# torlando-tech/columba

Native Android messaging app using Bluetooth LE, TCP, or RNode (LoRa) over LXMF and Reticulum

Repository: https://github.com/torlando-tech/columba
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/columba
Homepage: https://columba.network/
Language: Kotlin
License: MPL-2.0
License Family: copyleft
Topics: ble, mesh-networks, off-grid, privacy, reticulum, rns, lora, lxmf
Last push: 2026-09-01T01:23:07+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 82/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 100, release rhythm 93, longevity 22
- inputs: {"age_days": 315, "days_push": 2, "days_rel": 44, "gap_med": 7, "n_releases_24m": 14}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1116, forks 117 (observed 2026-09-01T02:14:08.071888+00:00)

## What it is
Columba is a native Android messaging and voice call app for the Reticulum network, sending LXMF messages and making LXST calls without internet, cell towers, or central servers. It supports multiple transports including Bluetooth LE, WiFi, LoRa via RNode, and TCP, with end-to-end encryption and on-device cryptographic identities.

## Use cases
- send encrypted messages without internet or cell service
- make voice calls over a LoRa mesh network
- chat with nearby devices over Bluetooth LE
- share location offline with a map view
- browse NomadNetwork pages over Reticulum
- migrate messaging identities between devices or from Sideband
- communicate during disasters or network outages

## When to choose
- you need off-grid, infrastructure-free encrypted communication on Android
- you want to join or build a Reticulum/LXMF mesh with LoRa, BLE, WiFi, or TCP transports
- you value privacy with no accounts, phone numbers, or central servers
- you need offline maps and location sharing in the field

## When to avoid
- you need to message people on SMS, WhatsApp, or mainstream networks
- you require iOS or desktop support
- you want a hosted service with server-side backups and multi-device sync
- your contacts are not on the Reticulum network

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: active
- function: chatbot, cryptography, networking, p2p, security, geospatial
- domain: messaging-platforms, privacy, networking, censorship-circumvention, android-tools, self-hosted
- platform: jvm
- tags: reticulum, lxmf, lora, mesh-messaging, off-grid, bluetooth-le, rnode, voice-calls, e2e-encryption, material-design-3, android, mobile

## Member repositories
- torlando-tech/columba (main) score 82

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-09-01T02:14:08.071888+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T06:50:10.057580+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/torlando-tech/columba (fetched 2026-09-01T02:14:08.071888+00:00, sha a0a4a1697e65)
  - homepage: https://columba.network/ (fetched 2026-08-29T12:52:54.782949+00:00, sha 40b078df327f)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.