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Prologue

XMPP stands for the "eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol". It is currently one of the, if not the best choice for instant messaging currently available. You can read all the specifications, called "XEPs" on their website.
You can even use the fabled IRC through XMPP, by way of Biboumi, of which there are many public instances.
Just starting out with XMPP, the first thing to do is to pick a client, then pick a server.
You may hear the terms "S2S" and "C2S" used sometimes. S2S means "Server-to-Server" (meaning federation between servers) and C2S means "Client-to-Server" (meaning the connection between the XMPP client and the servers it connects to).

Chapter 1

Clients

Things that are nice to have:

Supports OMEMO
Supports MAM (Message Archiving, AKA History)
Is not GTK3 or GTK4
Written in a fast, simple, compiled language (Not Python or Rust)
Allows multi-line message copying

You can skirt these various issues by either using PGP or OTR, and leaving your client on. Aside from the GTK3 "issue", Gajim versions before 1.4 had all of these. Other clients to especially consider are Tkabber, Mcabber, Poezio, and PSI+. Digdeeper has an article on this.

Name	License	GUI Toolkit	Platform
Adium	GPLv2		macOS
Apple Messages	Proprietary		macOS
AQQ	Proprietary		Windows
AstraChat	Proprietary		Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS
aTalk	Apache 2.0		Android
BeagleIM	GPLv3		macOS
Beejive	N/A		N/A
Bitlbee	GPLv2	TUI	Linux
Beem	GPLv3		Android
blabber	GPLv3		Android
BlueJab	?		Android, Blackberry, Symbian
BombusMod	GPLv3		Android
BuddyCloud	Apache 2.0	GUI Toolkit	Web, Mobile
Candy	MIT	JavaScript	Web
Chat-O-Matix	GPLv2		Haiku
ChatSecure	GPLv3		iOS
Coccinella	GPLv3	Tk	Linux, macOS, Windows
Conver6ations	GPLv3		Android
Conversations	GPLv3		Android
Converse.js	MPL-2.0	JavaScript	Browser
Conversant SoapBox Communicator			Windows
Coyim	GPLv2		Linux, macOS, Windows
Crosstalk			iOS
Chatty	GPLv3		PureOS
eM Client			Windows
Empathy	GPLv2	GTK	Linux
Finch	GPLv2	TUI	Linux, BSD
GNU Freetalk	GPLv3	TUI	Linux
GreenJab	Proprietary		IBM i
Dino	GPLv3	GTK3	Linux
EyeCU	GPLv3	QT	Linux
Fnord	GPLv3		Android
Gajim	GPLv3	GTK3	Linux, macOS, Windows
Instantbird	GPLv2	XUL	Linux, macOS, Windows
irssi-xmpp	GPLv2	TUI	Linux, BSD, Solaris, Haiku, macOS, Windows (Cygwin)
Jackline	BSD	TUI	BSD, macOS
Jabber.el	GPLv2		Emacs
Jabberwocky	GPLv2		Amiga
JabMe	?		iOS
JAJC	Proprietary		Windows
Jappix	AGPLv3 and others		Web
Jitsi	Apachi 2.0	JavaScript	Web
JSXC	MIT	JavaScript	Web
JWChat	GPLv2		Web
Kadu	GPLv2	QT	Linux, BSD, macOS, Windows
Kaidan	??? various open source ones	QT	Linux
Kaiwa	MIT	JavaScript	Web
Kopete	GPLv2	QT	Linux
Libervia	GPLv3	TUI, Browser	Linux, Android
Mcabber	GPLv2	TUI	Linux, BSD
Miranda NG	GPLv2		Windows
Mjabber	?		Java Platform Micro Edition
Monal	?		iOS
Moxxy	GPLv3		Android
OneTeam	MPL 2.0 & GPLv2, components under others	XULRunner	Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS
Opa	MIT	JavaScript	Web
Pade	Apache-2.0	JavaScript	Web
Pidgin	GPLv3	GTK	Linux, BSD, Windows
Poezio	GPLv3	TUI	Linux
Profanity	GPLv3	TUI	Linux, BSD, macOS, Windows, Android (Termux)
PSI	GPLv2	QT5	Linux, macOS, Windows
PSI+	GPLv2	QT5	Linux, BSD, macOS, Windows, Haiku
Quicksy	GPLv3		Android
Quiet Internet Pager	Proprietary		Windows
qutIM	GPLv3		Linux, BSD, Solaris, OS/2, macOS, Symbian, Maemo/Meego, Windows
Renga	MIT		Haiku
Shmoose	GPLv3		SailfishOS
Sim-IM	GPLv2	QT	Linux, BSD, Windows
Siskin	GPLv3		iOS
Smuxi	GPLv2	GTK	Linux, BSD, macOS, Windows
Spark	Apache		Linux, "Unix", macOS
Stork	AGPLv3		Android
Swift	GPLv3	QT	Linux, macOS, Windows
Thunderbird	MPL		Linux, macOS, Windows
Tkabber	GPL	Tk	Linux, BSD, Solaris (anything Tk supports)
Trillian	Proprietary (?)		Linux, Mac, Windows, Android, iOS
UWPX	MPL-2.0	UWP	Windows
Vacuum	GPLv3	QT4	Linux, macOS, Windows
Vayusphere XMPP/Jabber Solution for BlackBerry	Proprietary (?)		Blackberry
VSTalk		Visual Studio	Windows
V&V Messenger	Proprietary (?)		Windows
WeeChat-XMPP	MPL-2.0	TUI	Linux, BSD, Solaris/Illumos, Haiku, Hurd, macOS, Windows (Cygwin), Android (Termux)
WTW			Windows
Xabber	GPLv3 w/various components being under others		Android, Web
xmpp	Public Domain	TUI	plan9
xmppchat		JavaScript	Web
xmpp-client	BSD	TUI	Linux
xmppwebchat	LGPLv3		Web
Yaxim	GPLv3		Android
Name	License	GUI Toolkit	Platform

