. Funding will let us roll out self-hosted group chats, build a new Tauri / Flutter desktop client, and turn our federation protocol from theory into a working prototype. Federation won’t be public-facing just yet, but we’ll lay the foundation for the network. All backend work will be done in Rust 
.
Objectives
Self-Hosted Group Chats
Release group chat servers as a binary and Docker image. Groups can be public (advertised via discovery node) or hidden. Admins can also choose invite-only or open. All messaging is end-to-end encrypted with MLS. The goal: frictionless, secure group chats that are easy to run for both individuals and organizations.
Federation Protocol Prototyping
Start from the current federation protocol outline (SPECv1) and implement a first working prototype. This means setting up a testnet, trying different discovery and trust flows, and identifying what must change before a public rollout. Federation features will not be exposed to general users during this grant, but protocol design will become solidified.
Cross-Platform Desktop Client
Ship a cross-platform desktop client for Windows, Mac, and Linux. We’re evaluating both Tauri and Flutter/Dart approaches to determine the best path forward for development speed and user experience. The client will allow users to create accounts, join and discover groups, send messages, and manage contacts with a modern interface.
Timeline & Deliverables
| Month | Focus | Deliverables |
|---|---|---|
| June | Self-Hosted Groups & Federation Prototyping | - Group chat server (binary & Docker image v1), MLS encryption and invite/join flow, federation: initial prototype, basic node interactions |
| July | Desktop Client Development & Federation Prototyping | - v1 tauri / flutter desktop client (Windows, Mac, Linux), group chat integration, onboarding, diagnostics, ongoing federation experiments and protocol refinement |
| August | Integration, Testing & Federation Prototyping | - Full desktop builds for all platforms, improved group features, finalized federation prototype, documentation, internal testing and review |
Team & Budget
-
ZM (@code-zm): Lead Developer & System Design - $8,000 USD
-
Hans Bricks (@hans1337): DevOps & UX - $8,000 USD
Total Budget: $16,000 USD / 3 months
Outcome
By the end of the three months, we’ll have self-hosted group chats, a cross-platform desktop client, and a federation prototype. The pieces will be in place for Nymstr to stand on its own as a secure, private, and open alternative to mainstream messaging.