Looking for new maintainer / developer for TextSecure / Signal app
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Hi, it looks like that Aaron Kimmig (https://open.uappexplorer.com/app/textsecure.nanuc) just recently published a fork of the TextSecure app (with some modifications) on OpenStore.
The installation of the app worked flawlessly. Apparently Aaron had to give a new app-ID, so that the existing contacts and chat history was not imported. I tried to get my contacts and chat history back on board and it seems to work (but I don't know whether there are any side-effects): In the three folders ~/.cache, in ~/.config, and in ~/.local, I renamed the new textsecure...nanuc folders to textsecure...nanuc_orig. Then I copied the former textsecure...jani folders and renamed them to textsecure...nanuc. This worked for me (but as I said, I don't know whether there are negative side-effects).
Glad to see Textsecure in OpenStore and my thanks to Aaron. I hope that he continues working on TextSecure/Signal on UBPorts.
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Great news that Aaron has taken on this great app and also that OWS is supportive. It will be a great asset to ubports to have this app functioning. The latest textsecure2 app is still crashing on my Nexus 5 but I see that the issue has already been reported on Git hub.
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The latest version of the app, renamed to Signal, is now functioning perfectly on Nexus 5. Thanks for the great work.
What are the chances of getting notifications working in future? I understand it would need changes in the OS to allow this. -
@bf The issue is not the OS, we are perfectly prepared for notifications, but the problem is to get OpenWhisper Systems to implement our push interface. But we are already talking with them, so lets see what will be the outcome.
BR
My languages: 🇦🇹 🇩🇪 🇬🇧 🇺🇸
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Thanks for the clarification. It's good that OWS is willing to cooperate. And thanks for the great work on the OS. Less than a year after the despair of Canonical's decision to drop UT, some really terrific improvements have already been made. Really encouraging!
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@flohack said in Looking for new maintainer / developer for TextSecure / Signal app:
@bf The issue is not the OS, we are perfectly prepared for notifications, but the problem is to get OpenWhisper Systems to implement our push interface. But we are already talking with them, so lets see what will be the outcome.
BR
This sounds really great!
Thank you, flohack. -
Just tried out linking the Ubuntu Signal app (https://signal.org/blog/standalone-signal-desktop/) with Ubuntu Touch Signal app - works like a charm!
Thanks a lot, Aaron for taking over maintenance of and adding new features to the Signal app!
Only hiccup so far: During my first tests messages I wrote on the desktop did not all make it over to the mobile app.
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Just stumbled over this discussion over at the purism forum - an interesting read, also referencing the Ubuntu Tourch Signal app: https://forums.puri.sm/t/signal-client-for-the-librem-5/2743/13
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Yeah. Unfortunately one year has passed, and we have still not moved further a bit. OWS does not talk to us any longer it seems, at least they did not reply on what things I sent them.
So for us its really questionable what will be the future of Signal on UT. I think that it will not evolve to a fully featured App ever.
BR
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@flohack Thanks for the info on the (non)progress talking to OWS. It is really weird how OWS handles community activities.
In the meanwhile Aaron has continuously updated the Signal app and it works well, so far: https://open.uappexplorer.com/app/textsecure.nanuc
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Btw. for all that didn't recognize that there is a workaround to get notifications from the signal app... Just turn off app suspending for the signal app (using UT Tweak Tool) and you'll get notifications. According to @nanu-c it has no big impact on the battery (at least he doesn't notice a big impact, may vary if you're not already running dekko maybe ;-)). Just try it out!
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@hummlbach said in Looking for new maintainer / developer for TextSecure / Signal app:
Btw. for all that didn't recognize that there is a workaround to get notifications from the signal app... Just turn off app suspending for the signal app (using UT Tweak Tool) and you'll get notifications. According to @nanu-c it has no big impact on the battery (at least he doesn't notice a big impact, may vary if you're not already running dekko maybe ;-)). Just try it out!
That would be great! So I tried this:
Start UT Tweak Tool -> Menu -> Apps Scopes -> Look for Signal -> Prevent app suspension
This option was off, switched it to on.Then I started Signal, and I recieve new messages / notifications (like it already did), but when I close Signal, I don't get new messages, or notifications.
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list itemSo it seams it doesn't work for me?
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list itemOr am I doing it wrong?
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list itemOr did I misunderstand?
@hummlbach Can you please help?
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@thebird don't close the app, leave it open, lock the screen, you may also use another app and keep signal in the background. See whether you get notifications like that.
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@flohack said in Looking for new maintainer / developer for TextSecure / Signal app:
Yeah. Unfortunately one year has passed, and we have still not moved further a bit. OWS does not talk to us any longer it seems, at least they did not reply on what things I sent them.
So for us its really questionable what will be the future of Signal on UT. I think that it will not evolve to a fully featured App ever.
BR
Maybe more people (maybe all using UT) should file a request Signal support page => upper right corner
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@hummlbach said in Looking for new maintainer / developer for TextSecure / Signal app:
@thebird don't close the app
OK your reply. So that is the trick. I was to exited then
So it is not very reliable then. Would be better if there is an option to start an app like Signal @ boot.
Or run it in the background without being visible, so you can’t close it.Anybody?Never mind. Has been answered: https://forums.ubports.com/topic/235/notifications-out-of-the-comfort-zone/22
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Maybe more people (maybe all using UT) should file a request Signal support page => upper right corner
@elastic Did it!
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@nanu-c I'm at Purism and have been seeking devs / interest in Signal for our Librem 5 (in the PureOS environment, not Ubuntu Touch). Had a few conversations with OWS/Moxie as well.
I knew about this app but development seemed stalled... but it looks like it has a shot in the arm now
Can we chat about ways that we may be able to support you to get this running in PureOS on the Librem 5? Drop me a line sean.obrien@puri.sm if so. -
Maybe interesting for some, a Signal client for the terminal: https://github.com/isamert/scli
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For the record, I tried to use that app since April and encountered many issues. I reported some of them but it looks like @nanu-c time is limited, so (s)he's also calling for help.
Meanwhile, I set up Anbox and installed signal on my Fairphone 2 running Ubuntu Touch and it works pretty well. I don't have notifications and I still have to find how to give access to my files to Anbox so I can send pictures, and it is pretty slow as all APK on UT I guess, but it does the job.
I really want to support UT and native UT apps, but for something as important as secure messages, I wasn't feeling comfortable running an app without active contributors.
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It´s not only time. Openwhisper System was not cooperative in helping us with all the information we need to make a real good native App including push notifications. I can see their point about amateurs weakening security, but on the other hand other systems like Matrix seem to be more responsive to communities.
Besides that, file sharing does not work inside Anbox because it would need a ton of things replicating hardware access to apks, and also the folder structure is totally different between UT and Android. I doubt this will come soon.
BR
