Overview
What Shortwave is and why it exists.
SHORTWAVE
Private, ephemeral, end-to-end-encrypted comms for a small trusted circle.
Shortwave is a web surface for a system that exists across three layers:
- This web app — convenient internet client, runs in any browser, deployable to Vercel.
resilient-commsRust core — the CLI/TUI and transport engine; runs natively on Linux, macOS, and Raspberry Pi. Source at~/Code/resilient-comms.- Radio tier — future LoRa/Reticulum fallback; off-grid delivery when the internet is cut.
The guiding principle: if mainstream services are blocked, censored, or cut, the channel still works.
What it is NOT
- Not a mass-market product. The circle is small and operator-provisioned (Rod invites people directly).
- Not a social network, not public, not discoverable.
- Not a Signal/WhatsApp replacement for everyone — a resilient backup channel for a specific circle.
Vein context
Shortwave lives in Vein 5 — Mission / for fellow humans, money OUT of the Mechaforge venture portfolio.
"A resilient platform, 100% secure and encrypted, where I can keep comms with friends, family, and groups — without fear it could be shut down by a major organisation or taken down when certain infrastructure is taken out." — Rod Leviton
Success = the tool genuinely protects a small circle. Not adoption at scale, not revenue.
Status
| Milestone | Status |
|---|---|
| M0 de-risk — NIP-17 round-trip proof | ✅ proven in Rust (resilient-comms) |
| M0 de-risk — NIP-17 round-trip in JS | ✅ scripts/derisk-nip17.ts |
| M1 scaffold — Next.js app structure | ✅ done |
| M2 design — Forge tokens + forged-2 language | ✅ done |
| M3 identity — keypair, npub, operator ID, contacts | ✅ done |
| M4 chat UI — NIP-17 columnar ledger | ✅ done |
| M5 key lifecycle (export/import, rotation) | ⬜ |
| M6 relay config UI | ⬜ |
| M7 groups (MLS) | ⬜ |
| M8 hardware Shortwave device | ⬜ north-star |
See Roadmap for full milestone detail.