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Welcome to OpenHerd

OpenHerd is a decentralized, anonymous, location-based message board designed for local conversation without centralized control.

It’s open source, privacy-respecting, and works without user accounts or app stores.

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What is OpenHerd?

OpenHerd is a modern, peer-to-peer alternative to platforms like Yik Yak. It uses a combination of cryptographic signatures and local broadcasting to enable anonymous, short-form messages shared within a geographic area.

There are no profiles, no ads, and no central servers.

How It Works

  1. Posts are signed with one-time PGP keys
  2. Messages propagate via libp2p and Gossipsub or via HTTP relays (/inbox, /outbox). It supports syncing across disconnected networks
  3. Location is intentionally fuzzed to preserve anonymity
  4. They're pushed all around the world

Why Use OpenHerd?

  • Open to everyone, not just college students
  • There is server or login required
  • It's private by default. Anonymous posts with no tracking
  • Designed for unstable or offline networks
  • And, it's open source. Inspect it, run it, fork it

Who It's For

  • People seeking local, anonymous communication
  • Communities hosting local-first or alt-network services
  • Developers interested in peer-to-peer messaging and location fuzzing
  • Anyone frustrated with centralized moderation, accounts, or ads

Project Status

OpenHerd is in early development. It is functional but not stable or production-ready.

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