Cabal CLI - Decentralized Chat Right in the Terminal

When servers are unnecessary

Imagine a chat that can't be shut down, blocked, or censored. Where messages are sent directly between participants, not through a central server. That's Cabal — a peer-to-peer communication platform, and cabal-cli is its terminal client for command-line enthusiasts.

What's in the box?

Cabal CLI is:

• 100% P2P: no intermediate servers
• Terminal interface: for those who live in the console
• Cryptography: all messages are encrypted
• Offline operation: history syncs when you reconnect

Key features

1. Quick start

Installation with one command:

npm install --global cabal

Create a new chat room ("cabal"):

cabal --new

2. Flexible chat management

• Save frequently used chats:

cabal --save cabal://ключ

• Join via QR code (webcam required):

cabal --qr

• Create convenient aliases:

cabal --alias work_chat --key cabal://ключ

3. Background mode for "seeds"

You can deploy on a VPS to keep the chat available:

cabal cabal://ключ --seed --port 7331

Technical details

The project is built on:

• JavaScript/Node.js — runs anywhere Node is available
• Cabal-core — decentralized database engine
• IPFS — for P2P connections between participants

Who is this for?

1. Developers who value privacy
2. System administrators for internal communications
3. Open-source project teams avoiding centralized platforms
4. Enthusiasts of decentralized technologies

Personal experience

After a week of using Cabal CLI I noticed:

• Fewer distracting notifications (it's still a terminal)
• The ability to have technical discussions without extra noise
• Convenience of working from anywhere without VPN

How to try it?

Join the main community chat:

npx cabal cabal://cabal.chat

Or create your own private cabal for your team. The main thing is not to lose your access key — it's your only way back into the chat!