Adium

A macOS-only client that says it works with Jabber, IRC and more.

Apple Messages

Dropped support probably in Mojave. Don't use Crapple.

AQQ

AstraChat

...

aTalk

...

BeagleIM

...

Beejive

A post on Beejive's Facebook. An apparently discontented customer commenting below.

Site is down. [Archive.org]

Blabber

Conversations fork.

Beem

Last updated 9 years ago. Not maintained. Repository 404s.
There is a fork. Supposedly does not even have MUC support.

Bitlbee

Bitlbee accessed from WeeChat, with an XMPP MUC open

More of a server than a client, it can also connect to other chat systems. It accessed by a way of an IRC client, like WeeChat for example (not to be confused with WeChat).

BlueJab

The team was unable to connect to the website. It reportedly cost $9 dollars.^[1]

1. Bluejabb: Messenger MSN en tu celular y chat por bluetooth - Universo Celular, 9/8/2008 https://universocelular.com/2008/09/08/bluejabb-messenger-msn-en-tu-celular-y-chat-por-bluetooth/ http://web.archive.org/web/20140901012129/http://universocelular.com/2008/09/08/bluejabb-messenger-msn-en-tu-celular-y-chat-por-bluetooth/

BombusMod

...

BuddyCloud

Vague on what "mobile" means. It seems to be more of a builder for web apps and "mobile" apps than anything else?

Candy

...

Chat-O-Matic

Based on another client called "Caya".

ChatSecure

...

Conver6ations

Conversations fork with IPv6 and other improvements, including themeing.

Conversations

One of the most common clients. Can be gotten for free on F-Droid. Its forks are better.

Coccinella

Says it's a "communication tool" with a "built-in whiteboard".

Converse.js

A JavaScript web client. Obviously not recommended, except as a way to onboard cattle. If setup correctly, you get a little "join in browser" button on the Jabber list, where it can connect to anonymous.yourxmppdomain.whatever.

