Current Projects
This is a summary of ongoing activities at Toronto Mesh.
Want to learn more? Come chat with us at
#tomesh:tomesh.net
or attend a meetup!
Node Technology and Mesh Applications
Community Networks and Outreach
Collaboration Tools
Node Technology and Mesh Applications
Prototype Mesh Node
The Prototype Mesh Node started as an installation script used to set network interfaces in mesh mode and install a variety of software to experiment with cjdns routing and peer-to-peer applications on Raspberry Pis.
The Prototype Node now supports many single-board computers (SBCs) for similar use cases, and it offers a convenient way to install:
- cjdns
- InterPlanetary File System (IPFS)
- Secure Scuttlebutt (SSB)
- Network monitoring and configuration tools (Grafana and Prometheus, among others)
Status: Always in Beta
This project will keep being actively developed to support ongoing research work and experimentation. It has been forked by many groups for their own single-board computer mesh network projects.
Skills
Single-board computers, shell scripts, technical documentation, Debian systems, network configuration, test automation on ARM devices, cjdns, peer-to-peer applications.
Mesh Orange
Mesh Orange is a small Debian-based operating system image that runs on single-board computers (SBCs), turning them into easily configurable mesh nodes.
The custom build system allows us to create custom images for workshops, and we expect this to become the base operating system for production mesh nodes, with features such as over-the-air updates and reliable long-term operation.
Status: Alpha
Mesh Orange gets new features as new use cases come up. Raspberry Pi and Orange Pi Zero boards are supported (board support is not as extensive as with the Prototype Mesh Node).
Skills
Single-board computers, shell scripts, technical documentation, Debian systems, network configuration, test automation on ARM devices, building operating systems for embedded targets.
Meshstream
Meshstream is a collection of software and hardware demonstrating peer-to-peer and multimedia applications running over a wireless mesh network that is completely isolated from the Internet.
Meshstream demonstrates:
- Live video streaming over content addressable storage (IPFS)
- Sharing multimedia content over a peer-to-peer social network (SSB)
- Mesh networking over long-range wireless links using open hardware (LibreRouter)
Status: Alpha
Demo-quality software tested on LibreRouter prototype hardware.
Skills
Flashing routers, OpenWrt, network configuration, programming peer-to-peer applications, shell scripts, web applications, WebSockets, JavaScript, single-board computers, technical documentations, web design, User Experience.
Mapping & Monitoring Tools
Software that runs on a Raspberry Pi and can be provisioned for cloud providers to monitor real-time status of the mesh network.
The monitored data includes geolocation mapping on a web interface with real-time information reported from nodes, and showing the topology of a mesh network on a geographical map. This will be packaged in a way that makes it very easy for other mesh networks to adapt to their own monitoring needs.
Status: Concept
Lead required to further develop proof-of-concept work.
Skills
DevOps, Terraform, Docker, Prometheus, mapping, data visualization, networking, web design, Google Maps, Open Street Maps, shell scripts, python, cjdns.
Community Networks and Outreach
Test Deployments
The primary driver for Toronto Mesh is to empower people to create spaces in which they can make decisions about the way they create, share, and access information. We are building the tools and know-how for people looking to build a community network.
Status: Planning
We are setting up our first few permanent test nodes.
Skills
Network planning, radios, network configurations, community outreach, mechanical design, electrical expertise, working with building management.
Visit our chat #tomesh:tomesh.net or attend a meetup to find out more!
Building The Peer-to-Peer Internet Workshop
An open-source syllabus that aims to provide hands-on training and social context of decentralized systems, including mesh networks and peer-to-peer applications.
Each session in the syllabus can be offered as a stand-alone module.
We have completed one full series at the Toronto Public Library.
Status: Beta
Efforts are underway to improve reproducibility and packaging.
Skills
Curriculum development, moderating and facilitating discussions, wired and wireless networks, hardware sourcing.
tomeshnet/p2p-internet-workshop
Collaboration Tools
Toronto Mesh Website
The primary digital space for people to learn about Toronto Mesh. It represents the current focus of our organization and aims to be accessible to diverse audiences.
Status: Production (live)
Work is ongoing in order to integrate provisioning tools and serve the website through decentralized protocols such as cjdns, IPFS, and Dat.
Skills
Web design, user research, JavaScript, Terraform, peer-to-peer hosting, HTML, CSS, Ruby, DevOps.
Toronto Mesh Infrastructure
Our tools and infrastructure, such as the Matrix chat and website, are available for other groups to adapt and use to support their own mesh network.
Status: Production (live)
Need experienced DevOps lead.
Skills
Terraform, Docker, DevOps.
Visit the Tools Transfer Guide for an overview of our infrastructure assets.
Meshbot
The chatbot used on our Matrix chat to send event reminders and answer basic questions about the mesh.
Status: Production (live)
Skills
Programming, user research, technical documentation
IPFS Live Streaming
A live streaming solution built with IPFS that uses Terraform to spin up a cluster on Digital Ocean.
Work on this project began with Toronto Mesh members experimenting with HTTP Live Streaming on the IPFS network. This evolved into a production setup in order to support the live stream at Our Networks 2018. The repository now contains documentation and all the necessary software to live stream a small conference, complete with authenticated publishing to a Real-Time Messaging Protocol endpoint and embeddable video players tested on desktop and mobile browsers.
Status: Production
Skills
Live video streaming, FFmpeg, Terraform, shell scripts, DevOps, web design.