Self Hosted - Self-hosting your services. @lemmy.ml EmbarrassedDrum @lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 wk. ago

[Seeking] something to replace chat with self in WhatsApp/Telegram

So I'm using a lot the option to chat myself in apps like WhatsApp or Telegram. But I don't wanna put my trust in them.

I tried about using NextCloud (I have an instance) Talk, but I'm not satisfied: the app won't load if I have no internet connection.

What I am actually looking for:

something with cross client sync that sync is ideally on my server
simple to use like sending message to self but with good search options, maybe even tagging
ability to send images, files etc
caches offline on clients

thanks.

P.S. wasn't really sure what tag to use here. Help seems like I'd use when I have an issue with an existing project. but I'm looking for a new one so I used this.

thanks!

25 comments

Matrix seems like a perfect fit for you then!
- well search is not that good, it can only find exact word matches for any of the words, but otherwise yeah. though I think telegram isn't much better at this either
  
  Permanently Deleted
  
  Search is definitely lacking sadly. Unsure if there's even solid plans to make it much better either.
  
  I don't do a lot of message searching so luckily for me, it's not something that bothers me too much.
Gonna take this in a different direction. Sounds like you mostly want notes with attachments and organization, but you're just using chat apps for it right now.

Joplin does all the things you're talking about, including multiple backends and encryption. No need to host a server.
- it's what I use now, and I really love this app! so thanks again.
  
  using the Kanban extension and it's really good
  
  Awesome! Glad you found a solution you like.
- yes I basically need a note taking app.
  
  But sometimes I feel like note taking apps are too complicated, where most of the time I just wanna forward a link or something.
  
  I'll check out Joplin tho, thanks!
Have you consider using a note taking app with server sync instead of abusing a chat service for the same thing?
- I fully understand the argument and kinda agree. That said, here's why i still use the Telegram self-chat just like OP, you can suggest a note-taking app replacement if you think:
  
  Paste a link, instant preview of it without user intervention, can play it right on the app if it's audio/video if i want or get a preview of it if it's just a page without opening a full browser (this puts it automatically above a "synced notepad" which is what i understand note taking apps tend to be)
  
  Synced across devices
  
  Both desktop and mobile
  
  Private, no one else sees it
  
  Easy and convenient, i usually have Telegram running already, just switch to it on browser or desktop and copy or paste the thing
  
  Gimme a note taking app that has all these, that is not a big program needing lots of resources to run all the time, and that i can self-host for the server part (or E2EE P2P like Syncthing) and we're cooking!
  
  and also, time of "saving" is always correctly preserved
  
  Telegram private 🙃
I use SimpleX for this matter. Each device get its own account, and I just create a group named "self" with all of them. You can selfhost the server too if you prefer that route.
- Oops, added a suggestion of Simplex before I saw your answer. +1, I guess 🙂
Check out xmpp. Wouldn't know of anything remotely as useful as tgram. If it's just about messaging yourself, you could also continue using tgram and doing your own encryption with your own bot for sensible data.
- my own encryption seems like too much work.
  
  and also eventually the bot will send me the deciphered content, so TG can technically see it.
How about pushbullet? It's not self-hosted though, but syncs nicely between different phones and browser plugin. File transfer etc. works well, the search is rudimentary.

Honestly I'm not sure about offline support though, I haven't really been in a situation where I wanted to take a note/message myself without internet connection.
- is it open source?
  
  I don't think so, no.
Simplex chat has a default "private notes" chat which is essentially chatting with yourself as you describe it.

Simplex is available for a lot of platforms and devices, and easier to install and maintain than Nextcloud. I'm not sure if it ticks all your boxes, though?
- thanks I'll try it!
Since i use the self-chat on Telegram a lot i've wished for exactly the same thing in the past as i'm planning on leaving the service, so far haven't found a right fit yet
- yeah same here. I sometimes use WhatsApp but it's not as good.

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