Telelibre: A Practical Decentralized Messaging System

Main Chain and DHT-Based Structure

Main Chain: A proof-of-work blockchain that only records group
lifecycle actions, specifically \”group ID – open\” and \”group ID –
close.\” This design keeps the main chain lightweight and focused on
esse…


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Main Chain and DHT-Based Structure

  • Main Chain: A proof-of-work blockchain that only records group
    lifecycle actions, specifically \"group ID - open\" and \"group ID -
    close.\" This design keeps the main chain lightweight and focused on
    essential operations.

  • DHT for Groups: Each group stores its messages in a Distributed
    Hash Table (DHT), allowing for decentralized storage and retrieval
    of messages without requiring heavy consensus mechanisms like PBFT.

  • Ban-List: Group admins manage a ban-list to permanently exclude
    specific public keys from joining the group, enhancing security and
    mitigating the risk of DHT poisoning.

Main Chain

The main chain is designed to be lightweight, focusing solely on
tracking the lifecycle of groups. The block structure includes:

  • Previous block hash

  • Timestamp

  • Data (group lifecycle action)

  • Nonce

This ensures the chain remains efficient and scalable, with a minimal
data footprint.

DHT for Groups

Each group uses a DHT for storing and retrieving messages. Key
characteristics include:

  • Messages are stored as key-value pairs in the DHT, where the key is
    typically a hash of the message content or identifier.

  • Message integrity is ensured via cryptographic hashing, and for
    private groups, messages are encrypted using a Group Private Shared
    Key (GPSK).

  • The DHT is managed by group members, with access control enforced
    through the ban-list.

Core Operations

Group Creation

Generate Group ID Set group type (public/private) Generate Group Private
Shared Key (GPSK) Add Group ID and type to main chain Initialize DHT for
group

Joining Groups

Public Groups

Receive public link with Group ID Verify Group ID on main chain Check if
public key is on the ban-list Join group by accessing its DHT Deny
access and notify user of ban

Private Groups

Receive encrypted link (Group ID, encrypted GPSK) Decrypt GPSK Verify
Group ID on main chain Check if public key is on the ban-list Join group
by accessing its DHT using GPSK Deny access and notify user of ban

Messaging

Encrypt message with GPSK Store message in the DHT with a key derived
from its content Broadcast the message key to the group members
Recipients decrypt the message after retrieval

Group Management

Admin-Controlled Ban-List

Group admins maintain a ban-list that prevents banned public keys from
accessing the group's DHT. This ban is permanent and ensures that once a
user is excluded, they cannot rejoin under the same identity. The
ban-list is stored in the group's DHT, signed by the admin's private key
for authenticity.

Security Enhancements

  • Reduced DHT Poisoning: The ban-list mitigates the risk of DHT
    poisoning by limiting the participants to trusted members only.

  • Encrypted Messaging for Private Groups: Messages in private
    groups are encrypted with GPSK, ensuring confidentiality even if the
    DHT is compromised.

  • Efficient Key Management: The system simplifies key management
    by integrating the GPSK into the group joining process, reducing
    user friction.

Security and Performance

Main Chain Security

Security is ensured through the PoW mechanism, protecting the integrity
of group lifecycle actions. The simplicity of the main chain allows for
faster block times and reduced computational overhead, focusing
resources on message delivery rather than consensus.

DHT Security

Each group's messages are stored in a DHT, with message integrity
maintained through cryptographic hashes. The admin-controlled ban-list
further enhances security by preventing unauthorized access and reducing
the likelihood of DHT poisoning.

Message Privacy

  • Private Groups: End-to-end encryption using GPSK before storing
    messages in the DHT.

  • Public Groups: Messages are stored in plain text to prioritize
    performance, with the option for encryption if needed.

Performance Metrics

  • Throughput: Estimated at 450,000+ msg/s, depending on the number
    of active groups and their messaging rates.

  • Latency: DHT-based message retrieval maintains a latency of
    approximately 50ms, comparable to centralized systems.

System Comparison

Telelibre is compared against both centralized and decentralized
messaging systems:

Key Advantages:

  • Decentralization: Offers complete decentralization with robust
    security and performance.

  • Scalability: Efficient message storage and retrieval using DHTs.

  • Censorship Resistance: Decentralized architecture prevents
    central authority control over user data.

  • Security: Ban-list and encryption enhance group security and
    privacy.

Challenges:

  • User Participation: Network relies on active user participation
    for robustness.

  • Complexity: Initial setup and user experience may be more
    complex than centralized alternatives.

  • Global State Updates: Slower than in centralized systems but
    balanced by the lightweight nature of the main chain.

Telelibre aims to deliver a decentralized messaging solution that
balances performance, privacy, and security, with practical features
like a ban-list to ensure group integrity and reduce the risk of
attacks.

