This is a major release with some important features.

Privacy by default

There has been an overhaul of default settings to focus on offering an enhanced privacy when running Xeres for the first time. Here are the changes:

• DHT is off
• UPNP is activated for private networks only
• external DNS usage for finding one’s own IP address is off
• LAN Discovery is activated for private networks only
• Link preview is off
• There’s a warning when trying to open an external URL
• There’s a warning when trying to set an empty API remote password

The help system has also been enhanced to carefully explain the features so that informed decisions can be taken to activate them or not. You should consider enabling DHT if you use a highly dynamic environment (frequent traveling, dynamic IP, …)

Encryption at rest

Xeres will now encrypt its database to protect it from other malicious software or if someone gets a hold of your data. Your own profile key is used for that and it is now protected by a password.

We suggest that you choose a strong password (store it in a password manager if you use one). Don’t forget it though, or you cannot recover your profile!

On Windows, it’s possible to remember the database password by using your Windows account’s credentials, if you don’t like entering the password every time you run Xeres.

Reputation support

You can now set a reputation for your contacts. It is automatically shared with your friends. This is useful against spammers or people that you don’t want to see (or that you do want to see). Everything is in your control.

Animated stickers

It’s now possible to express yourself using animated stickers thanks to Lottie4J! The following extensions are supported:

• .json
• .lottie
• .tgs

Just put subdirectories with your stickers in the proper directory. The integrated help system explains how to proceed.

Misc

• The help system has been vastly improved and can be contextualized.
• The JS script system supports timers.
• Redesign of the Dashboard: The Xeres ID is replaced by the username. Click on it to see the ID and QR code.
• The NAT led has been changed to a more generic Link led.
• Backup restoration works for settings up a new location
• Improve image support on low DPI screens
• And many other changes and improvements

Full Changelog: v1.2.2…v1.3.0

This release fixes some bugs and adds improvements.

UI

• Allow to mark a message as unread in the forums
• Fix boards and channels creation failing if there was an image supplied
• Allow typing ordered lists in chats
• Allow pasting certificates taken from an URL into the Add ID window

GXS

• Improve group and message syncing

Windows

• Fix in-place app upgrades

macOS

• Enable iconification
• Fix context menu selections

Protocol

• Fix I2P support which wasn’t working at all
• Don’t request invalid identities continuously

Misc

• It’s possible to create a new location from a backup file

Full Changelog: v1.2.1…v1.2.2

Download here

This is a maintenance release that fixes some bugs.

GXS

• improve synchronization: some updates could be missed
• fix some rare requester errors when receiving messages

Misc

• fix bandwidth detection on Linux
• improve app update check

Full Changelog: v1.2.0…v1.2.1

Download here

The highlight of this version is support for Channels and Boards.

Channels

Channels are a way to publish files, with descriptive text or even long articles.

Boards

Boards can be used to share picture or links.

Chat improvements

Pasted URLs in direct chats now feature a preview.

To avoid abuse, only friends that you trust to a Full level, will show a preview.

Also stops grabbing the focus for every incoming message on some setups.

Forum improvements

• Forum groups can be edited.
• All messages can be marked as read or unread.
• Paging support: vastly improved loading and less memory usage. The message list is loaded on demand.
• Unsubscribed forums have statistics showing up (number of posts, last update, …)
• Forum message links can be opened directly.
• Own messages can be edited. Xeres now handles multiple versions of messages.

GXS

The General eXchange System has been improved in the following ways:

• Implemented the security requirements for GXS which allows each service to specify exactly what it needs instead of having to hardcode it manually.
• Synchronization is immediately performed and is throttled to avoid overflowing the connection.
• Fixed GXS group service strings being wrongly transferred. This fix will also be in the next release of Retroshare.
• Fixed missing group admin signature validation on GXS groups. This fix will also be in the next release of Retroshare.

Translations

Added a Chinese translation.

Misc

• Add support for reading images in WebP and BMP.
• Use ZGC for the garbage collector. Uses half the memory and improves performances.
• Stickers stored locally can now use WebP and SVG.
• Logging is improved and isn’t cleared when upgrading/reinstalling.
• Improved detection of unsafe URLs.
• The macOS x86-64 version has been removed due to lack of support

Full Changelog: v1.1.1…v1.2.0

Download here

There’s now a docker image for ARM64. This is useful for headless Raspberry PI devices or even some routers like the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI which is announced as coming with docker support.

Head over to the Docker Hub to get the latest Xeres image.

Misc improvements

• Allow to call users who are away/busy
• Improve markdown code detection heuristic
• Fix NPE when unselecting chat room or forum
• Prevent file/directory requesters from failing to open if the directory doesn’t exist
• Voice calls are ignored while being busy

Full Changelog: v1.1.0…v1.1.1

Download here

This version bring several important features:

Voice Calls

You can now directly talk with your friends, in high quality.

The call is, of course, encrypted. It uses the Speex codec.

Scripting support

Xeres features a built-in JavaScript interpreter (courtesy of GraalVM’s Polyglot capabilities) which can be used to automate some tasks, respond to chat text and so on. The API is still basic for now but will likely keep growing. You can find an example script to see how it works.

More translations

Added Spanish and Russian.

Miscellaneous fixes

• GxS synchronization is now instant
• UI tabs are highlighted when a new chat or forum message is received
• Quoted text appears in a different color in chats
• Pasting texts in chat is automatically guessed as code or quotes and preformatted accordingly
• Add support for Profile links
• Group the send image inline and send file button in the chat to make room for the call button
• It’s possible to change one’s own avatar image on localized Linux setups
• and many more

Full Changelog: v1.0.0…v1.1.0

Download here

This version brings improved performances with Java 25 as well as the return of the macOS version.

Stickers are available to make your chats more fun.

Available aliases are listed in the chat by typing ‘/’

Other changes:

• It’s possible to clear chat backlogs
• Multiline messages in chat rooms
• Improved memory performances: faster startup time and maximum usage limit
• Allow connections from new locations backed by an already accepted profile
• Internal documentation (press F1 to see it). Especially useful for newcomers
• New markdown parser using commonmark-java
• Automatic update system with signature verification (Windows only for now, and off by default)
• Forums display their unread count
• Add specific version for Ubuntu 22.04 (no more need to force dependencies)
• Add back the macOS version for both Intel and Apple silicon

Full Changelog: v0.8.2…v1.0.0

Download here

This version adds distant chats support using secured tunnels: you can now chat beyond your direct friends.

There’s also a version for ARM Linux (Raspberry Pi, etc…).

Full Changelog: v0.8.1…v0.8.2

Download here

A new release with cut & paste support, finally!

Full Changelog: v0.8.0…v0.8.1

Download here

Note: if Windows Defender complains about a malware/virus it’s a false positive. I had some reports about it (it doesn’t happen on my machine of course). I submitted a complaint to Microsoft (again) and it seems to work now.