Telegram-iOS

This repository contains the full source code for the Telegram iOS app, published by Telegram themselves. Having the source code public means anyone can inspect how the app works, verify its privacy claims, or build a modified version for their own purposes.

The README is primarily a guide for developers who want to compile the code and run their own builds. Before doing so, Telegram asks that developers register for their own API credentials rather than using Telegram's, give their app a different name so users know it is not the official Telegram client, use a different logo, and publish their own modified source code to comply with the open-source license.

Building the app requires Xcode (Apple's development tool for iOS apps), a Python script included in the repository, and a build system called Bazel that handles compiling large projects. The process involves cloning the code, setting up configuration files with developer credentials and team identifiers from Apple, generating an Xcode project using the Python script, and then building from Xcode. The README covers both a minimal development build for testing and a more involved release build for distributing an app.

A FAQ section addresses two specific errors developers commonly hit: a stalled build waiting on a file, and a missing package error after restarting the machine. Both have straightforward fixes described in the README.

This is useful for security researchers, developers building on Telegram's platform, or anyone who wants to understand how a production-grade iOS messaging app is structured.