hitchhiking.org
We are hitchhiking geeks building moneyless, free and open-source projects that help people share knowledge and meet in real life.
Chat
Hitchat connects the Hitchhiking community across Matrix and Signal. Hitchwiki and Trustroots members can read recent messages directly on this site.
The room is #hitchat:hitchhiking.org. It is managed by the hitchhiking.org team and bridged two ways with the community Signal group using the mautrix-signal project.
Signal, Matrix and Nostr(oots)
| Signal | Matrix | Nostr(oots) |
|---|---|---|
| Community group | Federated room | Hitchwiki or Trustroots identity |
| Messages bridge both ways with Matrix | Messages bridge both ways with Signal | Does not carry room messages |
| Use the Signal app | Use any compatible Matrix client | Use a browser NIP-07 signer with a valid @hitchwiki.org or @trustroots.org NIP-05 |
Meta
Discuss technical and organizational matters in the on-site Meta room or directly on Matrix at #meta:hitchhiking.org. This includes how the chat, bridges, websites and other community infrastructure should evolve.
Federation, not a separate chat
Someone with @alex:matrix.org, or an account on any other compatible homeserver, can join the same room. Participating Matrix servers synchronise that room; no Hitchhiking account or Nostr identity is required for direct Matrix access.
The room does not need a duplicate on matrix.org just to include matrix.org users.
What the Nostr check does
The web chat page automatically uses a browser NIP-07 signer and verifies that its key currently matches an @hitchwiki.org or @trustroots.org NIP-05 identity. After a private one-time authorization, the page shows recent room messages.
The check controls the on-site timeline only. It does not make the Matrix room private and does not create a Matrix account.
How messages reach the page
The browser never receives Matrix credentials. After NIP-05 verification, a same-origin backend uses a non-admin Matrix reader account to return bounded recent timelines from Hitchat, Meta and Test containing plain text, notices and emotes.
#meta:hitchhiking.org and #test:hitchhiking.org accept web messages through @webchat:hitchhiking.org. That account is joined only to Meta and Test, never Hitchat. Each web message links to the verified Trustroots profile, or the Hitchwiki user page once Hitchwiki NIP-05 is ready.
Hitchat and Meta messages are deleted after 28 days. In Test, messages without reactions are deleted after 24 hours; any supported reaction keeps a message for up to 28 days. The selected room shows this policy next to its description.
Supported Matrix reactions are shown with their counts, and signed-in readers can add reactions in Meta and Test. Membership changes, encrypted events, media, edits and redactions are not rendered on the page. To post in Hitchat or use complete room features, use a Matrix client or the Signal group.
Privacy and responsibility
Participating homeservers keep a copy of events for their users in a room. The hitchhiking.org team can apply its own policies to accounts and rooms it administers, but cannot control other homeservers or their users. Nostr private keys stay with the signer and Matrix credentials stay on the server.
Free software, rights and attribution
The original hitchhiking.org software is free software, licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License, version 3 or later: (c) 2025–2026 guaka and till. The source release is prepared for github.com/hitchwiki/hitchhiking.org.
The background photograph, Hitchhiker in Luxembourg, 1977, is by Roger McLassus and is used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The map credits OpenStreetMap contributors, CARTO, and the waiting-time visualization by Till Wenke.
Hitchwiki-family artwork is project-controlled and included with the source release. Project names and logos can also be trademarks and may not be used to imply endorsement. Signal and the Signal logo are trademarks of Signal Technology Foundation; Signal's trademark notice applies. No Signal endorsement is implied.