# signal-cli
signal-cli is a commandline interface for [libsignal-service-java](https://github.com/WhisperSystems/libsignal-service-java). It supports registering, verifying, sending and receiving messages.
-To be able to link to an existing Signal-Android/signal-cli instance, signal-cli uses a [patched libsignal-service-java](https://github.com/AsamK/libsignal-service-java), because libsignal-service-java does not yet support [provisioning as a slave device](https://github.com/WhisperSystems/libsignal-service-java/pull/21).
+To be able to link to an existing Signal-Android/signal-cli instance, signal-cli uses a [patched libsignal-service-java](https://github.com/AsamK/libsignal-service-java), because libsignal-service-java does not yet support [provisioning as a linked device](https://github.com/WhisperSystems/libsignal-service-java/pull/21).
For registering you need a phone number where you can receive SMS or incoming calls.
-signal-cli is primarily intended to be used on servers to notify admins of important events. For this use-case, it has a dbus interface, that can be used to send messages from any programming language that has dbus bindings.
+signal-cli is primarily intended to be used on servers to notify admins of important events. For this use-case, it has a dbus interface ([man page](https://github.com/AsamK/signal-cli/blob/master/man/signal-cli-dbus.5.adoc)), that can be used to send messages from any programming language that has dbus bindings.
+It also has a JSON-RPC based interface, see the [documentation](https://github.com/AsamK/signal-cli/wiki/JSON-RPC-service) for more information.
## Installation
-You can [build signal-cli](#building) yourself, or use the [provided binary files](https://github.com/AsamK/signal-cli/releases/latest), which should work on Linux, macOS and Windows. For Arch Linux there is also a [package in AUR](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/signal-cli/) and there is a [FreeBSD port](https://www.freshports.org/net-im/signal-cli) available as well. You need to have at least JRE 8 installed, to run signal-cli.
+You can [build signal-cli](#building) yourself, or use the [provided binary files](https://github.com/AsamK/signal-cli/releases/latest), which should work on Linux, macOS and Windows. For Arch Linux there is also a [package in AUR](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/signal-cli/) and there is a [FreeBSD port](https://www.freshports.org/net-im/signal-cli) available as well.
+
+System requirements:
+- at least Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 11
+- native libraries: libzkgroup, libsignal-client
+
+ Those are bundled for x86_64 Linux (with recent enough glibc, see #643), for other systems/architectures see: [Provide native lib for libsignal](https://github.com/AsamK/signal-cli/wiki/Provide-native-lib-for-libsignal)
### Install system-wide on Linux
See [latest version](https://github.com/AsamK/signal-cli/releases).
## Usage
-Important: The USERNAME (your phone number) must include the country calling code, i.e. the number must start with a "+" sign. (See [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_country_calling_codes) for a list of all country codes.)
+For a complete usage overview please read the [man page](https://github.com/AsamK/signal-cli/blob/master/man/signal-cli.1.adoc) and the [wiki](https://github.com/AsamK/signal-cli/wiki).
+
+Important: The USERNAME is your phone number in international format and must include the country calling code. Hence it should start with a "+" sign. (See [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_country_calling_codes) for a list of all country codes.)
* Register a number (with SMS verification)
signal-cli -u USERNAME register
-
- You can register Signal using a land line number. In this case you can skip SMS verification process and jump directly to the voice call verification by adding the --voice switch at the end of above register command.
+
+ You can register Signal using a land line number. In this case you can skip SMS verification process and jump directly to the voice call verification by adding the `--voice` switch at the end of above register command.
+
+ Registering may require solving a CAPTCHA challenge: [Registration with captcha](https://github.com/AsamK/signal-cli/wiki/Registration-with-captcha)
* Verify the number using the code received via SMS or voice, optionally add `--pin PIN_CODE` if you've added a pin code to your account
* Pipe the message content from another process.
uname -a | signal-cli -u USERNAME send RECIPIENT
-
+
* Receive messages
signal-cli -u USERNAME receive
-For more information read the [man page](https://github.com/AsamK/signal-cli/blob/master/man/signal-cli.1.adoc) and the [wiki](https://github.com/AsamK/signal-cli/wiki).
+**Hint**: The Signal protocol expects that incoming messages are regularly received (using `daemon` or `receive` command).
+This is required for the encryption to work efficiently and for getting updates to groups, expiration timer and other features.
## Storage
The password and cryptographic keys are created when registering and stored in the current users home directory:
-`$XDG_DATA_HOME/signal-cli/data/` (`$HOME/.local/share/signal-cli/data/`)
-
-For legacy users, the old config directories are used as a fallback:
-
- $HOME/.config/signal/data/
-
- $HOME/.config/textsecure/data/
+ $XDG_DATA_HOME/signal-cli/data/
+ $HOME/.local/share/signal-cli/data/
## Building
./gradlew build
-3. Create shell wrapper in *build/install/signal-cli/bin*:
+ 3a. Create shell wrapper in *build/install/signal-cli/bin*:
./gradlew installDist
-4. Create tar file in *build/distributions*:
+ 3b. Create tar file in *build/distributions*:
./gradlew distTar
-## Troubleshooting
-If you use a version of the Oracle JRE and get an InvalidKeyException you need to enable unlimited strength crypto. See https://stackoverflow.com/questions/6481627/java-security-illegal-key-size-or-default-parameters for instructions.
+ 3c. Compile and run signal-cli:
+
+ ./gradlew run --args="--help"
+
+### Building a native binary with GraalVM (EXPERIMENTAL)
+
+It is possible to build a native binary with [GraalVM](https://www.graalvm.org).
+This is still experimental and will not work in all situations.
+
+1. [Install GraalVM and setup the enviroment](https://www.graalvm.org/docs/getting-started/#install-graalvm)
+2. [Install prerequisites](https://www.graalvm.org/reference-manual/native-image/#prerequisites)
+3. Execute Gradle:
+
+ ./gradlew nativeCompile
+
+ The binary is available at *build/native/nativeCompile/signal-cli*
+
+## FAQ and Troubleshooting
+For frequently asked questions and issues have a look at the [wiki](https://github.com/AsamK/signal-cli/wiki/FAQ)
## License
git.nmode.ca / signal-cli / blobdiff
