Axolotl - A crossplatform signal client

Axolotl is a cross-platform Signal-compatible client for Linux and other supported environments. It is written in Go and is intended for people who want to use Signal-compatible messaging through a desktop or alternative device client. The project also supports Ubuntu Phone, Snap on Linux, and Windows, while MirrorNest lists it under the Linux platform. Its open-source license allows the software to be used and examined as an open-source project.

The client supports phone registration and contact discovery. Users can handle direct messages and group messages, with conversations stored by the application. It supports photo, video, audio, and contact attachments in both direct and group conversations. Photo and audio attachments can be previewed before use. An encrypted message store is included for locally stored conversations.

Axolotl also supports provisioning and synchronization for a desktop client. Its interface is built from a Vue.js application running in an Electron or QML WebEngineView container. The project is based on the Go textsecure package, connecting its user interface and messaging functions to a Signal-compatible client implementation. Some functions remain incomplete, including push notifications, many settings found in the Android application, and encrypted phone calls.

On MirrorNest, Axolotl fits the Security & Privacy category because it is a Signal-compatible messaging client with an encrypted message store. MirrorNest mirrors the official build directly onto its own storage and scans it for malware before publishing. The catalog entry provides a Linux-focused distribution point while preserving the software’s open-source status and its connection to the official build. Users should also be aware that attachment sending is broken in Snap because of AppArmor restrictions, and that the project has reported bugs and user-interface quirks.