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Evgeny @ SimpleX ChatandEvgeny Poberezkin
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* plan: UI improvements to improve LLM usage via SimpleX * core, ui: types for chat layout * core, ui: settings for alternative terminal-like chat layout for managing LLMs or other service bots * plan: message priority * fixes * query plan * update plans * remove silent messages plan * rename migrations * implement layout * amend * fix * fix * fix * improve * time on the right, sender name in blue * no avatar in direct chats * better previews * update, fixes * update * time gap * changes * ui: terminal layout line heights, gaps and time placement * ui: simplify terminal meta layout, correct its docs and tests * ui: right-to-left emoji edge in terminal rows, time placement tests * android, desktop: raise Kotlin compiler memory to 4 GB * ui: terminal captions as follow-up text, classic event separators * ui: terminal media edge and overlay time, plan decisions * ui: simplify terminal row separation, correct doc line references * ui: keep the media time inside terminal rows, restore caption conditions * ui: terminal heading capitals at large font scales, idle live message time * ui: rename the classic voice-with-text flag, correct the meta copy docs * ui: smaller terminal layout diff, sender gap and meta names * ui: terminal row as tall as the media time * docs: remove the chat layout section from the bots readme * docs: shorten the terminal layout section of the chat view * core: address settings API as on master, /auto_accept reads the stored layout * ui: smaller terminal headings * ui: classic sender rows and avatar rule as on master * ui: classic reply quote text colour as on master * ios: keep the chat layout setting with other UI settings * ui: go-to button at the end of terminal rows, no gutter in direct chats * ui: forwarded arrow on the header line of terminal rows, above the time * ui: forwarded arrow centred above the time line of terminal rows * ios: terminal chat layout, chosen per app, profile and chat * ios: event time reserve of three spaces, app layout picker as Kotlin * ios: spec and plan of the terminal chat layout * ios: classic message text at 87% in dark themes, as terminal rows * ios: terminal gaps scaled by the body size, 17/16 of Kotlin values * ios: terminal quote sender at 13.5pt, thumbnail at the item end * ios: product docs of the terminal layout, plans updated for iOS * ios: chat scenes rendered to PNG by a unit test in the simulator CI * ios: snapshots rendered by the smoke test script, workflow unchanged * ios: terminal names at 13.5 x 17/16 pt, as the gaps * ios: Markdown views at the 87% message colour in dark themes * ios: terminal quote thumbnail 12pt after the quote text or the bar * ios: terminal rule-only message widened by a wider quote or header * ios: member avatars scaled with the text size, as in the chat list * ios: snapshot rows at their own height, as list cells, so text wraps * ios: member avatars back at 34pt, for the snapshot before scaling * ios: member avatars scaled with the text size, as in the chat list * ui: terminal quote thumbnail 12dp after the quote text or the bar * ios: classic group bubble width follows the scaled member avatar * ci: ios-sim README describes the snapshots rendered after the smoke test * ios: scratch, padding variants for the I7 and I8 renders, to revert * ios: revert the scratch padding variants after their renders * ui: contrast of the voice message button in terminal rows * ios: scratch, spacing variants and list margins to render, to revert * ios: revert the scratch spacing variants after their renders * ios: snapshots at a fixed date, in UTC and the en_US locale * ios: snapshots drawn as 8-bit sRGB without alpha * ci: compare iOS snapshots with the references in the repository * ci: record and check iOS snapshot references on GitHub's runner * ios: scratch, list margins on the remaining screens, to revert * ios: revert the scratch list margins after their measurement * ci: snapshot scripts executable, as the other CI scripts * ios: scratch, voice circle variants in light themes, to revert * ios: revert the scratch voice circle variants * ios: one 12pt padding at the edges and after avatars in terminal rows * ios: classic group sender name on the bubble edge * ui: one 12dp padding at the edges and after avatars in terminal rows * ios: one heading scale in both chat layouts * ios: snapshot references of the chat scenes * docs: leave the headings and classic lines of the plan to ep/classic-bubbles * ios: declare terminal layout functions inside types * ios: keep layout constants at file scope * ios: keep file-scope functions, move only extension members into types * ios: snapshot tests record row heights at first layout and the appearance layout switch * ios: appearance preview follows the chat layout setting at once * ios: snapshot test measures first-layout rows by SwiftUI and by cells * ios: chat rows measured at the chat width when they first appear * ios: snapshot test checks that chat rows keep their first height after a reload * ios, ci: references of terminal and classic chat scenes, dark message text * ios: message text at 95% in dark themes * ios, ci: references with message text at 95% in dark themes * ios: media in terminal rows end at the time's right inset * ios, ci: references with terminal media at the time's right inset --------- Co-authored-by: Evgeny Poberezkin <evgeny@poberezkin.com>
SimpleX Chat iOS -- Product Overview
SimpleX Chat iOS product specification. Bidirectional code links: product docs reference source files, source files reference product docs.
