Signal has Maps?

[Ryu945]

Think link about the unofficial and open source version of Signal mentions maps in the official version. I have never seen this. What is it talking about?

https://www.twinhelix.com/apps/signal-foss/

[justsomeguy]

Signal has messy history and some open source releases. Open source forks happen.

I've degoogled Signal Messenger

Hi F-Droid, I’ve degoogled Signal Messenger’s website build so it can be compiled and runs without any Google Play Services / Firebase code, and is completely open source. Patches are available on my Github - look for the most recent branch with -FOSS in its name. I’m not distributing builds as I’m aware of the historical issues between F-Droid and Signal; this isn’t an inclusion request, on that note. Also, maps and automatic facial recognition don’t work; there’s a separate patch for OSM sup…

[Ryu945]

For example, I have never see Google Maps at all in the official Signal.

[tw-hx]

Hi, author of the fork here! I’ve updated its page to clarify: both official clients will only show maps on devices with Google Apps (GAPPS) installed in their ROM as they depend on that closed-source library. This may not be installed in third-party ROMs e.g. LineageOS – maps are blank in that case. My fork replaces it with the open source OSMDroid for an OpenStreetMap map, written by the talented Fumiakiy Yoshimatsu.

[Ryu945]

Is the Signal-FOSS version I see able to work with all Signal users? Is there any down side I should be aware of with using that app verse the official one?

[tw-hx]

It does work with all Signal users.
Downsides are potentially slower updates than mainstream Signal, and sometimes the Signal folks disapprove of unofficial clients using their service (hence the “non-free network services” anti feature).