A group of independent enthusiasts has published the Monogram project, which is developing a new open-source Telegram messenger client for the mobile platform. AndroidThe project is written in Kotlin using the Jetpack Compose declarative UI framework. The code is open-sourced under the GPLv3 license (the project also has its own Telegram channel).
The primary motivation for creating an alternative app is stated to be the need to ensure development transparency and address the accumulated issues with the original client. The project's authors note that the codebase of the official Telegram app for Android Over time, it evolved into an overly complex monolith, with its tangled code making it virtually impossible for third-party developers to understand. Furthermore, the messenger's creators' current practice of systematically slowing down source code releases has come under fire, with changes appearing in open repositories significantly delayed after binary builds are released to application directories.
An additional catalyst for the development of the independent project was the numerous criticisms of the recent redesign of the official Android- a version in which developers began aggressively implementing visual elements native to iOS (such as background blur effects and "Liquid Glass"-style translucency) while ignoring design guidelines Android.
The officially supplied TDLib (Telegram Database Library), whose core is implemented in C++, is responsible for network communication, MTProto protocol support, and end-to-end encryption in the new client. The client development itself is focused on using modern built-in platform tools, high performance, and minimizing system resource consumption.
The key features of the project include:
- The user interface is built in strict accordance with the Material Design 3 concept, which serves as the standard for native visual design. Android, combined with the use of built-in platform components for working with media files, which allows for high smoothness and a noticeable reduction in the consumption of phone resources.
- Integration of the free MapLibre mapping stack for rendering geodata and working with locations.
- Support for basic session security features, including the ability to lock an application using system biometrics.
Source: opennet.ru