Related spec: spec/README.md | spec/architecture.md
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
SimpleX Chat is the first messaging platform with no user identifiers of any kind -- not even random numbers. It provides end-to-end encrypted messaging (with optional post-quantum cryptography), audio/video calls, file sharing, and group communication through a fully decentralized architecture where users control their own SMP relay servers. The iOS app is a native SwiftUI application backed by a Haskell core library.
Vision
SimpleX Chat is the first messaging platform that has no user identifiers -- not even random numbers. It uses double-ratchet end-to-end encryption with optional post-quantum cryptography. The system is fully decentralized with user-controlled SMP relay servers.
The protocol design ensures that no server or network observer can determine who communicates with whom. Each conversation uses separate unidirectional messaging queues on potentially different servers, and there is no shared identifier between the sender and receiver queues.
Target Users
- Privacy-conscious individuals wanting secure messaging without phone-number or email-based identity
- Groups and communities needing encrypted group communication with role-based access control
- Users avoiding identity linkage who want to communicate without any persistent user identifier
- Organizations needing self-hosted messaging infrastructure with full control over relay servers
Capability Map
1. Messaging
Core message composition, delivery, and interaction features.
| Feature | Description | Key Source (Swift) |
|---|---|---|
| Text with markdown | Rich text formatting with SimpleX markdown syntax | Shared/Views/Chat/ComposeMessage/ComposeView.swift |
| Images | Compressed inline images (up to 255KB) | Shared/Views/Chat/ChatItem/CIImageView.swift |
| Video | Video message recording and playback | Shared/Views/Chat/ChatItem/CIVideoView.swift |
| Voice messages | Audio recording and playback (5min / 510KB limit) | Shared/Views/Chat/ChatItem/CIVoiceView.swift |
| File sharing | Files up to 1GB via XFTP protocol | Shared/Views/Chat/ChatItem/CIFileView.swift |
| Link previews | OpenGraph metadata extraction and display | Shared/Views/Chat/ChatItem/CILinkView.swift |
| Message reactions | Emoji reactions on sent/received messages | Shared/Views/Chat/ChatItem/EmojiItemView.swift |
| Message editing | Edit previously sent messages | Shared/Views/Chat/ComposeMessage/ComposeView.swift |
| Message deletion | Broadcast delete (for recipient) or internal-only delete | Shared/Views/Chat/ChatItem/MarkedDeletedItemView.swift |
| Timed messages | Self-destructing messages with configurable TTL | Shared/Views/Chat/ChatItem/CIChatFeatureView.swift |
| Quoted replies | Reply to specific messages with quote context | Shared/Views/Chat/ComposeMessage/ContextItemView.swift |
| Forwarding | Forward messages between chats | Shared/Views/Chat/ChatItemForwardingView.swift |
| Search | Full-text search within conversations | Shared/Views/Chat/ChatView.swift |
| Message reports | Report messages to group moderators | Shared/Views/Chat/ChatView.swift |
2. Contacts
Establishing, managing, and verifying contacts.
| Feature | Description | Key Source (Swift) |
|---|---|---|
| Add via SimpleX address | Connect using a SimpleX contact address | Shared/Views/NewChat/NewChatView.swift |
| Add via QR code | Scan QR code to establish connection | Shared/Views/Chat/ScanCodeView.swift |
| Contact requests | Accept or reject incoming contact requests | Shared/Views/ChatList/ContactRequestView.swift |
| Local aliases | Set private display names for contacts | Shared/Views/Chat/ChatInfoView.swift |
| Contact verification | Compare security codes out-of-band | Shared/Views/Chat/VerifyCodeView.swift |
| Blocking | Block contacts from sending messages | Shared/Views/Chat/ChatInfoView.swift |
| Incognito mode | Per-contact random profile generation | Shared/Views/UserSettings/IncognitoHelp.swift |
| Bot detection | Identify automated/bot contacts | SimpleXChat/ChatTypes.swift |
3. Groups
Multi-party encrypted conversations with role-based management.