Conversant SoapBox Communicator

Apparently dead, linked is the archive. It was reportedly approved by the DoD for military use.^[2]

2. US DoD approves Coversant SoapBox software products for military use - Army Technology, 9/6/2012 https://www.army-technology.com/news/newsus-dod-approves-coversant-soapbox-software-products-for-military-use/ http://web.archive.org/web/20210625025823/https://www.army-technology.com/news/newsus-dod-approves-coversant-soapbox-software-products-for-military-use/

Crosstalk

Archive linked due to expired domain.

Chatty

Purism.

Coyim

...

EM Client

An email client that also supports XMPP.

Empathy

...

Finch

Pidgin but terminal.

GNU Freetalk

...

GreenJab

The website is inanely JavaScripted. Site looks like it's from the 90s, which is cool, but further deeply calls into question its need for JavaScript. Says the client costs $1.15 PER DAY to use.
Seems to be mostly geared towards communicating to the IBM i system rather than as a general purpose XMPP client (though they do mention you can do human to human messaging).

Dino

Very "GNOMEified".

EyeCU

Last updated 2 years ago. Fork of Vacuum-IM.

Fnord

Conversations fork by the Kallist people.

Gajim

Gajim 1.4.7

Gajim 0.16.9

Started looking more like Discord with version 1.4, where they also got rid of multi-line copying, and the history manager. Some people either use 1.3 or 0.16 still due to not liking the changes in interface design (ie GTK2 vs GTK3 among other things), or the disabling of OMEMO in public chats.

Instantbird

Development supposedly ceased in 2017.

irssee-xmpp

A plugin for irssi, a famous IRC client.

Jackline

...

Jabber.el

An XMPP plugin for the Emacs text editor/operating system.

Jabberwocky

XMPP client for the Amiga OSs (3, 4, MorphOS, maybe AROS).

JabMe

...

JAJC

"Just Another XMPP Client".

Jappix

Less of a client, more of a social network.

Jitsi

More of a Zoom replacement than an XMPP client. While better than the spyware known as Zoom, it's still a bloated web app. I would suggest looking into SIP (covered in mobilecomms), Mumble, and Jingle rather than becoming further dependent on WHATWG-dependent/JavaScript nonsense (covered in browsers).

JSXC

"JavaScript XMPP Client", "Make XMPP Great Again".....lol

JWChat

Web client designed to support Netscape 6 & 7, Mozilla version since 1.0.2.

Kadu

...

Kaidan

...

Kaiwa

...

Kopete

There is also a TDE version.

Libervia

Used to be called Salut a Toi.

Mcabber

Terminal client that supports most things.

Miranda NG

Continuation of Miranda IM.

Mjabber

A client designed to run on PDAs, really old phones and the like.

Monal

No license or source is obvious on their Tor-blocking website.

Moxxy

...

OneTeam

...

Opa

...

Pade

A browser extension for Chrome and Edge for Converse.js and Jitsi meet.

Pidgin

Limited.

Poezio

Poezio

Terminal client written in Python and has OMEMO support.

Profanity

...

PSI

PSI+ but less developed, with less platform support.

PSI+

PSI+ chat window.

Has pretty much everything, except MAM. Even runs on Haiku. Can be set to single window mode.

Quicksy

Conversations fork.

Quiet Internet Pager

Archive linked due to site not working. Russian.

qutIM

Seems to support a lot of platforms.

Renga

...

Shmoose

...

Sim-IM

...

Siskin

...

Smuxi

...

Spark

Related to the OpenFire project.

Stork

...

Swift

...

Thunderbird

The spyware email client can also do XMPP.

Tkabber

Tkabber, with MaXX desktop

...

Trillian

...

UWPX

For all your Shattered 10 devices!

Vacuum

...

Vayusphere XMPP/Jabber Solution for BlackBerry

...

VSTalk

Just a plugin for Visual Studio.

V&V Messenger

...

WeeChat-XMPP

Potentially very interesting.

WTW

Polish.

Xabber

...

xmpp

XMPP client for the plan9 family.

xmppchat

Last commit 2012.

xmpp-client

Written in Go.

xmppwebchat

...

Yaxim

...

