// Milestone v1.0.0
BenchTalks Changelog
v1.0.0 - Initial Release (February 20, 2026)
First Milestone: Production Launch
BenchTalks is now live at https://benchtalks.chat - a privacy-focused, end-to-end encrypted chat application for ephemeral conversations.
Features
Core Functionality
End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) All messages encrypted with XSalsa20-Poly1305 (TweetNaCl). 256-bit encryption keys generated client-side. Keys never touch the server. Server cannot decrypt any messages or images.
Real-Time Messaging WebSocket-based instant messaging. Unlimited users per room ,atm (tested up to 20). User join/leave notifications. Live user count display.
User Identity Username prompt on first room entry. No accounts or registration required. Anonymous by default - no tracking.
Encrypted Image Sharing Upload images up to 10MB. Images encrypted before upload. 20 images per room limit. Full-size preview and download.
Room Management One-click room creation. Shareable URLs with embedded encryption keys (this one is going to change, for bigger safety). Admin URLs with deletion rights. Rooms auto-delete after 30 days of inactivity.
Security Features
No Server-Side Decryption Server stores only encrypted blobs. Metadata stored separately from content. Admin tokens hashed with SHA-256.
Privacy by Design No user accounts or authentication. No message history stored on server. No analytics or tracking. Ephemeral by default.
Technical Highlights
Frontend: Vanilla JavaScript Backend: Node.js with Express and WebSocket SSL/TLS: HTTPS enabled with automatic certificate management
Known Limitations
No message persistence - Messages only exist in memory during session (working on an optional fix) Single server - No horizontal scaling yet.
HTTP-only WebSockets - No WSS (wss://) support yet No typing indicators - Coming in v2 Mobile UI - Functional but not optimized yet.
Browser Compatibility ✅ Desktop browsers: Operational ⚠️ Mobile browsers: Operational until proven otherwise.