About this project

This repository holds the official source code of the Telegram messenger application for Android, the client distributed on Google Play as org.telegram.messenger. Telegram is described as a messaging app focused on speed and security, and the project is free to use. What the repository provides: - The complete Android client source, including native components built through the Android NDK. - Guidance for developers who want to build their own Telegram-based application using the platform API and this codebase. - Pointers to the Telegram API manuals and the MTProto protocol documentation for protocol-level work. - A localization workflow: translations are managed through the Telegram translations portal rather than in-repo resource files. Requirements and build outline: - Android Studio 2025.1.4, Android NDK 27.2.12479018, and Android SDK 36 are listed as prerequisites. - The source must be cloned recursively with submodules; the README also explains how to initialize submodules if the recursive flag was missed. - A release keystore must be placed in TMessagesProj/config, with the corresponding password, alias, and store password set in gradle.properties. - Firebase is used for messaging: two Android apps (org.telegram.messenger and org.telegram.messenger.beta) must be created in the Firebase console, and the resulting google-services.json placed alongside TMessagesProj. - The project should be opened in Android Studio rather than imported, and BuildVars.java values must be filled in, with links indicating where each value comes from. The README notes that the repository ships dummy release.keystore, google-services.json, and pre-filled BuildVars.java values to support reproducible builds; developers publishing their own APKs are told to replace these with their own files. Developer expectations stated by the project: - Obtain a personal api_id for the application. - Do not use the Telegram name in a way that implies official status, and do not use the standard Telegram logo. - Review the security guidelines and handle user data and privacy carefully. - Publish your own code as well, to comply with the licenses. Overall, this is a reference client implementation for developers who want to study or fork the Android Telegram app, or to build a compatible messaging client on top of the Telegram API and MTProto protocol.