mod_cloud_notify/README.markdown
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     5 ---
     5 ---
     6 
     6 
     7 Introduction
     7 Introduction
     8 ============
     8 ============
     9 
     9 
    10 This is an implementation of the server bits of [XEP-0357: Push Notifications].
    10 This module enables support for sending "push notifications" to clients that
    11 It allows clients to register an "app server" which is notified about new
    11 need it, typically those running on certain mobile devices.
    12 messages while the user is offline, disconnected or the session is hibernated
       
    13 by [mod_smacks]. 
       
    14 Implementation of the "app server" is not included[^1].
       
    15 
    12 
    16 **Please note: Multi client setups don't work properly if MAM is disabled and using this module won't change this at all!**
    13 As well as this module, your client must support push notifications (the apps
       
    14 that need it generally do, of course) and the app developer's push gateway
       
    15 must be reachable from your Prosody server (this happens over a normal XMPP
       
    16 server-to-server 's2s' connection).
    17 
    17 
    18 Details
    18 Details
    19 =======
    19 =======
       
    20 
       
    21 Some platforms, notably Apple's iOS and many versions of Android, impose
       
    22 limits that prevent applications from running or accessing the network in the
       
    23 background. This makes it difficult or impossible for an XMPP application to
       
    24 remain reliably connected to a server to receive messages.
       
    25 
       
    26 In order for messaging and other apps to receive notifications, the OS vendors
       
    27 run proprietary servers that their OS maintains a permanent connection to in
       
    28 the background. Then they provide APIs to application developers that allow
       
    29 sending notifications to specific devices via those servers.
       
    30 
       
    31 When you connect to your server with an app that requires push notifications,
       
    32 it will use this module to set up a "push registration". When you receive
       
    33 a message but your device is not connected to the server, this module will
       
    34 generate a notification and send it to the push gateway operated by your
       
    35 application's developers). Their gateway will then connect to your device's
       
    36 OS vendor and ask them to forward the notification to your device. When your
       
    37 device receives the notification, it will display it or wake up the app so it
       
    38 can connect to XMPP and receive any pending messages.
       
    39 
       
    40 This protocol is described for developers in [XEP-0357: Push Notifications].
       
    41 
       
    42 For this module to work reliably, you must have [mod_smacks], [mod_mam] and
       
    43 [mod_carbons] also enabled on your server.
       
    44 
       
    45 Some clients, notably Siskin and Snikket iOS need some additional extensions
       
    46 that are not currently defined in a standard XEP. To support these clients,
       
    47 see [mod_cloud_notify_extensions].
       
    48 
       
    49 Configuration
       
    50 =============
       
    51 
       
    52   Option                               Default           Description
       
    53   ------------------------------------ ----------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       
    54   `push_notification_important_body`   `New Message!`    The body text to use when the stanza is important (see above), no message body is sent if this is empty
       
    55   `push_max_errors`                    `16`              How much persistent push errors are tolerated before notifications for the identifier in question are disabled
       
    56   `push_max_devices`                   `5`               The number of allowed devices per user (the oldest devices are automatically removed if this threshold is reached)
       
    57   `push_max_hibernation_timeout`       `259200` (72h)    Number of seconds to extend the smacks timeout if no push was triggered yet (default: 72 hours)
       
    58   `push_notification_with_body` (\*)   `false`           Whether or not to send the real message body to remote pubsub node. Without end-to-end encryption, enabling this may expose your message contents to your client developers and OS vendor. Not recommended.
       
    59   `push_notification_with_sender` (\*) `false`           Whether or not to send the real message sender to remote pubsub node.  Enabling this may expose your contacts to your client developers and OS vendor. Not recommended.
       
    60 
       
    61 (\*) There are privacy implications for enabling these options.
       
    62 
       
    63 Internal design notes
       
    64 =====================
    20 
    65 
    21 App servers are notified about offline messages, messages stored by [mod_mam]
    66 App servers are notified about offline messages, messages stored by [mod_mam]
    22 or messages waiting in the smacks queue.
    67 or messages waiting in the smacks queue.
    23 The business rules outlined [here](//mail.jabber.org/pipermail/standards/2016-February/030925.html) are all honored[^2].
    68 The business rules outlined [here](//mail.jabber.org/pipermail/standards/2016-February/030925.html) are all honored[^2].
    24 
    69 
    43 body text to send to the remote pubsub node if the stanza is encrypted or has a body.
    88 body text to send to the remote pubsub node if the stanza is encrypted or has a body.
    44 This way the real contents of the message aren't revealed to the push appserver but it
    89 This way the real contents of the message aren't revealed to the push appserver but it
    45 can still see that the push is important.
    90 can still see that the push is important.
    46 This is used by Chatsecure on iOS to send out high priority pushes in those cases for example.
    91 This is used by Chatsecure on iOS to send out high priority pushes in those cases for example.
    47 
    92 
    48 Configuration
       
    49 =============
       
    50 
       
    51   Option                               Default           Description
       
    52   ------------------------------------ ----------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       
    53   `push_notification_with_body`        `false`           Whether or not to send the real message body to remote pubsub node. Without end-to-end encryption, enabling this may expose your message contents to your client developers and OS vendor. Not recommended.
       
    54   `push_notification_with_sender`      `false`           Whether or not to send the real message sender to remote pubsub node.  Enabling this may expose your contacts to your client developers and OS vendor. Not recommended.
       
    55   `push_max_errors`                    `16`              How much persistent push errors are tolerated before notifications for the identifier in question are disabled
       
    56   `push_notification_important_body`   `New Message!`    The body text to use when the stanza is important (see above), no message body is sent if this is empty
       
    57   `push_max_devices`                   `5`               The number of allowed devices per user (the oldest devices are automatically removed if this threshold is reached)
       
    58   `push_max_hibernation_timeout`       `6220800`         Number of seconds to extend the smacks timeout if no push was triggered yet (default: 72 hours)
       
    59 
       
    60 There are privacy implications for enabling these options because
       
    61 plaintext content and metadata will be shared with centralized servers
       
    62 (the pubsub node) run by arbitrary app developers.
       
    63 
       
    64 Installation
       
    65 ============
       
    66 
       
    67 Same as any other module.
       
    68 
       
    69 Configuration
       
    70 =============
       
    71 
       
    72 Configured in-band by supporting clients.
       
    73 
       
    74 Compatibility
    93 Compatibility
    75 =============
    94 =============
    76 
    95 
    77 ------ -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    96 ------ -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    78   trunk  Works
    97   trunk  Works