Hush

Hush is a versatile communication platform that prioritizes user privacy through end-to-end encryption for messaging, voice, and video. Built on the Messaging Layer Security protocol (RFC 9420), Hush ensures that every message, voice frame, and video frame is securely encrypted on the client side, allowing servers to transfer data without accessing its contents.

Key Features

• True End-to-End Encryption for Groups: Unlike many chat applications that encrypt data in transit but store it in plaintext, Hush employs MLS group keys, forward secrecy, and post-compromise security to safeguard user communications.
• Self-Hosting Capabilities: Hush can be self-hosted, granting users control over their infrastructure and enabling them to verify the platform's security on their own terms. This self-hosting approach prioritizes transparency and user trust.
• Integrated Voice and Video Communication: Utilizing a LiveKit-based SFU architecture, Hush extends its encryption capabilities to voice and video communications, ensuring a seamless experience across multiple media formats.
• Federation Roadmap: Plans for server-to-server federation are underway, with the initial offering allowing accounts to be stored on a single instance, promoting future scalability.
• Open Source and Auditable: Hush is completely open source, complying with AGPL-3.0 licensing, allowing users and developers to audit, contribute, and enhance the platform.

Community Engagement

This repository serves as the primary entry point for the Hush project:

• User Feedback: Bug reports and feature requests can be submitted here.
• Documentation and Architecture: Self-hosting documentation is available, linking to individual components as needed. Detailed architecture specifications can be found in the repository.
• User Community: Discussions around project features and contributions take place in the Discussions section.

Development and Contribution

For developers, Hush provides scripts for setting up local development environments and cloning necessary repositories. Users can bootstrap their development environment using:

git clone https://github.com/hushhq/hush.git
cd hush
./scripts/bootstrap.sh

This command will check out all public component repositories and initiate a local development stack, facilitating an efficient workflow for contributors.

Hush is designed for users who value communication privacy and security, offering an engaging platform for group interactions. It empowers individuals and organizations to manage their communication tools securely and transparently.