fmsg – An open distributed messaging protocol

Name: fmsg – An open distributed messaging protocol
Availability: InStock
Author: markmnl

by markmnl·Apr 20, 2026·5 points·0 comments

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AI Analysis

●●SolidBig BrainNiche Gem

Built-in crypto verification beats email's SPF/DKIM/DMARC patchwork.

Strengths

•DAG structure with cryptographic hashes enables peer verification without central authority
•Go implementation with Docker compose gets a full stack running in minutes
•Binary protocol design avoids HTTP's text-based inefficiencies and base64 overhead

Weaknesses

•Distributed messaging is crowded (Matrix, Nostr, ActivityPub) with no clear migration path
•Spec nearing v1.0 but adoption required before RFC — chicken-and-egg problem

Post Description

fmsg is a message definition and protocol intended as an alternative to email and IM apps. Like email it's distributed – anyone can host a server for their domain. Unlike email, messages are binary, verifiable by all peers, and linked into a DAG using cryptographic hashes. Sender verification and message integrity are built into the protocol, so you get what email needs SPF/DKIM/DMARC for out of the box.

The host implementation (fmsgd) is written in Go. There's a Docker compose setup to get a full stack running in minutes: https://github.com/markmnl/fmsg-docker

The spec is nearing v1.0: https://github.com/markmnl/fmsg — would love feedback. Send me a fmsg at @[email protected]