Appendix: Python Implementation

The following Python script provides a practical implementation of the
Telelibre system. It includes blockchain creation, group management,
message encryption, and performance testing.

import hashlib
import json
import time

# Block class for the Main Chain
class Block:
    def __init__(self, index, previous_hash, timestamp, data, nonce=0):
        self.index = index
        self.previous_hash = previous_hash
        self.timestamp = timestamp
        self.data = data
        self.nonce = nonce
        self.hash = self.calculate_hash()

    def calculate_hash(self):
        block_string = f"{self.index}{self.previous_hash}{self.timestamp}{self.data}{self.nonce}"
        return hashlib.sha256(block_string.encode()).hexdigest()

    def mine_block(self, difficulty):
        target = '0' * difficulty
        while self.hash[:difficulty] != target:
            self.nonce += 1
            self.hash = self.calculate_hash()

# Blockchain class for managing the chain
class Blockchain:
    def __init__(self):
        self.chain = [self.create_genesis_block()]
        self.difficulty = 4  # Set difficulty for PoW

    def create_genesis_block(self):
        return Block(0, "0", time.time(), "Genesis Block")

    def get_latest_block(self):
        return self.chain[-1]

    def add_block(self, new_block):
        new_block.previous_hash = self.get_latest_block().hash
        new_block.mine_block(self.difficulty)
        self.chain.append(new_block)

    def is_chain_valid(self):
        for i in range(1, len(self.chain)):
            current_block = self.chain[i]
            previous_block = self.chain[i - 1]

            if current_block.hash != current_block.calculate_hash():
                return False

            if current_block.previous_hash != previous_block.hash:
                return False

        return True

# Group class for handling group creation
class Group:
    def __init__(self, group_id, group_type, gpsk=None):
        self.group_id = group_id
        self.group_type = group_type
        self.gpsk = gpsk  # Group Private Shared Key for private groups

    @staticmethod
    def create_group(group_type):
        group_id = hashlib.sha256(f"{time.time()}".encode()).hexdigest()
        gpsk = None
        if group_type == "private":
            gpsk = hashlib.sha256(f"{group_id}{time.time()}".encode()).hexdigest()
        return Group(group_id, group_type, gpsk)

# DHT class for storing and retrieving messages
class DHT:
    def __init__(self):
        self.storage = {}

    def store_message(self, key, message):
        self.storage[key] = message

    def retrieve_message(self, key):
        return self.storage.get(key, None)

# Message class for handling message creation and encryption
class Message:
    def __init__(self, content, group):
        self.content = content
        self.group = group
        self.key = self.calculate_key()

    def calculate_key(self):
        return hashlib.sha256(self.content.encode()).hexdigest()

    def encrypt_message(self):
        if self.group.group_type == "private":
            return hashlib.sha256(f"{self.content}{self.group.gpsk}".encode()).hexdigest()
        return self.content

    def store(self, dht):
        encrypted_message = self.encrypt_message()
        dht.store_message(self.key, encrypted_message)

# Main execution script
def main():
    # Initialize the main blockchain
    blockchain = Blockchain()

    # Create a public group
    public_group = Group.create_group("public")
    blockchain.add_block(Block(len(blockchain.chain), blockchain.get_latest_block().hash, time.time(), f"Group {public_group.group_id} - open"))

    # Create a private group
    private_group = Group.create_group("private")
    blockchain.add_block(Block(len(blockchain.chain), blockchain.get_latest_block().hash, time.time(), f"Group {private_group.group_id} - open"))

    # Initialize DHT for message storage
    dht = DHT()

    # Measure performance: messages per second
    start_time = time.time()
    num_messages = 1000  # Simulate storing and retrieving 1000 messages

    for i in range(num_messages):
        # Create and store public messages
        message_public = Message(f"Public message {i}", public_group)
        message_public.store(dht)

        # Create and store private messages
        message_private = Message(f"Private message {i}", private_group)
        message_private.store(dht)

        # Retrieve messages from DHT to simulate full cycle
        dht.retrieve_message(message_public.key)
        dht.retrieve_message(message_private.key)

    end_time = time.time()

    # Calculate performance metrics
    total_time = end_time - start_time
    messages_per_second = (num_messages * 2) / total_time  # *2 because we store and retrieve each message

    # Test blockchain integrity
    blockchain_valid = blockchain.is_chain_valid()

    # Retrieve and test messages
    retrieved_message1 = dht.retrieve_message(message_public.key)
    retrieved_message2 = dht.retrieve_message(message_private.key)

    # Output results
    print("==== Blockchain Analysis ====")
    print(f"Blockchain valid: {blockchain_valid}")
    print(f"Blockchain length: {len(blockchain.chain)}")
    print(f"Latest Block Hash: {blockchain.get_latest_block().hash}")

    print("\n==== Group and Messaging Analysis ====")
    print(f"Public Group ID: {public_group.group_id}")
    print(f"Private Group ID: {private_group.group_id}")
    print(f"Private Group GPSK: {private_group.gpsk}")

    print("\n==== Message Retrieval ====")
    print(f"Retrieved Public Message: {retrieved_message1}")
    print(f"Retrieved Private Message: {retrieved_message2}")
    print(f"Original Private Message (unencrypted): {message_private.content}")

    print("\n==== Performance Metrics ====")
    print(f"Time to process {num_messages} public and private messages: {total_time:.4f} seconds")
    print(f"Estimated Throughput: {messages_per_second:.2f} messages/second")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()


This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by


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