Arcan: Encrypted Communications Platform
A brief introduction to the project:
Arcan is an open-source encrypted communication platform designed to provide secure messaging and file sharing capabilities. It aims to address the increasing need for privacy and data protection in today's digital world. Arcan employs strong encryption algorithms to ensure that users' communication and shared files remain private and secure, even in the face of potential threats.
Mention the significance and relevance of the project:
In an era where data breaches and privacy concerns are prevalent, Arcan provides a valuable solution for individuals and organizations looking to safeguard their sensitive information. With its focus on user privacy and encryption, Arcan offers a reliable platform for secure communication, fostering trust and confidence among its users.
Project Overview:
Arcan's primary goal is to enable users to communicate securely and privately. This means protecting their messages, files, and other shared data from unauthorized access or interception. By leveraging advanced encryption techniques, Arcan ensures that user data remains confidential and uncompromised.
The project caters to a wide range of users, including individuals who value privacy and security in their personal communications, as well as businesses and organizations that handle sensitive information. Arcan provides a flexible and customizable platform that can be adapted to meet the specific needs of different user groups.
Project Features:
- End-to-end Encryption: Arcan implements end-to-end encryption to secure communication between users. This means that only the sender and intended recipient can access the content of the messages or shared files.
- Chat and File Sharing: Arcan offers a user-friendly interface for text-based messaging and file sharing. Users can create private or group chats, send and receive files securely, and manage their conversations effectively.
- Secure VoIP Calls: In addition to text-based communication, Arcan supports secure voice over IP (VoIP) calls. Users can make encrypted voice calls, ensuring that their conversations cannot be intercepted or listened to by unauthorized parties.
- Cross-platform Compatibility: Arcan is designed to be compatible with multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. This ensures that users can access the platform regardless of their preferred device or operating system.
Technology Stack:
Arcan is developed using a combination of different technologies and programming languages. The project utilizes:
- C++: The core functionality of Arcan is implemented using C++, which allows for efficient and performance-oriented code.
- Qt Framework: Arcan leverages the Qt framework to provide a cross-platform user interface and to enable seamless integration with different operating systems.
- OpenSSL: The OpenSSL library is used for implementing cryptographic functions and ensuring secure communication between users.
- SQLite: Arcan utilizes SQLite for database management, storing user information, and managing chat histories.
- JSON: JSON is used for data serialization and communication between the server and client applications.
Project Structure and Architecture:
Arcan follows a modular and scalable architecture that allows for easy extension and customization. The project consists of several components, including:
- Client Application: The client application provides the user interface and handles user interactions. It communicates with the server application to send and receive messages, files, and other data.
- Server Application: The server application manages user authentication, handles message routing, and facilitates communication between clients. It stores user profiles and chat history on the server's database.
- Encryption Module: The encryption module is responsible for implementing the encryption and decryption algorithms used in Arcan. It ensures secure and private communication between users.
- Database Management: Arcan utilizes SQLite for managing user profiles, chat histories, and other relevant data. The database is accessed by both the client and server applications.
Arcan employs industry-standard design patterns and follows secure coding practices to ensure the robustness and reliability of the platform. It utilizes a client-server model for communication and separates the encryption functionality into a dedicated module.
Contribution Guidelines:
Arcan welcomes contributions from the open-source community. To contribute to the project, users can follow these guidelines:
- Bug Reports: Users can report any bugs or issues they encounter while using Arcan. The bug reports should include detailed steps to reproduce the problem, along with relevant system information.
- Feature Requests: Users can suggest new features or improvements to enhance Arcan's functionality. Feature requests should include a clear description of the desired feature and why it would benefit the platform.
- Code Contributions: Users can contribute to the development of Arcan by submitting code patches or new features. Contributions should adhere to the project's coding standards and guidelines. They should also include proper tests and documentation to ensure the quality and maintainability of the codebase.
