Backchannels
End-to-end encrypted chat channels inside Scape — shared-password group rooms and 1:1 buddy rooms with AIM-style mutual-add.
Backchannels are end-to-end encrypted chat channels built into Scape. Use them for real-time communication with teammates without leaving the app. There are two types:
- Shared-password rooms — group chats where anyone with the password can join.
- Buddy rooms — 1:1 direct messages between two users, created via mutual buddy-code exchange.
Backchannels appear in the Helm sidebar alongside your sessions and projects.
Buddy codes
Scape uses an AIM-style mutual-add system for 1:1 chats. Each user has a buddy code — a buddy1... bech32m-encoded X25519 public key, synced across your Macs via iCloud Keychain.
To start a 1:1 conversation:
- Share your buddy code with a teammate.
- Paste their buddy code into Scape.
- Once both sides have added each other, a 1:1 encrypted room is created via Diffie-Hellman key exchange.
You can also join rooms via scape://join deep links.
Presence
The sidebar shows three-state presence for each buddy:
- Online — actively using Scape
- Offline — not currently active
- Unknown — presence status unavailable
Agent access
AI agents can read and post to backchannels via MCP tools:
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
list_backchannels | List all rooms with name, type, and online count |
post_backchannel | Post a message to a room (as an agent) |
Agents cannot create, join, or leave rooms — only humans manage room membership.