Mages

An experimental matrix chat client with push notifications

Mages

Mages is an experimental matrix chat client.

The goal was to have a cross-platform desktop/mobile client, (initially there were very few alternatives to element-desktop which notify, and stay hidden in my tray (unlike neochat) while not being as heavy. This kinda is heavy (though not as much), until i find a better solution for notifs on desktop). It's never going to be as feature-rich or stable as element's clients (or other clients like fluffy or fractal with a proper consumer-focused goal)

Status

This is experimental-stage software. (the maintainer hasn't noticed any encryption related issues, due to it being fully handled by the battle-tested matrix-rust sdk, though they mention that they aren't sure about it)

Features (as of the last README update)

• Room list with basic previews and unread counts
• Room and thread timelines (text, media, polls)
• End-to-end encryption (via matrix-sdk)
• Spaces browser
• Simple presence / privacy settings
• Android app and Linux desktop builds (AppImage, AUR mages-bin)

Platforms

• Android

• Signed APKs and AABs are published on GitHub Releases.

• F-Droid metadata is planned; for now you can sideload the APK.

• Linux desktop

• AppImage builds for x86_64 and aarch64.

• AUR: wraps the AppImage.

• Other package formats (Flatpak, Snap) may follow.

• Other platforms

• The UI is Compose Multiplatform. In practice, only Android + Linux AppImage are actively tested.

Architecture

• Rust core

• Uses matrix-sdk and matrix-sdk-ui for sync, room list, timelines, E2EE, etc.

• Exposed as a UniFFI library (mages_ffi) that Kotlin/JVM can call.

• Kotlin UI

• Compose Multiplatform for Android and desktop.

• Koin for dependency injection.

• ViewModels for state, backed by the Rust core.

Most Matrix-specific logic lives in Rust; Kotlin mostly handles presentation.