Noshtastic operates as a standalone Nostr network, designed to function independently of internet-based Nostr relays. Unlike other setups that rely on gatewaying nostr events to and from internet-connected relays, Noshtastic focuses on creating a decentralized and fully self-sufficient communication network using only Meshtastic devices. This ensures reliable message synchronization even in environments without internet connectivity.
flowchart TD
CLIENT["`**Any Nostr Client**`"]
style CLIENT fill:#8fbc8f,stroke:#666,stroke-width:2px,color:#000
RELAY["`**noshtastic-relay**
localhost nostr relay`"]
style RELAY fill:#6c757d,stroke:#666,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
NOSTRDB@{ shape: lin-cyl, label: "nostrdb" }
style NOSTRDB fill:#DAA520,stroke:#666,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
SYNC["`**noshtastic-sync**
(modified negentropy)`"]
style SYNC fill:#6c757d,stroke:#666,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
LINK["`**noshtastic-link**
(encoding, fragmentation)`"]
style LINK fill:#6c757d,stroke:#666,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
MESH["`meshtastic
radio`"]
style MESH fill:#4682B4,stroke:#666,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
LORA(("`LoRa`"))
style LORA fill:#4682B4,stroke:#666,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
PEER0["`Peer
Noshtastic
Node`"]
style PEER0 fill:#4682B4,stroke:#666,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
PEER1["`Peer
Noshtastic
Node`"]
style PEER1 fill:#4682B4,stroke:#666,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
PEER2["`Peer
Noshtastic
Node`"]
style PEER2 fill:#4682B4,stroke:#666,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
CLIENT<-->|wss|RELAY
subgraph **Phone App**
RELAY<-->|api|NOSTRDB
NOSTRDB<-->|api|SYNC
SYNC<-->|api|LINK
end
LINK<-->|ble,usb|MESH
MESH<-->LORA
LORA<-.->PEER0
LORA<-.->PEER1
LORA<-.->PEER2
Noshtastic uses negentropy-based synchronization configured using geohash-specified regions. A geohash location tag is added to events intended for Noshtastic distribution:
...
{
"tags": [
...
["nosh", "9q9p1dtf1"],
...
],
}
...
Noshtastic relays are configured to synchronize messages for specific
regions. For example a noshtastic relay might cover 9q[bc89]
(the region including 9qb, 9qc, 9q8, and 9q9).
Image source: Geohash Explorer by Chris Hewett