Chapter 2

Server Software

Name	License	Platform
Apache Vysper	Apache 2.0	Linux, Windows
Cisco Meeting Server	Proprietary	ESXi
Citadel	GPLv3	Linux
Communigate Pro	Proprietary	Linux, macOS, Windows
Conversant SoapBox Server	Proprietary	Windows
DJabberd	GPLv3	Linux
Ejabberd	GPLv2	Linux, Solaris, macOS, Windows
IceWarp	Proprietary	Linux, Windows
iChat	Proprietary	macOS
in.jabberd	GPLv2	Linux
Jabberd14	GPLv2	Linux
Jabberd2	GPLv2	Linux, BSD, Solaris, Windows
Jabber XCP	Proprietary	Linux, Solaris, Windows
Jerry Messenger	Proprietary	Linux, Windows
Kwickserver	GPL	Windows
Metronome	ISC/MIT	Linux, macOS
MongooseIM	GPLv2	Linux, macOS
Isode M-Link	Proprietary	Linux, Solaris, Windows
OpenFire	Apache 2.0	Linux, Solaris, macOS, Windows
Oracle Communications Instant Messaging Server	Proprietary	Linux, Solaris, Windows
Prosody	MIT/X11	Linux, macOS, Windows
Psycd	GPLv2	Linux, macOS, Windows
Tigase	AGPL	Linux, Solaris, macOS, Windows
Vines	MIT	Linux, macOS
Wokkel	MIT	Linux, Solaris, macOS
Xabber	AGPLv3	Linux, Solaris, macOS, Windows

Apache Vysper

...

AstraChat

Seems proprietary.

Cisco Meeting Server

Claims to have "ability to execute" and "completeness of vision", has been recognized as a "Leader". Maybe it can synergize well with a dynamic, high-focus work environment.
AKA corporate buzzwords and fluff text marketing speak that means nothing.

Citadel

Does a lot more than just XMPP.

Communigate Pro

...

Conversant SoapBox Server

...

DJabberd

...

Ejabberd

One of the most common implementations. Written in Erlang.

IceWarp

...

iChat

Deprecated.

in.jabberd

Seems abandoned and targeted at embedded systems.

Jabberd14

Website seems to have been replaced by a JavaScript dependent GitLab instance.

Jabberd2

Says it's the "next generation" and is not to be confused with Jabberd14. No commits since 2018.

Jabber XCP

Page blocks Tor. There is a "Retirement Notice" PDF on the page too.

Jerry Messenger

Dead. Archive is linked.

Kwickserver

Dead. Archive is linked. Supposedly it could only be gotten via CD.

Metronome

Fork of Prosody.

MongooseIM

Apparently used by WhatsApp.

Isode M-Link

Definitely one of the most interesting servers in this list, it is designed for military applications. There's lot of interesting stuff on their site, including STANAG 5066 (XMPP over HF radio).

OpenFire

Written in Java.

Oracle Communications Instant Messaging Server

Big and corporate.

Prosody

The other most common implementation. The only implementation with known working darknet support, and therefore the only recommended one. Darknet addons include mod_onions, which only supports Tor, and its fork, mod_deepweb which supports Tor and I2P (the name mod_darknet which only supports I2P was already taken and appears to be a dead project, and is only mentioned in the I2Pd docs).
When setting up mod_deepweb, be sure to enable it on your MUC modules as well as globally, otherwise those also using it will not be able to connect:


 Component "example.b32.i2p" "muc"
    name = "Shadowy chat room server"
    restrict_room_creation = true
--- Store MUC messages in an archive and allow users to access it
modules_enabled = {
                        "vcard_muc",
                        "muc_mam",
                        "deepweb",
                        "s2s_bidi"
                  }

