Blink

Blink is a mature open source real-time communication application that can be used on different operating systems, based on the IETF SIP standard. It offers audio, video, instant messaging and desktop sharing. It supports end-to-end asynchronous messaging and end-to-end encryption which works both online (OTR) and offline (OpenPGP).

1. Install Nix

   Arch Linux

   Bash

   $ pacman --sync --refresh --noconfirm curl git jq nix

   Debian

   Bash

   $ apt install --yes curl git jq nix

   Ubuntu

   Bash

   $ apt install --yes curl git jq nix

2. Download a configuration file

   # default.nix
   {
     ngipkgs ? import (fetchTarball "https://github.com/ngi-nix/ngipkgs/tarball/main") { },
   }:
   ngipkgs.demo-shell (
     { ... }:
     {
       programs.blink.enable = true;
     }
   
   )
   

   Download
3. Enable binary substituters

   Bash

   $ export NIX_CONFIG='substituters = https://cache.nixos.org/ https://ngi.cachix.org/
   trusted-public-keys = cache.nixos.org-1:6nchdd59x431o0gwypbmraurkbj16zpmqfgspcdshjy= ngi.cachix.org-1:n+cal72roc3qqulxihpv+tw5t42whxmmhpragkrsrow='

4. Build and run a virtual machine

   Arch Linux, Debian Sid and Ubuntu 25.04

   Bash

   $ nix-build ./default.nix && ./result

   Debian 12 and Ubuntu 24.04/24.10

   Bash

   $ rev=$(nix-instantiate --eval --attr sources.nixpkgs.rev https://github.com/ngi-nix/ngipkgs/archive/master.tar.gz | jq --raw-output)

   $ nix-shell -I nixpkgs=https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/archive/$rev.tar.gz --packages nix --run "nix-build ./default.nix && ./result"

5. Usage Instructions

   An environment with Blink installed.

   Try running blink! It should either open the application as a window, or add an entry to your desktop's indicator bar.

{ ... }:
{
  programs.blink.enable = true;
}

This project is funded by NLnet through these subgrants:

• BlinkRELOAD
• Blink-OTR-OpenPGP
• Blink-Windows