serhii-londar/telegram-ios

Analysis updated 2026-07-18 · repo last pushed 2021-09-23

Audience · developerComplexity · 4/5DormantLicenseSetup · hard

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      iOS messaging app
      Customizable chat platform
      Encryption and media sharing
    Tech stack
      iOS and Swift
      Xcode build tools
      Bazel build manager
    Use cases
      Build niche chat app
      Study secure messaging
      Custom community platform
    Audience
      iOS developers
      Startups
    Rules and license
      No Telegram name or logo
      Publish modified code
      Review security guidelines

mindmap root((repo)) What it does iOS messaging app Customizable chat platform Encryption and media sharing Tech stack iOS and Swift Xcode build tools Bazel build manager Use cases Build niche chat app Study secure messaging Custom community platform Audience iOS developers Startups Rules and license No Telegram name or logo Publish modified code Review security guidelines

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Build a custom invite-only chat app for a specific community using Telegram's interface.

USE CASE 2

Study how a large-scale secure messaging app handles encryption and media sharing.

USE CASE 3

Create a branded messaging app by customizing the UI and adding unique features.

USE CASE 4

Experiment with iOS build tools like Bazel on a real-world production project.

What is it built with?

iOSSwiftXcodeBazel

How does it compare?

	serhii-londar/telegram-ios	0verflowme/alarm-clock	0xhassaan/nn-from-scratch
Stars	—	—	0
Language	—	CSS	Python
Last pushed	2021-09-23	2022-10-03	—
Maintenance	Dormant	Dormant	—
Setup difficulty	hard	easy	moderate
Complexity	4/5	2/5	4/5
Audience	developer	vibe coder	developer

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · hard Time to first run · 1h+

Requires a Mac with specific versions of Xcode and Bazel, plus your own API keys and configuration files to make the app functional.

You can use and modify the code, but you must publish your modified version, avoid using the Telegram name or logo, and follow their security guidelines.

In plain English

This repository contains the source code for the official Telegram messaging app on iOS. It lets developers download, study, modify, and build their own version of the Telegram iPhone app. The main benefit is that instead of writing a chat application from scratch, a developer can start with a fully-featured, production-ready foundation and customize it to fit their needs. To get the app running, a developer downloads the code to a Mac computer and uses Apple's Xcode software to compile it. The project relies on a tool called Bazel to manage the build process, which essentially assembles all the raw code into a finished, working application. A helper script is included to simplify this process, but the developer still needs to provide their own API key and configuration files to make the app functional. This project is intended for developers who want to create a custom messaging experience. For example, a startup might use this code to build a niche, invite-only chat app for a specific community, keeping Telegram's familiar interface but adding unique features. Another developer might simply want to explore how a large-scale, secure messaging app handles features like encryption and media sharing. Telegram has a few specific rules for anyone using this code. You cannot name your custom app "Telegram" or use their standard logo, so users know your version is unofficial. You are also required to review their security guidelines to protect user privacy and to publish your own modified code, since the license requires it. Building the app also requires specific versions of Xcode and Bazel, though the included tools can help bypass those exact requirements if needed.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1

I want to build a custom iOS messaging app based on the Telegram iOS source code. Walk me through the steps to clone the repo, set up Bazel, and open the project in Xcode for the first build.

Prompt 2

Help me understand what configuration files and API keys I need to provide before the Telegram iOS app will compile and run on my iPhone.

Prompt 3

I need to rebrand the Telegram iOS app for my own startup. What parts of the codebase should I change to replace the app name, logo, and colors while keeping the chat functionality intact?

Prompt 4

What are the licensing requirements if I modify and distribute a custom version of the Telegram iOS app, and how do I make sure I comply with their security guidelines?

Frequently asked questions

What is telegram-ios?

The full source code for Telegram's official iPhone chat app. Developers can download, customize, and build their own version of a secure messaging app instead of starting from scratch.

Is telegram-ios actively maintained?

Dormant — no commits in 2+ years (last push 2021-09-23).

What license does telegram-ios use?

You can use and modify the code, but you must publish your modified version, avoid using the Telegram name or logo, and follow their security guidelines.

How hard is telegram-ios to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated hard, with roughly 1h+ to a first successful run.

Who is telegram-ios for?

Mainly developer.

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