Pros of Telegram

• Official repository maintained by the Telegram team
• More frequent updates and new feature implementations
• Potentially better integration with Telegram's servers and services

Cons of Telegram

• Includes proprietary components and closed-source elements
• May contain tracking or analytics code not present in FOSS version
• Less transparent development process

Code Comparison

Telegram:

public class TelegramApplication extends Application {
    @Override
    public void onCreate() {
        super.onCreate();
        NativeLoader.initNativeLibs(ApplicationLoader.applicationContext);
        ConnectionsManager.native_setJava(false);
    }
}

Telegram-FOSS:

public class TelegramApplication extends Application {
    @Override
    public void onCreate() {
        super.onCreate();
        NativeLoader.initNativeLibs(ApplicationLoader.applicationContext);
        ConnectionsManager.native_setJava(true);
    }
}

The main difference in this code snippet is the ConnectionsManager.native_setJava() call, where Telegram-FOSS sets it to true, potentially indicating a preference for Java implementations over native code for certain functionalities.

Telegram-FOSS focuses on providing a fully open-source version of the Telegram client, removing proprietary components and potential tracking code. While it may lag behind the official repository in terms of features and updates, it offers greater transparency and control over the application's behavior.

Pros of Telegram-iOS

• Official iOS client, ensuring full compatibility with Telegram's features
• Regular updates and support from the Telegram team
• Optimized performance for iOS devices

Cons of Telegram-iOS

• Closed-source, limiting transparency and community contributions
• May include proprietary components or tracking mechanisms
• Less customizable compared to FOSS alternatives

Code Comparison

Telegram-iOS (Swift):

override func viewDidLoad() {
    super.viewDidLoad()
    self.navigationItem.leftBarButtonItem = UIBarButtonItem(title: "Back", style: .plain, target: self, action: #selector(backButtonPressed))
}

Telegram-FOSS (Java):

@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
    getSupportActionBar().setDisplayHomeAsUpEnabled(true);
}

The code snippets show differences in language and platform-specific implementations. Telegram-iOS uses Swift and UIKit, while Telegram-FOSS uses Java and Android's SDK. Both examples demonstrate setting up navigation elements, but with different approaches tailored to their respective platforms.

Pros of tdesktop

• Official desktop client developed by Telegram, ensuring faster updates and better integration with the Telegram ecosystem
• Supports a wider range of platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux
• More feature-rich, with advanced customization options and better performance

Cons of tdesktop

• Not fully open-source, as it includes some proprietary components
• Less focus on privacy and security compared to Telegram-FOSS
• Larger file size and potentially higher resource usage

Code Comparison

Telegram-FOSS (Android):

@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
    // FOSS-specific initialization
}

tdesktop (Desktop):

void MainWindow::initWindow() {
    setWindowTitle(qsl("Telegram"));
    initSystemTray();
    updateGlobalMenu();
    // tdesktop-specific initialization
}

The code snippets show different initialization approaches for the main window or activity in each project, reflecting their respective platforms and architectures.

Pros of td

• Cross-platform C++ library for building Telegram clients
• Provides low-level API access for custom Telegram client development
• Supports multiple programming languages through bindings

Cons of td

• Requires more development effort to create a full-featured client
• Steeper learning curve for developers new to Telegram API
• May need additional components for a complete messaging application

Code Comparison

td:

auto client = td::Client::create();
client->send({1, td_api::make_object<td_api::getChats>()});

Telegram-FOSS:

TLRPC.TL_messages_getDialogs req = new TLRPC.TL_messages_getDialogs();
ConnectionsManager.getInstance().sendRequest(req, (response, error) -> {
    // Handle response
});

Summary

td is a powerful library for building custom Telegram clients with low-level API access, while Telegram-FOSS is a full-featured, open-source Telegram client. td offers more flexibility and cross-platform support but requires more development effort. Telegram-FOSS provides a ready-to-use application but may have limitations in customization. The choice between the two depends on the specific needs of the project and the developer's expertise in working with Telegram's API.

Pros of signal-cli

• Command-line interface allows for easy scripting and automation
• Supports multiple accounts and devices
• More focused on privacy and security features

Cons of signal-cli

• Limited graphical user interface options
• Requires more technical knowledge to set up and use
• Fewer features compared to full-fledged messaging apps

Code Comparison

signal-cli:

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        SignalService service = new SignalService();
        service.sendMessage("Hello, Signal!");
    }
}

Telegram-FOSS:

public class MainActivity extends Activity {
    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        TelegramApplication.sendMessage("Hello, Telegram!");
    }
}

The code comparison shows that signal-cli is designed for command-line usage, while Telegram-FOSS is built as an Android application. signal-cli's approach allows for more flexibility in integration with other systems, but Telegram-FOSS provides a more user-friendly interface for mobile devices.

Both projects aim to provide secure messaging capabilities, but they target different use cases. signal-cli is better suited for developers and power users who need programmatic access to Signal's features, while Telegram-FOSS offers a more traditional messaging app experience for end-users.