What is Nostr and Why Should You Care?

Nostr (Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays) is a decentralized communication protocol designed for censorship-resistant message transmission.

Nostr is a protocol, designed for simplicity, that aims to create a censorship-resistant global social network.

First, why we need Nostr?

Social media has developed into a key way information flows around the world. Unfortunately, our current social media systems are broken:

Uses your attention to sell ads
Uses bizarre techniques to keep you addicted (refer to point 1)
Decides what content to show you based on a secret algorithm that you can’t inspect or change
Has complete control over who can participate and who is censored
Is overrun with spam and bots

Nostr gives you sovereignty over your digital identity.

Its key uses include:

Content Publishing:
Similar to social media, you can post messages, images, or links. Posts are visible to anyone connected to the same relays.

Censorship-resistant communication:
Since the protocol does not rely on central servers, users have full control over their messages, stored across multiple relays.

Own digital identity:
It uses cryptographic keys to identify users, eliminating the need to register with personal data.

Direct payments with Bitcoin:
Integrated with the Lightning Network, enabling fast and low-cost microtransactions. Ideal for tips, content payments, or services.

Multimedia content distribution:
Artists, musicians, and creators can share their work without depending on traditional platforms that limit earnings or impose conditions.

Privacy and security:
Communication between users can be encrypted to protect privacy.

Community building:
Users can connect to specific relays based on their interests, creating communities without centralized platform restrictions.

Persistent data storage:
While relays don’t guarantee perpetual storage, users can choose reliable relays to preserve their data.

Let’s unpack that a little:

Simple

The protocol is based on very simple & flexible event objects (which are passed around as plain JSON) and uses standard elliptic-curve cryptography for keys and signing. The only supported transport is websockets connections from clients to relays. This makes it easy to write clients and relays and promotes software diversity.

Resilient

Because Nostr doesn’t rely on a small number of trusted servers for moving or storing data, it’s very resilient. The protocol assumes that relays will disappear and allows users to connect and publish to an arbitrary number of relays that they can change over time.

Verifiable

Because Nostr accounts are based on public-key cryptography it’s easy to verify messages were really sent by the user in question.

Like HTTP or TCP-IP, Nostr is a protocol; an open standard upon which anyone can build. Nostr is not an app or service that you sign up for.

source: nostr.com

What Are Notes in Nostr?

Notes are the primary content transmitted through the Nostr protocol. They can be likened to a “tweet,” “post,” or “message.” Technically, they are events containing structured data.

Each note includes:

Unique identifier (Event ID):
Cryptographically generated to ensure each note is unique.

Event Type:
Notes are typically type 1 events (text). Other types include configuration events (0) or interaction events (e.g., likes).

Content:
Text, images, or any information the user wishes to share.

Metadata:
Additional information such as the author’s digital signature, public key, and timestamp.

Digital Signature:
Ensures the note’s authenticity, verifying it was created by the user linked to the public key.

Notes in Nostr are immutable once created, meaning they cannot be edited. However, you can post new notes to clarify, update, or remove previously shared information.

What Are Clients?

Clients are the applications you use to interact with Nostr. We could say they are “the window” to this network. Some of the most popular apps are:

Damus: A decentralized Twitter-like app for iOS.
Amethyst: An Android-optimized app similar to Damus.
Primal: Ideal for use on your browser and mobile.
Snort: Another browser-based client, intuitive and functional.
Apps Repository

How to Create Keys?

Your keys are the foundation of your identity on Nostr. Creating your keys is easy and is usually done directly from a client. However, if you prefer to do it independently from the apps offering this option, you can follow these steps:

Manual key generation: Tools like ncli or nostr-tools allow you to generate your keys directly from your computer’s terminal. These tools are available on various operating systems and are open source, which ensures greater security and control over your keys.
Using local software: If you prefer not to depend on apps that generate the keys for you, you can use programs like OpenSSL or Python libraries such as nostr-py to create and manage your keys. By generating your keys independently, you reduce the risk of a centralized app accessing or compromising your private key.

Why Choose This Option?

If you don’t trust the apps offering this feature, the advantage of creating your keys independently is that you have full control over them. You’re not relying on an external service that could store or compromise your keys. By generating your keys locally, you can store them securely and ensure that no one else has access to them.

The creation process generally involves:

Public Key: It’s like your username; you can share it so others can find you.
Private Key: It’s your secret password. Keep it in a safe place (like a password manager). If you lose it, you won’t be able to recover your account.

Once you’ve created your keys, you can use them with any Nostr client to interact with the network. Now you’re ready to start exploring the world of Nostr.

What Are Relays?

Relays are simple servers that act as intermediaries in the Nostr protocol. Their primary role is to transmit messages (notes or events) between users, enabling decentralized, censorship-resistant communication.

How Relays Work:

Message transmission:
When a user posts a note, it is sent to one or more relays they are connected to. Other users connected to the same relays can receive and read that note.

