Updated
Updated · Hackaday · Jun 10
Haiku OS Gains Native LoRa Chat Client With USB-Serial Radio Support
Updated
Updated · Hackaday · Jun 10

Haiku OS Gains Native LoRa Chat Client With USB-Serial Radio Support

1 articles · Updated · Hackaday · Jun 10

Summary

  • Sestriere brings Haiku OS a fully native MeshCore chat client, giving the BeOS-derived system desktop access to LoRa mesh messaging.
  • USB-serial LoRa radios — including ESP32-based devices — can serve as the modem, letting the app connect through widely available hardware.
  • The client goes beyond basic text with emojis, reaction GIFs and Codec2 voice messages, a broader feature set than many LoRa chat tools offer.
  • Built-in node mapping overlays contacts on OpenStreetMap and color-codes link quality, while a Wireshark-style packet sniffer exposes mesh traffic in detail.
  • Desktop LoRa applications remain uncommon, making Sestriere a notable addition both for Haiku users and for MeshCore-based networking on PCs.

Insights

Can voice and GIFs be practical on low-bandwidth LoRa, or is this new chat client promising too much?
Could this niche chat app spark a desktop revolution for communication completely independent of the internet?
Is a 30-year-old OS architecture the key to unlocking the future of decentralized, off-grid communication?