null-talk 🛡️

High-Performance Secure Chat with Double Encryption & Vim-inspired TUI

null-talk is a secure-by-design messaging system built in Rust. It utilizes a custom binary protocol, RSA challenge-response authentication, and double-layer encryption to ensure end-to-end privacy. The system is designed to be ephemeral, meaning no message data is ever persisted to a database; the server acts strictly as a secure relay.

---

🚀 Installation

1. Download Binaries

You can download the pre-compiled binaries for your specific operating system and architecture from the official releases page: 👉 Download null-talk Releases

Supported Binaries:

• Linux: x86_64 and arm64
• macOS: Universal binary (Intel/Apple Silicon)
• Windows: x86_64 .exe

2. Manual Build

If you prefer to build from source, ensure you have the Rust environment installed:

git clone https://github.com/ByteMaster2003/null-talk.git
cd null-talk
cargo build --release --workspace

---

🔑 Prerequisites

RSA Key Generation

To use the client, you must have an OpenSSH RSA private key. This is used for the cryptographic challenge-response handshake that verifies your identity.

Generate a compatible keypair using:

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -m PEM -f ./id_rsa

TLS Certificates (Server Only)

If you plan to run the server in TLS mode, you must have valid Let's Encrypt certificates located at:

• /etc/letsencrypt/live/{your-domain}/fullchain.pem
• /etc/letsencrypt/live/{your-domain}/privkey.pem

🖥️ How to Run the Server

./null-talk-server --port [PORT] --domain [OPTIONAL_DOMAIN]

• Standard Mode: Defaults to port 8080.
• TLS Mode: If --domain is provided, the server attempts to load Let's Encrypt certificates from:
  • /etc/letsencrypt/live/{domain}/fullchain.pem
  • /etc/letsencrypt/live/{domain}/privkey.pem
• Note: The server will panic if a domain is specified but certificates are missing.
• Logging: Current version logs client connection and disconnection events only.

⌨️ How to Use the Client Application

The client features a terminal UI (TUI) with a layout inspired by Vim.

./null-talk-client --host [IP:PORT] --key-path [PATH_TO_PRIVATE_KEY] --tls [true/false]

TUI Interface & Controls

The UI is divided into a Side Panel (Users/Rooms) and a Main Panel (Chat Window).

Mode	Triggger	Description
NORMAL	Esc	Default mode. Use Arrow Keys to switch focus between panels.
COMMAND	/	Enter system-level commands.
INSERT	i	Compose and send messages.

• Navigation: Follows Vim-style logic for switching modes and interacting with the UI.
• Feedback: Errors or status updates are displayed at the bottom of the Main Panel.

🔐 Security Overview

• RSA Challenge-Response: Authentication happens without ever sending your actual key or password over the wire.
• Double Encryption: Messages are encrypted at the payload level before transport, ensuring the server cannot read your content.
• Ephemeral: Data exists only in RAM and vanishes the moment the session ends.