
Psi is a user-friendly instant messaging client that makes communication a breeze. It's designed to be easy to use, even for those who are new to instant messaging.
One of the key features of Psi is its support for multiple protocols, including Jabber and IRC. This means you can connect with friends and colleagues across different platforms.
Psi's interface is clean and intuitive, making it easy to navigate and find the features you need. The client is also highly customizable, allowing you to personalize your experience.
By default, Psi is set up to connect to the Jabber server, but you can easily switch to IRC or other protocols as needed.
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Security
Security is a top priority for Psi, and it provides encryption for both client-to-server and client-to-client communication. This is achieved through the use of plugins like TLS, OpenPGP, OTR, and OMEMO.
The OMEMO plugin is particularly useful for encrypting messages in group chats, which is a great feature for keeping conversations private.
Psi's encryption options are quite robust, making it a secure choice for instant messaging.
Setup
Psi is a powerful instant messaging client that's easy to set up. It's available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it a versatile option for users with different operating systems.
To get started, you'll need to download the Psi installer from the official website. This will guide you through the installation process, which is straightforward and requires minimal user input.
Psi supports various protocols, including Jabber, ICQ, and AIM, allowing you to connect with friends and colleagues across different platforms. This flexibility is a major advantage of using Psi.
Setting Account Properties
Setting up your account requires some initial configuration. You'll need to specify your user name and password for the jabber server.
The first dialog you'll encounter should have the title "Account Properties" and a "Save" button at the bottom. If it says "Register Account" and has a "Register" button at the bottom, you might need to revisit the previous step.
To avoid confusion, make sure to clear the "Register new account" checkbox on the previous step. This will ensure the correct dialog appears with the "Save" button.
Installation

To install the program, you can follow these steps. First, you can install packages from official and unofficial repositories, ports, etc. on GNU/Linux and *BSD.
For macOS users, you can install and update official builds using Homebrew cask. This is a convenient way to keep your program up to date.
Alternatively, you can download app bundles from SourceForge and install them manually. However, keep in mind that the program doesn't have an embedded mechanism for updates, so you'll need to monitor updates yourself.
Haiku users can install the official package from HaikuPorts. This is a straightforward process that should get you up and running quickly.
MS Windows users can download official installers and portable builds from SourceForge. Again, you'll need to monitor updates yourself, as the program doesn't have an embedded update mechanism.
Here are some specific installation options for different operating systems:
Functionality
Psi offers a wide range of functionality that makes it a comprehensive instant messaging client. It supports file transfers between other XMPP clients, and it's possible to send to or receive files from other IM networks if the user's servers support this.
Psi also supports Contact Is Typing Notification, which works with Yahoo!, MSN, and AIM contacts. This feature is especially useful for keeping track of who's online and what they're doing.
The client has a highly customizable user interface, with options like "multi windows" and "all in one" modes, support for different iconsets and themes. This flexibility makes it easy to tailor the interface to your preferences.
Some of the key features of Psi include:
- Highly customizable client.
- Fast and lightweight.
- Voice calls.
- Profiles.
- Tabbed Chats.
- Group Chat (Multi User Chat).
- Service Discovery.
- Encrypted communications with SSL technology.
- File transfers between other XMPP clients.
- Advanced Features.
Psi also has support for multiple languages, with language packs for 20 languages as of 2012. This makes it accessible to users from around the world.
Features
Psi is a highly customizable client that supports most important XMPP features like file transfer, group chat, and encryption. It has a flexible user interface that allows for multiple window modes and supports different iconsets and themes.
Psi supports file sharing between other XMPP clients, and it's also possible to send or receive files from other IM networks if the user's servers support this. This feature is especially useful for sharing large files with friends or colleagues.
The client has a feature called Service Discovery that allows users to find and connect with other XMPP clients. This includes encrypted communications with SSL technology and file transfers between other XMPP clients.
Here are some of the advanced features of Psi:
- Plugins – with GnuPG, OTR, and OMEMO encryption of private messages.
- Message history browser.
- TURN proxying for voice calls.
- Spellchecking.
- Keybindings for almost every function.