Set your maps (this is also a list of all known servers that support S2S Tor or I2P):


onion_map = {
        ["nuegia.net"] = "ovbikg4xvmpceljba3tj2i3qyzhdfic76rvkuzpzquayiaecvydd7oid.onion";
        ["conference.nuegia.net"] = "ovbikg4xvmpceljba3tj2i3qyzhdfic76rvkuzpzquayiaecvydd7oid.onion";
        ["proxy.nuegia.net"] = "ovbikg4xvmpceljba3tj2i3qyzhdfic76rvkuzpzquayiaecvydd7oid.onion";
        ["pubsub.nuegia.net"] = "ovbikg4xvmpceljba3tj2i3qyzhdfic76rvkuzpzquayiaecvydd7oid.onion";
        ["biboumi.nuegia.net"] = "ovbikg4xvmpceljba3tj2i3qyzhdfic76rvkuzpzquayiaecvydd7oid.onion";
        ["kalli.st"] = "kallist4mcluuxbjnr5p2asdlmdhaos3pcrvhk3fbzmiiiftwg6zncid.onion";
        ["muc.kalli.st"] = "kallist4mcluuxbjnr5p2asdlmdhaos3pcrvhk3fbzmiiiftwg6zncid.onion";
        ["biboumi.kalli.st"] = "kallist4mcluuxbjnr5p2asdlmdhaos3pcrvhk3fbzmiiiftwg6zncid.onion";
        ["patchysicp.xyz"] = "sicp22p3jmr4yvlkqw3daf45uh6h7yyej3x5jxtolwjlygxf75xgiqad.onion";
        ["chat.patchysicp.xyz"] = "sicp22p3jmr4yvlkqw3daf45uh6h7yyej3x5jxtolwjlygxf75xgiqad.onion";
        --["13f0.net"] = "cniqtqmoqo4rmruewilw5kf5nnsx3bef5ddjjygtqtnc7d2swangload.onion";
        --["muc.13f0.net"] = "cniqtqmoqo4rmruewilw5kf5nnsx3bef5ddjjygtqtnc7d2swangload.onion";
        ["digdeeper.club"] = "sefm6o6zuv6ebscvxasbjkr5gozns4hdayqrjbpo2ebjf6aebfbsw4id.onion";
        ["muc.digdeeper.club"] = "sefm6o6zuv6ebscvxasbjkr5gozns4hdayqrjbpo2ebjf6aebfbsw4id.onion";
        ["kyoko-project.wer.ee"] = "inf256higpgthvgzwd3je2fcqwuwjtodbvjx66cyolt67uskyh25wdqd.onion";
        ["chat.kyoko-project.wer.ee"] = "inf256higpgthvgzwd3je2fcqwuwjtodbvjx66cyolt67uskyh25wdqd.onion";
        --["kyoko-project.wer.ee"] = "kyoko2r2dnumkuatsax5ddzojc6ei7lw4qeyrs6irb6f6kicrn2qtjyd.onion";
        --["conference.kyoko-project.wer.ee"] = "kyoko2r2dnumkuatsax5ddzojc6ei7lw4qeyrs6irb6f6kicrn2qtjyd.onion";
        --["proxy65.kyoko-project.wer.ee"] = "kyoko2r2dnumkuatsax5ddzojc6ei7lw4qeyrs6irb6f6kicrn2qtjyd.onion";
        --["share.kyoko-project.wer.ee"] = "kyoko2r2dnumkuatsax5ddzojc6ei7lw4qeyrs6irb6f6kicrn2qtjyd.onion";
        --["anon.kyoko-project.wer.ee"] = "kyoko2r2dnumkuatsax5ddzojc6ei7lw4qeyrs6irb6f6kicrn2qtjyd.onion";
}
i2p_map = {
        ["13f0.net"] = "p5wpch3po6hqol5msq3p4wotjyhympopgtix7rp4bo6yq6bpjbdq.b32.i2p";
        ["muc.13f0.net"] = "p5wpch3po6hqol5msq3p4wotjyhympopgtix7rp4bo6yq6bpjbdq.b32.i2p";
        ["retroimages.net"] = "frix7bctof2n7hdxx5jwzzpsfc6yawucmjdzbiogdkklzr57yntq.b32.i2p";
        ["muc.retroimages.net"] = "frix7bctof2n7hdxx5jwzzpsfc6yawucmjdzbiogdkklzr57yntq.b32.i2p";
        --["digdeeper.club"] = "eayfsyxga3xoutjupgpb3sqvddv6smqtdfade6kigw6esgsnbjaq.b32.i2p";
        --["muc.digdeeper.club"] = "eayfsyxga3xoutjupgpb3sqvddv6smqtdfade6kigw6esgsnbjaq.b32.i2p";
        ["kyoko-project.wer.ee"] = "wq6nioyfocsug7md3o5cedcihbdlgzel65bb53wlzj4xt6vcpk4a.b32.i2p";
        ["conference.kyoko-project.wer.ee"] = "wq6nioyfocsug7md3o5cedcihbdlgzel65bb53wlzj4xt6vcpk4a.b32.i2p";
        ["proxy65.kyoko-project.wer.ee"] = "wq6nioyfocsug7md3o5cedcihbdlgzel65bb53wlzj4xt6vcpk4a.b32.i2p";
        ["share.kyoko-project.wer.ee"] = "wq6nioyfocsug7md3o5cedcihbdlgzel65bb53wlzj4xt6vcpk4a.b32.i2p";
        ["anon.kyoko-project.wer.ee"] = "wq6nioyfocsug7md3o5cedcihbdlgzel65bb53wlzj4xt6vcpk4a.b32.i2p";
}

