What Is the Erlang Implementation of the Cable Protocol for Cabal?

Updated

Cabal is a private, peer-to-peer chat platform for friends and communities that works offline, built by volunteers and without owners. The Cable protocol it uses has been implemented independently in Erlang by a project friend known as Cryptix. That implementation, called caberl, includes both a node implementation and an early TUI (terminal user interface) client, and it is hosted at https://git.sr.ht/~cryptix/caberl/. This matters because it demonstrates that Cable is not tied to a single programming language ecosystem — the protocol can be implemented in any language, which opens the door to clients and nodes beyond the original stack.

What the Erlang implementation includes

According to the project's 2025 end-of-year update, the Erlang work covers two pieces:

  • A node implementation — the part that participates in the peer-to-peer network.
  • An early TUI client — a terminal-based way to interact with it, described as early, so expect rough edges rather than a finished app.

The source lives at https://git.sr.ht/~cryptix/caberl/. The update credits Cryptix as "a good friend of the project," which is consistent with Cabal's framing as a volunteer effort without owners.

Why a second-language implementation is notable

Cabal describes Cable as a protocol that "can be implemented in any programming language ecosystem." The Erlang implementation is a concrete example of that claim rather than just an aspiration. For anyone evaluating Cabal, the practical implication is:

  • The chat network is defined by a protocol, not by one app.
  • Independent implementations can appear in different languages and runtimes.
  • A terminal client is possible, which fits Cabal's stated goal of being usable in alternative terminal browsers and by security-minded people who avoid JavaScript.

How to look at it

If you want to inspect or try the Erlang work:

  1. Open https://git.sr.ht/~cryptix/caberl/.
  2. Look for the node implementation and the TUI client as separate components.
  3. Treat the TUI client as early — the project itself labels it that way, so don't expect a polished end-user experience yet.

If your interest is Cabal generally rather than Erlang specifically, the main project site is cabal.chat, where the download and the 2025 end-of-year update are linked. The update also notes a redesigned website, not yet launched on the main domain, with a preview hosted by Codeberg at https://cabal.codeberg.page/.