3 ms·

This article from 2018 illustrates the architecture of Signal: https://sorincocorada.ro/signal-messanger-architecture/ https://sorincocorada.ro/signal-messanger

• Reedx 6y ago
  Based on that, they use Google, Apple, Twilio and AWS in the backend. All who have shown they are willing to deplatform with little notice as the result of kneejerk public pressure. How easily can Signal replace those dependencies if this comes for them? "Extremists move to secret online channels": https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/extremists-move-secret-line-channels-plan-inauguration-day-d-c-n1253876 https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/extremists-move-se...
  • okso 6y ago
    As far as I know, Google and Apple are only used to send Push notifications to users. These are optional, and Signal on Android can be used without Google. AWS S3 is/was used to share files with other users. It became a standardized API, with many alternatives supporting the protocol, so switching to a different provider or on-premises should not be difficult. Signal intends to remove the dependency on phone numbers, and therefore Twilio, but this has not be done yet.
  • scambier 6y ago
    All IM apps rely on Google or Apple (on their respective platforms) for the push notifications. The alternative is polling in relatively small intervals, but that wakes up the app, which uses the battery without any real usage. And if the OS decides to kill your app's process, your polling dies with it and you don't get notifications.
• kortex 6y ago
  Cunningham's law is a beautiful thing, cheers :)