| Feature | Description | Key Source (Swift) |
|---|---|---|
| Create groups | Create new group with initial members | Shared/Views/NewChat/AddGroupView.swift |
| Invite members | Invite by individual contact or link | Shared/Views/Chat/Group/AddGroupMembersView.swift |
| Member roles | Owner, admin, moderator, member, observer | SimpleXChat/ChatTypes.swift |
| Member admission | Queue-based admission with review workflow | Shared/Views/Chat/Group/MemberAdmissionView.swift |
| Group links | Shareable invite links for groups | Shared/Views/Chat/Group/GroupLinkView.swift |
| Business chat mode | Structured business communication groups | Shared/Views/Chat/Group/GroupChatInfoView.swift |
| Content moderation | Member reports and moderator actions | Shared/Views/Chat/Group/MemberSupportView.swift |
| Group preferences | Configure group-level feature settings | Shared/Views/Chat/Group/GroupPreferencesView.swift |
| Member direct contacts | Establish direct chats from group membership | Shared/Views/Chat/Group/GroupMemberInfoView.swift |
4. Calling
End-to-end encrypted audio and video communication.
| Feature | Description | Key Source (Swift) |
|---|---|---|
| E2E encrypted calls | Audio/video calls via WebRTC with E2E encryption | Shared/Views/Call/WebRTCClient.swift |
| CallKit integration | Native iOS system call UI (ring, answer, decline) | Shared/Views/Call/CallController.swift |
| Audio device switching | Switch between speaker, earpiece, Bluetooth | Shared/Views/Call/CallAudioDeviceManager.swift |
| Call history | Call events displayed as chat items | Shared/Views/Chat/ChatItem/CICallItemView.swift |
| Incoming call view | Dedicated UI for incoming call notifications | Shared/Views/Call/IncomingCallView.swift |
5. Your privacy
Encryption, authentication, and privacy controls.
| Feature | Description | Key Source (Swift) |
|---|---|---|
| E2E encryption | Double-ratchet encryption for all messages | SimpleXChat/API.swift |
| Post-quantum encryption | Optional PQ key exchange for direct chats | SimpleXChat/ChatTypes.swift |
| Local authentication | Face ID, Touch ID, or app passcode lock | Shared/Views/LocalAuth/LocalAuthView.swift |
| Hidden profiles | Password-protected profiles invisible in UI | Shared/Views/UserSettings/HiddenProfileView.swift |
| Database encryption | AES encryption of local SQLite database | Shared/Views/Database/DatabaseEncryptionView.swift |
| Screen privacy | Blur app content when in app switcher | Shared/Views/UserSettings/PrivacySettings.swift |
| Encrypted file storage | Local files encrypted at rest | SimpleXChat/CryptoFile.swift |
| Delivery receipts control | Toggle delivery/read receipts per contact/group | Shared/Views/UserSettings/SetDeliveryReceiptsView.swift |
6. User Management
Multiple profiles and identity management.
| Feature | Description | Key Source (Swift) |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple profiles | Multiple user profiles within one app | Shared/Views/UserSettings/UserProfilesView.swift |
| Active user switching | Switch between profiles via user picker | Shared/Views/ChatList/UserPicker.swift |
| Incognito contacts | Per-contact random identities | Shared/Views/UserSettings/IncognitoHelp.swift |
| Profile sharing | Share profile via contact address link | Shared/Views/UserSettings/UserAddressView.swift |
| User muting | Mute notifications for specific profiles | Shared/Views/ChatList/UserPicker.swift |
7. Network
Server configuration, proxy support, and connectivity.
| Feature | Description | Key Source (Swift) |
|---|---|---|
| Custom SMP servers | Configure personal SMP relay servers | Shared/Views/UserSettings/NetworkAndServers/ProtocolServersView.swift |
| Custom XFTP servers | Configure personal XFTP file servers | Shared/Views/UserSettings/NetworkAndServers/ProtocolServersView.swift |
| Tor/onion support | Route traffic through Tor .onion addresses | Shared/Views/UserSettings/NetworkAndServers/AdvancedNetworkSettings.swift |
| SOCKS5 proxy | Route connections through SOCKS5 proxy | Shared/Views/UserSettings/NetworkAndServers/AdvancedNetworkSettings.swift |
| Custom ICE servers | Configure WebRTC ICE/TURN servers | Shared/Views/UserSettings/RTCServers.swift |
| Network timeouts | Configure connection timeout parameters | Shared/Views/UserSettings/NetworkAndServers/AdvancedNetworkSettings.swift |
8. Customization
Visual appearance and UI preferences.