If you want an I2P and Tor only setup, aside from setting:


deepweb_only = true;
deepweb_tor_all = true;

You may also wish to setup a non-darknet blocking firewall.
Be sure to generate certs, or you will not be able to connect to some servers:

openssl genrsa -out /etc/prosody/certs/xxx.b32.i2p.key 4096
openssl req -new -x509 -key /etc/prosody/certs/xxx.b32.i2p.key -out /etc/prosody/certs/xxx.b32.i2p.crt -days 3650

Be sure to set file permissions and ownership accordingly.
You can also setup Biboumi for accessing I2P-IRC (ie Postman). Make sure your tunnels are correct (this is for i2pd):


[prosody-biboumi]
type=server
host=127.0.0.1
port=5269
inport=5269
keys=biboumi.dat
address = 0.0.0.0
destination = 0.0.0.0


[IRC-IRC2P]
type = client
address = 127.0.0.2
port = 6667
destination = irc.postman.i2p
destinationport = 6667
keys = irc-keys.dat

Set your /etc/biboumi/biboumi.conf correctly:


hostname=example.b32.i2p
password=inserttokenhere
xmpp_server_ip=127.0.0.1
port=5347
admin=user@example.b32.i2p
realname_customization=true
realname_from_jid=false
log_file=
ca_file=
outgoing_bind=
db_name=/etc/biboumi/biboumi.sqlite
persistent_by_default=true

Note: you may have to create the DB and set the directory and DB permissions correctly.
Now add the component to the Prosody config (note: as of this writing it is unconfirmed if this works with federating or not). It is also highly recommended you install mod_e2e_policy as Biboumi by default offers no security (unless you want it to be totally public):


Component "example.b32.i2p"
        component_secret = "inserttokenhere"
        modules_enabled = {
                                "e2e_policy",
                                "deepweb",
                                "s2s_bidi"
                          }
e2e_policy_whitelist = { "user@example.b32.i2p" }

Edit your /etc/hosts file too:


# Static table lookup for hostnames.
# See hosts(5) for details.
127.0.0.2 irc.postman.i2p

Now with all this setup you should be able to join, for example #saltr%irc.postman.i2p@example.b32.i2p

Psyched

Says there is work being done to make it federate over Tor.

Tigase

Some Java thing.

Vines

Last commit 2014.

Wokkel

...

Xabber

Claims to have "improvements" to the protocol, and a web interface.
Is actually a bundle, including ejabberd, a script and some other things.

Chapter 3

Providers

It should be noted that the vast majority of providers do not have darknet S2S. Some will have darknet (usually Tor/onion only) C2S. You can check servers for compliance (unrelated to darknet support) using this tool.
KyokoNet supports Tor and I2P federation, Kallist supports Tor (and has a free Biboumi instance which can be accessed with or without an account), and both have application forms you can fill out. RetroImages also supports both, but does not have an application form. Do not attempt to get an account from Nuegia. Digdeeper does not give out accounts except to friends. Patchysicp also has sign up open according to the owner.

Shadow Wiki