======= BitChan

Version: 1.4.4

BitChan is a decentralized anonymous imageboard inspired by BitBoard <https://github.com/michrob/bitboard>__ and built on top of Bitmessage <https://bitmessage.org>__ with Tor <https://www.torproject.org>, I2P <https://i2pd.website>, and GnuPG <https://gnupg.org>__.

Anonymous users have set up BitChan instances in Kiosk Mode <MANUAL.md#kiosk-mode>__. Check them out at:

• BitChanr4b64

  • Tor: http://bitchanr4b64govofzjthtu6qc4ytrbuwbgynapkjileajpycioikxad.onion (only accessible with Tor Browser <https://www.torproject.org>__).
  • I2P: http://bitchan.i2p, b32 Address http://waycuw2c27ruakfblkf5tcegwmt3ot445dlfoypil6bzmm4yxg7a.b32.i2p (only accessible with I2P <https://geti2p.net>__).

• BitChanp3p

  • Tor: http://bitchanp3p2oevxxb6cxju5lt3dq5xftlvg25ocmdztw7owrz25p7lad.onion (only accessible with Tor Browser <https://www.torproject.org>__).
  • I2P: http://lodge.i2p, b32 Address http://jyjyltub7kfusniymuiyis7p2uccgrtrl4ww73zjkdmr433jxb5a.b32.i2p (only accessible with I2P <https://geti2p.net>__).

BitChan solves a number of security and free speech problems that have plagued most imageboards. Centralized imageboards can be taken offline or hijacked and can leak user data. BitChan reduces the likelihood of this by being decentralized, allowing each user to host their own instance of the software, requiring all connections to go through Tor/I2P, and not requiring JavaScript.

When installed locally on your computer, BitChan acts as an extension to Bitmessage, a decentralized, blockchain-based messaging program. Bitmessage relies on public key encryption similar to PGP and decentralized message delivery, which due to the fact that every message is distributed to every client, also provides plausible deniability (i.e. no one knows who the message came from or who it was addressed to). Bitmessage handles the sending and receiving of messages and BitChan acts as a sophisticated message processor, which includes a web front end. All communication happens over the Tor onion and i2p networks for anonymity and every BitChan message is encrypted using GPG, an open source version of PGP (Pretty Good Privacy). Instead of connecting to a stranger's server and volunteering potentially identifying information, BitChan anonymously adds your message to the Bitmessage block. Everyone on the Bitmessage network downloads and shares your encrypted messages and only those with the correct keys can decrypt them.

Users of centralized forums often have to deal with overzealous moderators and sometimes even pressure from state powers that tend to suffocate the forum's culture. BitChan's moderation is multifaceted, but to be brief, the option exists to create entirely unmoderatable boards to post content on. Due to its decentralized design, BitChan cannot be moderated by its developers, the government, or any other entity. Indeed, there is no way to disconnect BitChan from the internet, and as long as people are still running Bitmessage, BitChan is completely untouchable. With that said, boards can be created with a variety of rules which allow board owners or admins to moderate them, if desired. Unmoderated boards can always be locally moderated by the user that installs BitChan. Additionally, users can enable Kiosk Mode on their install and enable a Tor Hidden Onion Service or Hidden I2P Service to allow anonymous users to access their instance through .onion and/or .i2p addresses. However, when accessing BitChan in this way, you will be constrained by the particular settings that user chose for their BitChan install. In order to utilize the full features of BitChan, including a complete censorship-free environment, you will need to install it locally on your computer.

BitChan offers boards for a forum-like experience with image and file sharing, lists to organize and share other boards and lists, along with a host of additional features to enhance posts and provide board and list management with the use of owner, admin, janitor, and user permissions. Boards and lists can be public or private, with or without owners or admins, allowing a full range from completely unmoderatable to strictly allowing only select users access.

Quick Links: Manual <MANUAL.md>, Changelog <CHANGELOG.md>, Screenshots <SCREENSHOTS.md>__

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.. contents:: :depth: 4 ..

Screenshots & Diagrams

See Screenshots <SCREENSHOTS.md>__ for what BitChan looks like running (these are very old at this point, but give an idea of what to expect).

