XIP-31: Message History request system

nick · March 19, 2024, 11:54pm

XIP Overview

xmtp/XIPs/blob/main/XIPs/xip-31-message-history.md

---
xip: 31
title: Message History request system
description: A proposed system for transferring message history between installations as part of XMTP V3.
author: Nicholas Molnar (@neekolas), Scott Tuddman (@tuddman)
status: Review
type: Standards
category: Core
created: 2024-03-19
---

## Abstract

This XIP proposes a system for transferring message history between app installations as part of XMTP V3.

## Motivation

The [XMTP V3 Protocol Specification](https://github.com/xmtp/libxmtp/blob/main/TECHNICAL_OVERVIEW.md) creates a new XMTP identity for each installation associated with a blockchain account instead of sharing a single set of keys across all installations like V1/V2. New installations will receive all messages sent to a blockchain account after they are created, but V3 does _not_ specify how to receive messages sent before installation creation. Having conversation history sync between devices is a popular feature of V1 and V2 of the XMTP protocol and there is clear demand from developers for this to be possible as part of V3.

There are a number of cases where message history synchronization is desirable:

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tuddman · March 20, 2024, 7:49pm

Initial work has begun on the above proposal for: Remote Message Backups

We decided that Backup Account File(s) involve more technical complexity, fit a narrower use-case (of total device loss and subsequent conversations recovery), and can be added later if partners express interest.

We welcome any partners building on XMTP to weigh in here with further context if you’d like this line of work to take a particular direction to fit more use-cases.

Eleanor_Hofstedt · March 25, 2024, 9:00pm

For the following scenario, I’m curious how Inbox apps would want or expect XMTP the protocol to play a role:

For cases where the user has lost access to all of their XMTP applications (for example, if they lost the only device they have used to connect to XMTP).>

Questions for discussion:

Should XMTP prioritize building a way to recover access to message history if the original device is lost? How important is it that XMTP the protocol solves this problem for you? If we provided recommendations to back up at an application level, would that be sufficient?*
If it is important that XMTP the protocol solves this problem for you, is a P0 success criteria in our V1 of syncing message history, or can we wait until later?*

Scot_Boyd · April 25, 2024, 6:29pm

I’m sure there’s a good reason for this, but why not just treat a message history request as a request to retransmit old group messages to the new installation using the installation key of the requesting app? Is it an issue with the old commit proposals getting in the way?