columba/docs/UserGuide.md

Columba Use Manual

Simple Installation & Setup Guide

What is Columba?

Columba is a secure, peer-to-peer messaging application designed to work with or without the Internet. It can operate over bluetooth, Wi-Fi, mobile data, and even radio, using a technology called Reticulum.

Columba is especially useful when:

• Internet access is unreliable or unavailable
• Privacy and encryption matter
• You want resilient, off-grid communication

Official project repository: https://github.com/torlando-tech/columba

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What You Need Before You Start

• An Android phone (Android 12 or newer recommended)
• About 100 MB of free storage

You do not need:

• A phone number
• An email address
• A central server account

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Step 1 – Install Columba on Android

Option A – Install from APK

1. Open the Columba GitHub page: https://github.com/torlando-tech/columba

2. Go to Releases

3. Download the latest Columba Android APK

4. On your phone:

   • Open Settings → Security
   • Enable Install unknown apps

5. Tap the downloaded APK to install

Android may warn you about installing from outside the Play Store. This is normal.

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Step 2 – First Launch

When you open Columba for the first time:

• The app creates a secure identity automatically
• No registration is required
• No personal data is requested

What happens behind the scenes:

• A cryptographic identity is generated
• This identity replaces usernames, phone numbers, or email addresses

Step 3 – Basic Configuration

Open Settings in Columba.

Network

Leave defaults unless you know what you are doing. The default settings allow Columba to:

• Find peers automatically
• Switch between Internet, Local Wi-Fi, or bluetooth

Identity

• Already created automatically
• You should set a display name using the wizard. If you skipped that step, you can set your display name in the settings

Step 4 – Sending Your First Message

Using Announces

1. Open Announces
2. Tap on the name of a contact
3. Tap Start Chat

Using Chat

1. Open Chats

2. Choose New Conversation

3. Add a contact by:

   • Scanning a QR code
   • Pasting a destination string

4. Type a message

5. Press Send

In both cases if the recipient is reachable:

• Message is delivered immediately

If not:

• Message is stored securely
• Delivered automatically when the recipient becomes available

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Step 5 – Offline and Mesh Usage

Columba also works even when:

• Internet is down
• Cellular service is unavailable

Examples:

• Phones connected through bluetooth
• Two phones on the same Wi-Fi network
• Devices linked via LoRa radio (RNodes)

You do not need to change anything:

• Columba and Reticulum select the best available way!!!

Basic Troubleshooting

Messages not delivered immediately

• This is normal in delay-tolerant networks
• Messages will arrive once a path exists

No peers found

• Ensure both devices have Columba running
• Ensure Wi-Fi or another shared medium is available
• Restart Columba

App seems idle

• Reticulum is event-driven; silence often means no traffic, not failure
• Restart Columba

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Understanding Reticulum

What Is Reticulum?

Reticulum is the privacy focus networking system that Columba uses.

Think of it as:

“A private, secure alternative to the Internet that works anywhere.”

It does not rely on:

• Internet providers, Central servers, IP addresses, Phone numbers

How Reticulum Is Different

Traditional Internet

• Needs central infrastructure
• Depends on ISPs
• Unencrypted by default
• Breaks easily during outages

Reticulum

• Decentralized
• Peer-to-peer
• Always encrypted
• Keeps working during disruptions

Reticulum was designed for:

• Security and sovereignty
• Unreliable links
• Off-grid operation

Why Columba + Reticulum Matters

Together they provide:

• Censorship-free, private messaging
• Communication without infrastructure
• Resilience during outages
• Independence from telecom providers

This is increasingly relevant for:

• Emergency communication
• Remote communities
• Privacy-conscious users