// software
Reticulum is the network layer. On top of it run apps and tools that let you chat, send files, run nodes or explore the network further. This page helps you choose where to start.
| App | Platform | Suitable for | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ratspeak | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS (beta) | Everyone | ratspeak.org |
| Sideband | Android, Windows, macOS, Linux | Android + RNode via Bluetooth | unsigned.io |
| MeshChat | Windows, macOS, Linux | Desktop users | GitHub |
| Nomad Network | Linux, macOS (terminal) | Advanced users | GitHub |
If you are new, start with Ratspeak. The app is built in Rust with its own implementation of the Reticulum protocol (rsReticulum) and LXMF (rsLXMF).
You can use it to send LXMF messages, share files, experiment with peer-to-peer voice calls and play simple turn-based games over the mesh.
| Language | Rust |
| Protocol stack | rsReticulum + rsLXMF + rsLXST (voice) |
| Version | v1.0.6 |
| iOS | Beta via TestFlight |
| TCP servers | 1.ratspeak.org:4141, 2.ratspeak.org:4242, 3.ratspeak.org:4343 |
Android and desktop builds are on the download page. Not available through the Play Store.
LXMF messaging client with location sharing, remote monitoring and direct Bluetooth RNode support. Available as an APK for Android and as a desktop application. Sideband runs on the Python reference implementation of Reticulum.
A good choice if you mainly want to use Android with an RNode or have been using Reticulum for a while.
Desktop chat client by Liam Cottle. Messages, photos, voice messages, files and audio calls. Automatically runs a Reticulum instance in the background, so you do not have to start rnsd separately.
Handy if you mainly want to chat from a desktop and configure as little as possible.
Terminal-based LXMF client and node browser. You can chat, host pages and explore the network with it. Runs well on servers and Raspberry Pis without a graphical environment.
Ratdeck and Ratcom are firmware projects that turn ESP32-S3 LoRa handhelds into standalone Reticulum mesh nodes. They run microReticulum and speak LXMF natively: the device in your hand is the node. You do not need a phone, laptop or separate RNode dongle.
| Device | Hardware | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Ratdeck | LilyGO T-Deck Plus | 320x240 IPS display, QWERTY keyboard, trackball, SX1262 LoRa, battery, optional GPS |
| Ratcom | M5Stack Cardputer | Smaller, fits in your pocket. Same protocol. |
Both devices speak the same Reticulum/LXMF protocol and can reach each other when their radio settings and paths match. Firmware can be flashed via the web flasher.
Beneath the apps runs a layer of protocols and command-line tools. You do not need to start here. If you want to run a node or experiment yourself, you will need them.
| Component | What it does | Installation |
|---|---|---|
| RNS | Reticulum Network Stack. Includes rnsd, rnstatus, rnpath, rnprobe, rncp, rnsh, rnodeconf. | pip install rns |
| LXMF | Messaging protocol on top of Reticulum. Direct delivery, store-and-forward, attachments. | pip install lxmf |
| rsReticulum | Rust implementation of Reticulum. Basis of Ratspeak and the rnsd-rs daemon. | cargo build |
| rsLXMF | Rust implementation of LXMF. Basis of the lxmd-rs daemon and Ratspeak messaging. | cargo build |
| rsLXST | Experimental Rust telephony stack. Voice calls in Ratspeak run on this. | part of Ratspeak |
The Python (RNS/LXMF) and Rust (rsReticulum/rsLXMF) implementations are independent of each other, but speak the same protocol. So a Ratspeak client talks to a Sideband client, and an rnsd-rs node works together with a Python rnsd node.