https://github.com/wofwca/video-call-over-email
No cap. With 15-second ping though.
https://github.com/wofwca/video-call-over-email
deltachat email media-source-extensions mediastream-recording-api video-call webxdc-app
Last synced: 3 months ago
JSON representation
No cap. With 15-second ping though.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/wofwca/video-call-over-email
- Owner: WofWca
- License: apache-2.0
- Created: 2023-11-15T16:00:57.000Z (almost 2 years ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2024-06-21T10:29:19.000Z (over 1 year ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-04-06T04:51:33.793Z (6 months ago)
- Topics: deltachat, email, media-source-extensions, mediastream-recording-api, video-call, webxdc-app
- Language: JavaScript
- Homepage: https://support.delta.chat/t/i-made-a-video-call-app-with-15-second-ping/2800?u=wofwca
- Size: 59.6 KB
- Stars: 3
- Watchers: 1
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 1
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
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README
# video-call-over-email
A [webxdc](https://webxdc.org) app for actual video calls over actual email (albeit with 15-second ping (but [it may improve soon](https://github.com/deltachat/deltachat-core-rust/pull/4904))).
Update 2025-06: the ratelimit got decreased down to 1 email per second for Chatmail servers (nine.testrun.org), so now one-way delay is ~3 seconds (and the ping is ~6 seconds)!
Also see the [fork, "A webxdc app for P2P real-time video calls"](https://github.com/WofWca/webxdc-video-call) (which is _not_ email-based).
This is just a prototype.
## Usage
As was said, this is a [webxdc](https://webxdc.org) app. It requires a webxdc-supporting messenger to run. Delta Chat is one such messenger.
However, as of 2023-11-16, sending audio/video won't work on unmodified versions of Delta Chat, but [this may change](https://support.delta.chat/t/allow-access-to-camera-geolocation-other-web-apis/2446?u=wofwca) in the near future.
_Receiving_ video _does_ work on regular Delta Chat,
so you can play around with the app
without having to convince your friends to modify their Delta Chat.
### Modifying Delta Chat
Below are instructions on how to modify Delta Chat. But make sure **not to launch any webxdc apps** that you don't trust on the modified version of Delta Chat as it is **insecure**. These instructions were tested on Delta Chat 1.58.0.
1. Download [Delta Chat Desktop](https://delta.chat/).
2. Find the `DeltaChat/resources/app.asar` file in the app folder.
3. Create a backup copy of the `app.asar` file.
3. Open the original `app.asar` file as a ZIP file.
4. Open the `bundle_out/index.js` file inside the archive.
5. Find and replace
```javascript
["pointerLock", "fullscreen"]
```
with
```javascript
[/* ADDED BY ME */ "media", "pointerLock", "fullscreen"]
```
6. Save the modified app.asar file.
7. After you're done playing around with this app, replace the modified `app.asar` file with the backup copy you made, or simply reinstall Delta Chat.
### Running the app
1. Launch Delta Chat.
2. Build an `.xdc` file with `./create-xdc.sh`, or just [download it from the "Releases" section](https://github.com/WofWca/video-call-over-email/releases/latest/download/webxdc-video-call.xdc).
3. Send the `.xdc` file to a chat.
4. Wait for some other chat members to launch the app.
5. Press "Start sending my media"; or just wait for others to send theirs.
Keep in mind that video data takes a lot of space. Make sure not to waste the storage quota on your email server. The expected bitrate in this app for audio + video is ~50 MB / hour per member and ~2 MB / hour per member for just audio.
## Why
Because it's funny.
And it might actually become an actually useful video call app, when:
- [x] [the ratelimit](https://github.com/deltachat/deltachat-core-rust/blob/212751f173139aab3daadcd77388b3551004cabe/src/context.rs#L382) gets much better than 1 email per 10 seconds
Update 2025-06: the ratelimit got decreased down to 1 email per second for Chatmail servers (nine.testrun.org), so now one-way delay is ~3 seconds!
- webxdc apps can be [allowed camera permission](https://support.delta.chat/t/allow-access-to-camera-geolocation-other-web-apis/2446?u=wofwca)
- A way is found to not fill up email servers with audio/video data (maybe something like "ephemeral webxdc messages")
## How it works
Nope, it's not WebRTC.
1. Record 10 seconds of your camera stream with a [`MediaRecorder`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/MediaStream_Recording_API).
2. Serialize the data.
3. Send it over email (with [`webxdc.sendUpdate()`](https://docs.webxdc.org/spec/sendUpdate.html)).
4. Repeat from step 1.
When we receive data, deserialize it and display it using [Media Source Extensions API](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Media_Source_Extensions_API).
## Web demo (no email involved)
If you just want to see how the app feels, without actually using email, go to .