| Feature | Description | Key Source (Swift) |
|---|---|---|
| Themes | Light, dark, SimpleX, black, and custom themes | Shared/Theme/ThemeManager.swift |
| Wallpapers | Preset and custom chat wallpapers | Shared/Views/Helpers/ChatWallpaper.swift |
| Chat bubble styling | Customize message bubble appearance | SimpleXChat/Theme/ThemeTypes.swift |
| One-handed UI mode | Compact layout for single-hand use | Shared/Views/ChatList/OneHandUICard.swift |
| Language selection | In-app language override | Shared/Views/UserSettings/AppearanceSettings.swift |
9. Data Management
Import, export, encryption, and storage management.
| Feature | Description | Key Source (Swift) |
|---|---|---|
| Export/import profiles | Full database export and import | Shared/Views/Database/DatabaseView.swift |
| Database encryption | Encrypt/decrypt local database with passphrase | Shared/Views/Database/DatabaseEncryptionView.swift |
| Local file encryption | Encrypt stored media and attachments | SimpleXChat/CryptoFile.swift |
| Storage breakdown | View storage usage by category | Shared/Views/UserSettings/StorageView.swift |
| Device-to-device migration | Migrate full profile between iOS devices | Shared/Views/Migration/MigrateFromDevice.swift |
10. Desktop Integration
Remote control of the mobile app from a desktop client.
| Feature | Description | Key Source (Swift) |
|---|---|---|
| Remote control pairing | Pair with desktop app via QR code | Shared/Views/RemoteAccess/ConnectDesktopView.swift |
| Session management | Manage active desktop control sessions | Shared/Views/RemoteAccess/ConnectDesktopView.swift |
Navigation Map
Onboarding
OnboardingView.swift
-> SimpleXInfo -> CreateProfile -> ChooseServerOperators -> SetNotificationsMode -> CreateSimpleXAddress
-> ChatListView (home)
ChatListView (home)
Shared/Views/ChatList/ChatListView.swift
-> ChatView .................. (tap conversation row)
-> NewChatMenuButton ......... (+ button)
-> SettingsView .............. (gear icon)
-> UserPicker ................ (avatar tap)
-> TagListView ............... (tag filter bar)
-> ServersSummaryView ........ (server status)
ChatView
Shared/Views/Chat/ChatView.swift
-> ChatInfoView .............. (contact name tap, direct chat)
-> GroupChatInfoView ......... (group name tap, group chat)
-> ActiveCallView ............ (call button)
-> ComposeView ............... (message input area)
-> ChatItemInfoView .......... (long press -> info)
-> ChatItemForwardingView .... (long press -> forward)
-> SecondaryChatView ......... (member support thread)
ChatInfoView
Shared/Views/Chat/ChatInfoView.swift
-> ContactPreferencesView .... (preferences)
-> VerifyCodeView ............ (verify security code)
GroupChatInfoView
Shared/Views/Chat/Group/GroupChatInfoView.swift
-> GroupProfileView .......... (edit profile)
-> AddGroupMembersView ....... (invite members)
-> GroupLinkView ............. (manage group link)
-> MemberAdmissionView ....... (admission settings)
-> GroupPreferencesView ...... (group feature settings)
-> GroupMemberInfoView ....... (tap member)
-> GroupWelcomeView .......... (welcome message)
NewChatMenuButton
Shared/Views/NewChat/NewChatMenuButton.swift
-> NewChatView ............... (QR scanner / paste link)
-> AddGroupView .............. (create group)
-> UserAddressView ........... (create SimpleX address)
SettingsView
Shared/Views/UserSettings/SettingsView.swift
-> AppearanceSettings ........ (themes, wallpapers, UI)
-> NetworkAndServers ......... (SMP/XFTP/proxy config)
-> PrivacySettings ........... (privacy toggles)
-> NotificationsView ......... (push notification mode)
-> DatabaseView .............. (export/import/encrypt)
-> CallSettings .............. (call preferences)
-> StorageView ............... (storage usage)
-> VersionView ............... (about/version)
-> DeveloperView ............. (developer options)
UserPicker
Shared/Views/ChatList/UserPicker.swift
-> UserProfilesView .......... (manage all profiles)
-> UserAddressView ........... (SimpleX address)
-> PreferencesView ........... (user preferences)
-> SettingsView .............. (app settings)
-> ConnectDesktopView ........ (pair with desktop)
Related Specifications
- concepts.md -- Feature concept index with bidirectional code links
- glossary.md -- Domain term glossary
- spec/README.md -- Technical specification overview
- spec/architecture.md -- Architecture specification
- Haskell core:
../../src/Simplex/Chat/Controller.hs,../../src/Simplex/Chat/Types.hs - Swift model:
Shared/Model/ChatModel.swift,SimpleXChat/ChatTypes.swift - Swift API bridge:
SimpleXChat/API.swift,Shared/Model/SimpleXAPI.swift