Psi also supports voice calls, which can be made via Jingle, an officially supported plugin. Additionally, the client has a feature called Contact Is Typing Notification that works with Yahoo!, MSN, and AIM contacts.
Service Discovery and Room Joining
Service Discovery and Room Joining is a breeze with Jabber. To see what services are available on a Jabber server, use the pulldown menu and select "Service Discovery".
You'll be able to see existing chatrooms that others have created, making it easy to find and join a conversation that interests you. For instance, users interested in connecting to the caida chat conference would click on "caida_chat".
To join an existing conference, simply click on the name of the conference and then "Join" at the subsequent Groupchat window. Users interested in connecting to the ipn conference would see the Chatroom named "ipn", which they can select and join.
Creating a new room in Jabber is as simple as joining a chat room that doesn't exist yet.
Additional reading: Geographic Messaging Service
Development
The development of Psi is quite unique. A Psi fork named Psi+ was started in 2009 to implement new features and write patches for transferring them to the upstream project.
In 2017, all active Psi+ developers became official Psi developers, and Psi+ is now just a development branch of Psi with a rolling release development model. This means users can choose between Psi and Psi+ depending on their preferences.
Users who want to receive new features and bug fixes quickly can use Psi+ daily, while those who prefer constancy can stick with Psi, which uses a classical development model with rare releases.
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Development
Development is an ongoing process for Psi, with a fork named Psi+ started in 2009 to implement new features and write patches for upstream.
Psi+ has become a development branch of Psi with a rolling release development model, where users can receive new features and bug fixes quickly.
The development model for Psi and Psi+ is quite different, with Psi using a classical development model and releasing updates infrequently.
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Users who want to stay up-to-date with the latest features and bug fixes can use Psi+ on a daily basis.
The development model for Psi and Psi+ involves the following key points:
- Psi versions should look like: X.Y (where X and Y are not digits but numbers).
- Psi+ versions should look like: X.Y.Z (where X, Y and Z are not digits but numbers).
- All development of Psi is done in the master branch of the psi repository and its submodules.
- New release branches are detouched from the master branch, such as release-1.x or release-2.x.
- Psi plugins are developed separately, with a guaranteed compatible API for git tags.
- All translations are prepared for Psi+ project and are semi-automatically adapted for Psi.
Changes to Psi and Psi+ are thoroughly tested on Continuous Integration services, including Travis CI and Sibuserv CI.
Developers
Developers play a crucial role in shaping the Psi project. Psi is developed by a dedicated team of contributors, including Psi (the primary developer).
To contribute to the project, you can start by checking out the officially supported plugins, which are available for various tasks. These plugins can enhance the functionality of Psi and make it more user-friendly.
If you're interested in developing multimedia features for Psi, you can explore the multimedia plugin for audio and video calls. This plugin can help you create a more immersive experience for users.
For those who want to take their development skills to the next level, the Psi+ project offers a wealth of resources and tools. You can find more information about Psi+ on its official website.
Here are some resources that developers can leverage:
- Psi translations (sources)
- Officially supported plugins (sources)
- Multimedia plugin for audio and video calls (sources)
- Psi+ project (official website)
- Psi+ snapshots (sources)
- Psi+ translations (sources)
- Extra resources (iconsets, sounds, skins, themes, etc.)
History
Psi was first released in 2002, a time when instant messaging was becoming increasingly popular.
The initial version was written in C++ and was designed to be a more efficient alternative to existing clients.
It was created by Alexander Tkachenko, who aimed to make Psi a user-friendly and customizable platform.
Psi was first released as an open-source project, allowing developers to contribute to its growth and improvement.
In 2003, Psi 0.10 was released, featuring a new plugin architecture that enabled users to extend the client's functionality.
This release marked a significant milestone in Psi's development, as it allowed users to create and share custom plugins.
Psi's plugin architecture was a key factor in its success, as it enabled users to tailor the client to their specific needs.
By 2004, Psi had gained a significant user base, with thousands of users worldwide.
The client's popularity continued to grow, with new features and plugins being added regularly.
Psi's open-source nature allowed it to stay ahead of the competition, as developers could contribute to its development and improvement.
Overall, Psi's early success was due to its focus on user customization and its open-source nature.
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