No mandatory storage:
Relays are not required to store notes permanently. Their main function is retransmission. However, some relays may maintain an event history depending on their setup.

Decentralization:
There is no central relay controlling the network. Users can choose which relays to connect to or even set up their own for more control.

Simple protocol:
Relays use HTTP or WebSocket protocols, making them lightweight and easy to implement.

The Role of Relays in Nostr:

Neutral intermediaries:
They do not interpret or validate note content. They only retransmit what they receive. Relays do not need to trust users, as notes are cryptographically signed and verified by clients.

Content distribution:
By sending notes to multiple relays, content is redundantly distributed, increasing visibility and censorship resistance.

Customizable setup:
Users can connect to public or private relays depending on their needs. Some relays specialize in specific topics, geographies, or types of content.

Optional filtering and moderation:
Some relays may implement policies to filter content (e.g., spam or undesirable material), but users can switch to other relays if they disagree with such policies.

Advantages of Relays in Nostr:

Flexibility: Connect to multiple relays simultaneously to maximize the reach of your posts.

Autonomy: By allowing anyone to run their own relay, reliance on large centralized platforms is avoided.

Privacy: You don’t need to provide personal information to connect to a relay; only your public key is needed.

Relationship Between Users and Relays:

Public Keys and Relays:
Users share their public key with relays so their notes can be associated and read by others. They also use their private key to sign notes before sending them to a relay.

Reading and Publishing:
To read content, users request events associated with certain public keys or topics from relays. To publish content, users send events (notes) to relays.

How to Set Up and Use Relays:

Relay management by topic:
Some relays specialize in specific topics or interests, so you can choose those that align with your goals.

Connect to existing Relays:
In your Nostr client, configure a list of public relays to send and receive messages.Examples of popular relays:

wss://relay.damus.io

wss://nostr-relay.wine

Run your own relay:
For greater control, set up your own relay. Relay software is open-source and lightweight, so it doesn’t require significant resources.

How to Select Relays on Nostr

Choosing the right relays depends on your goals on Nostr. You can connect to any public relay or even a private one if you have access, but a strategic selection will help you optimize your experience. Here’s a guide to selecting the right relays:

Key Factors for Choosing Relays

Relay reputation:
Research the stability and reliability of relays before connecting. Look for recommendations from the community or trusted public lists of relays.

Theme or specialization:
Some relays focus on specific topics (art, technology, Bitcoin, etc.). If you have a particular interest, look for relays that attract like-minded communities.

Censorship and policies:
Ensure the relay’s policies align with your preferences. Some relays filter content to avoid spam or harmful messages.

Speed and latency:
Relays closer geographically or with fewer users tend to be faster. If you experience delays, try local or less crowded relays.

Data persistence:
Some relays store messages permanently, while others only transmit in real time. If you want your notes to remain accessible, select relays with long-term storage policies.

Privacy:
Make sure the relay respects your privacy. For example, some relays may log IP addresses, but you can use a VPN or Tor if this concerns you.

How to Find Reliable Relays

Public Relay lists:
There are databases and websites where reliable relay lists are shared, such as GitHub or Nostr community forums.

Example: Look for lists like “awesome-nostr” on GitHub.

User recommendations:
Ask in active communities (e.g., Nostr-related Telegram or Discord groups). Users often share trustworthy and active relays they use.

Experimentation:
You can add multiple relays to your client and see which ones work best for you. Clients usually allow managing a list of relays and prioritizing some over others.

Types of Relays by Purpose

General Relays:
Example: wss://relay.damus.io, wss://nostr-relay.wine.
These are for sharing general content without thematic restrictions.

Specialized Relays:
Some focus on topics like Bitcoin, music, or local communities.
Example: A relay related to Bitcoin may be ideal if you’re seeking content and users connected to the Lightning Network.

Private Relays:
Used by groups or closed communities to share information in a controlled manner.

Relays for data storage:
If you need your notes to remain accessible long-term, look for relays that offer data persistence.

How to Determine Which Relays to Follow

Research the community:
Join active forums and groups on Nostr to discover the most popular and useful relays.

Trial and error:
Add multiple relays to your client and see which perform best in terms of speed, active community, and content relevance.

Use Relay monitoring tools:
There are tools that display activity statistics, such as the number of users and retransmitted messages.

Active Relays in your niche:
If you use Nostr to share music, look for relays where musicians and fans interact. For technical or Bitcoin-related content, choose relays focused on cryptography and technology.

How to Manage Relays in Your Nostr Client

Set up your list:
Most clients allow you to add, edit, and remove relays from the settings.

Prioritize the best Relays:
Connect first to relays with higher activity and lower latency.

Monitor performance:
If a relay stops retransmitting your notes or has latency issues, replace it with another.

Use redundant Relays:
Always connect to multiple relays to ensure your messages are distributed even if one fails.

Useful Guides:

Conclusions

Nostr is not just a technological tool; it’s a philosophy of empowerment for creators. For musicians, this means much more than a new platform: it’s an opportunity to redefine how they share their art with the world.