Tesseras - Decentralized Communication Infrastructure

Português (Brasil)

Vision

Tesseras is a modern evolution of the TeleHash protocol, implementing a next-generation decentralized communication infrastructure that combines simplicity with cutting-edge technologies. Named after Roman tesserae - the individual pieces that form intricate mosaics - Tesseras enables individual nodes to connect and create beautiful, resilient distributed networks.

Our mission is to provide a self-organizing network that works both online and offline, with a focus on IoT devices, edge computing, and absolute privacy without compromising performance or usability.

Key Features

Modern Architecture

• Built with Rust for memory safety and performance
• QUIC-based networking for reduced latency and improved reliability
• Post-quantum cryptography preparation for future-proof security
• Adaptive distributed hash table with automatic sharding

Network Capabilities

• Automatic NAT traversal using STUN/TURN/ICE protocols
• Mesh networking with intelligent routing and failover
• Local peer discovery and bootstrap node mechanisms
• Quality of Service (QoS) management based on network conditions

Privacy & Security

• Forward secrecy with automatic key rotation
• Optional onion routing for enhanced anonymity
• Zero-knowledge proofs for authentication
• Comprehensive cryptographic audit trail

IoT & Edge Computing

• Ultra-lightweight protocol for resource-constrained devices
• Energy-aware routing algorithms for battery-powered nodes
• Distributed container orchestration for edge computing
• Seamless online/offline operation capabilities

Technical Overview

Tesseras implements a distributed hash table (DHT) that automatically organizes nodes into an efficient overlay network. Unlike traditional peer-to-peer systems, Tesseras prioritizes real-time communication while maintaining decentralization and privacy.

The protocol uses QUIC as its transport layer, providing built-in encryption, multiplexing, and connection migration. This enables significantly better performance compared to TCP-based P2P protocols, especially in mobile and unstable network environments.

Repository Structure

tesseras/
└── crates/
  ├── tesseras/              # Core protocol implementation
  ├── tesseras_crypto/       # Cryptography utilities
  ├── tesseras_network/      # Network layer (QUIC, NAT traversal)
  ├── tesseras_dht/          # Distributed Hash Table
  ├── tesseras_cli/          # Command line interface
  └── tesseras_node/         # Node implementation

Quick Start

Requirements:

• Rust 1.85+ with Cargo
• Network access for peer discovery

Installation:

git clone https://git.sr.ht/~microbio/tesseras
cd tesseras
cargo build --release

Basic Usage:

# Start a node
./target/release/tesseras-cli node start

# Connect to network
./target/release/tesseras-cli peer connect <node-address>

# Send a message
./target/release/tesseras-cli message send "Hello, distributed world!"

Development Status

Tesseras is currently in early development (Phase 1: Foundation). The project follows a structured roadmap with clear milestones:

• Phase 1 (Months 1-8): Core protocol and networking layer
• Phase 2 (Months 9-14): Base applications and developer tools
• Phase 3 (Months 15-22): IoT framework and edge computing
• Phase 4 (Months 23+): Global scalability and optimization

Current focus is on implementing the core DHT, QUIC networking, and basic node-to-node communication.

Contributing

Tesseras follows traditional open source development practices via email:

1. Subscribe to the mailing list: ~microbio/tesseras-devel@lists.sr.ht
2. Discuss ideas and report issues on the mailing list
3. Submit patches using git send-email
4. Follow project coding standards and Unix philosophy

See CONTRIBUTING.md for detailed guidelines.

Use Cases

Messaging & Communication

• Decentralized chat applications without central servers
• Voice and video calls using WebRTC integration
• Secure file sharing between trusted parties

IoT & Home Automation

• Device-to-device communication without internet dependency
• Sensor networks with automatic data aggregation
• Smart home systems with enhanced privacy

Edge Computing

• Distributed processing across local network nodes
• Content delivery without traditional CDN infrastructure
• Collaborative computing for resource-intensive tasks

Privacy-Focused Applications

• Anonymous communication networks
• Censorship-resistant information sharing
• Location-independent service access

Comparison with Existing Solutions

vs. Original TeleHash

• 10x better performance through QUIC protocol
• Post-quantum cryptography for future security
• Enhanced scalability supporting millions of nodes
• Modern development tools and comprehensive documentation

vs. IPFS/libp2p

• Lower latency optimized for real-time communication
• Simpler deployment and configuration process
• Built-in privacy features and anonymity options
• Specialized optimizations for IoT and edge devices

vs. Blockchain Networks

• No energy-intensive proof-of-work mechanisms
• Real-time message delivery instead of block-based processing
• Zero transaction fees for basic operations
• Sustainable and environmentally friendly design

Security Considerations

Tesseras implements multiple layers of security:

• Transport Security: All communication encrypted via QUIC/TLS 1.3
• Identity Verification: Public key cryptography for node authentication
• Message Integrity: Cryptographic signatures prevent tampering
• Forward Secrecy: Regular key rotation limits exposure window
• Privacy Protection: Optional onion routing hides communication metadata

Regular security audits and responsible disclosure processes ensure continuous improvement of the protocol's security posture.

License

Licensed under an OpenBSD-ISC-style license. Copyright (c) 2025 murilo ijanc' mbsd@m0x.ru

Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software for any purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.

See LICENSE file for complete terms.

Community & Support

• Mailing List: ~microbio/tesseras-devel@lists.sr.ht
• Website: https://tesseras.net
• Repository: https://git.sr.ht/~microbio/tesseras
• Project: https://sr.ht/~microbio/tesseras
• IRC: #tesseras on libera.chat (planned)