Diagram of how BitChan leverages Bitmessage, tor, I2P, and qBittorrent to communicate securely and privately:

.. image:: images/diagram-post_with_attachment.png

Features

• Security

  • All essential functionality without JavaScript
  • All internet traffic (Bitmessage/uploads/downloads/attachments) routed through tor and/or i2p
  • All messages PGP-encrypted with user-selectable ciphers, key lengths, and passphrases

• Board Features

  • Fully anonymous posting, with no identifying information sent
  • Optionally, generate an identity address to post with
  • Threaded posting with text enhancements
  • Attach up to 4 files per post (any file type)
  • Attachments transmitted via BitMessage (<= ~250 KB), I2P/Bittorrent (Unlimited), or 3rd party upload sites (<= ~1 GB)
  • Full-width expansion of Images and videos in posts
  • Overboard, Catalog, Recent, and Search pages
  • Support for post text styles: @@bold@@, ~~italic~~, __underline__, ++strikethrough++, ==big==, **spoiler**, ^s shadow ^s, [meme]meme[/meme], [autism]autism[/autism], [flash]flash[/flash], [aa]ascii art[/aa], and more
  • Support for post text replacements: dice (#3D20), cards (#C5), flip (#flip), 8ball (#8ball), tarot card (#t5), Crowley tarot (#ct5), random book quote (#stich)
  • Support for games: checkers, chess
  • Rules to allow board/list Owners to enable certain board/list-specific features
  • Thread-specific rules, such as require additional proof of work (POW) to post, for mitigating spam
  • Address Book to set labels for addresses that will appear on posts (for those that choose to not post anonymously)
  • Post popup previews for post links (no need to open the link)
  • Live updating of new posts in a thread (no need to refresh the page)
  • Sticky/pin/anchor/sage/+more attributes for threads

• Board and List Ownership and Administration

  • Boards and Lists can have Owners, Admins, White- and Black-listed Users
  • Owners can set a long description, banner and spoiler images, word replacements, and custom CSS
  • Board Owners/Admins can delete threads and posts (affects all users of a board)
  • Board Owners/Admins can ban users from posting (affects all users of a board)
  • Users can block address from posting to one or all boards (only local effects)

• Kiosk mode

  • Allows you to publicly host a BitChan instance in a secure manner
  • Host a tor onion or i2p eepsite services to access your BitChan instance from tor or i2p
  • Options to keep your kiosk completely private for only your use or allow the public to view and/or post
  • Permissions and login system to secure and control access to your BitChan Instance

• Misc

  • Public access where anyone can post on a board or add to a list
  • Private access where only select addresses can post or modify a list
  • Schedule posts to automatically be made in the future, to reduce the likelihood of divulging your time zone
  • Create HTML pages with Jinja2 support, for instance to create a Rules or auto-updating Popular Threads page
  • Mod log to track moderation and other changes
  • Mailbox system for reading and sending using Bitmessage addresses

Install

BitChan runs among several docker containers orchestrated by docker's compose plugin. This allows cross-platform compatibility and a level of isolation of your install from your operating system. For a consistent install environment, installing BitChan within a virtual machine running Xubuntu 22.04 is described below, however you can install BitChan in many operating system of your choice that support the install of docker and docker compose. Alternatively, BitChan can be installed natively in a Debian-based operating system (without Docker). Currently, the only issue you may encounter is selecting an environment that supports the Python2 requirement, as Bitmessage is still in the process of being ported from Python 2 to Python 3. See INSTALL <INSTALL.md#install-bitchan-without-docker>__ for detailed native (non-docker) install instructions.

Install BitChan with Docker

Install Docker Engine and the docker-compose plugin <https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/>__, then add your user to the docker group.

.. code::

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

Log out and back in for the group change to take effect, then change to the BitChan/docker directory and start the build process.

.. code::

cd BitChan/docker
docker compose up --build -d

Watch for timeout errors while downloading any of the required files. If the build successfully finishes, BitChan will be accessible at http://172.28.1.1:8000

Install Configuration

docker-compose.yml in the docker directory can be configured to suit your particular system. Make sure to rebuild from the docker directory with "make daemon" for the changes to take effect.

- The nginx container can have the ports section commented and changed to modify the port used to access the web interface, to change how this port is exposed publicly. When the ports are commented/removed, the web interface can only be accessed from the computer BitChan is installed on.

Post-install
~~~~~~~~~~~~

BitChan will automatically start at boot and runs on port 8000 by default, which can be accessed by visiting http://localhost:8000 or http://172.28.1.1:8000 in a web browser.

For added security, it's recom