https://github.com/chendo/airchat

AirChat lets you chat to nearby users by abusing the AirDrop interface on OS X.
https://github.com/chendo/airchat

airdrop chat hack ruby

Last synced: about 1 month ago
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AirChat lets you chat to nearby users by abusing the AirDrop interface on OS X.

• Host: GitHub
• URL: https://github.com/chendo/airchat
• Owner: chendo
• Created: 2016-12-11T04:52:53.000Z (about 8 years ago)
• Default Branch: master
• Last Pushed: 2016-12-11T05:42:18.000Z (about 8 years ago)
• Last Synced: 2023-11-07T17:32:28.288Z (about 1 year ago)
• Topics: airdrop, chat, hack, ruby
• Language: Ruby
• Homepage:
• Size: 22.5 KB
• Stars: 163
• Watchers: 3
• Forks: 9
• Open Issues: 0
• Metadata Files:
  • Readme: README.md

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README

        
# AirChat

AirChat is a zero-dependency* P2P CLI chat tool that (ab)uses the AirDrop interface to

allow chatting across WiFi networks (or no WiFi network).

A RailsCamp AU 20 project.

![Screenshot](https://cloud.githubusercontent.com/assets/2661/21078310/7b9c0202-bfbe-11e6-8448-8aad4de69cbf.png)

## Features

* Chat to other AirChat users in proximity without being on the same network

* Self-contained - no gems, nothing else to download/install

* Automatically keeps AirDrop active

* Commands: `/nick`, `/who`, `/me`, `/quit`

* User colours tied to their IPv6 address

## Requirements

* OS X with system Ruby 2+ with working AirDrop

* Ruby 2.0 or higher (comes with OS X)

* tcpdump (comes with OS X)

## Usage

```

# Get it

curl -L https://github.com/chendo/airchat/raw/master/airchat.rb > airchat.rb && chmod +x airchat.rb

# or get someone to AirDrop it to you, etc.

# AirChat requires raw access to the /dev/bpf* interface.

# Run using sudo

sudo ./airchat.rb

# OR

# Give permission to /dev/bpf*

sudo chgrp staff /dev/bpf* && sudo chmod g+rw /dev/bpf*  # These permissions will reset on reboot

./airchat.rb

```

## How does it work?

AirChat uses the `awdl0` interface to talk to other machines with AirDrop active.

However, OS X restricts binding to this interface, and non-AirDrop network traffic is rejected

with `ICMP Port Unreachable`. AirChat gets around this by using `tcpdump` to receive UDP data,

as OS X doesn't stop you from sending packets through that interface.

AirChat broadcasts JSON-encoded messages in UDP to `ff02::fb` on port `1337`.

## Caveats/TODO

* Messages are transmitted in plain text.

* No direct messaging

* One channel only (you can specify a different port by modifying the source)

* Message delivery is not guaranteed

* No message repeater functionality

## License

MIT.

ANSI RGB magic sauce from the [paint gem](https://github.com/janlelis/paint).