Testing Iskra: a guide for testers

Thank you for testing Iskra! Iskra is a free app for voice and text chat with friends. This page tells you how to install it, where to go, what to try, and how to tell us when something breaks.

You don't need to be an expert. Short and simple notes are perfect, in any language.

1. Install the app#

Android (Google Play):

1. Open this link on your phone: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/foo.iskra.app
2. Tap Become a tester.
3. Tap Download it on Google Play (or open https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=foo.iskra.app) and install Iskra.

It can take a few minutes before Play shows the test version. Keep the app installed for the whole test.

iPhone (TestFlight):

1. Install TestFlight from the App Store.
2. Open this link on your iPhone: https://testflight.apple.com/join/r4tMgn3D
3. Tap Accept, then Install.

New test versions arrive by themselves. You don't need to do anything.

2. Join the test server#

1. Open this invite link on your phone: https://app.iskra.foo/#/join/aHR0cHM6Ly9jb21tdW5pdHkuaXNrcmEuZm9v.7zA91nWmAVWFE8lCKapTTeE39UGJ2ogElKoV7eiC6X4.8zWYxRjbH9zeM43YyjZqfg
2. It opens in Iskra. (If it opens in your browser instead, tap Open in the app.) Agree to the terms and tap I'm new to Iskra.
3. Pick a name (your first name or a nickname) and tap Join.
4. Read the five server rules and tap I agree.

You land in #welcome. No email, phone number or password needed: your account is a key stored on your phone.

Save your recovery key when the app asks. It brings your account back if you reinstall the app.

3. The 10-minute tour#

The testing-guide channel on the server has the same tour. Each channel also has a topic at the top saying what to try there. Do the steps in any order. If something doesn't work, or you don't understand it, that's a useful report too.

• Chat (#general): send a message. Long-press it and edit it. Long-press someone else's message and choose Reply. React with an emoji. Type @ to mention someone.
• Voice (Hangout): tap Hangout to join and allow the microphone. Try mute and deafen. Tap someone's name to change their volume. Lock your phone for a minute: you should stay in voice.
• Whisper (Lounge 1, 2 or 3): in Settings → Voice & audio → Whisper, put a friend on list 1. In voice, hold the whisper button in the call bar. Only your list hears you.
• Teams and looking for group: with two or more people in Game night, long-press the channel and choose Split into teams…, then bring everyone back. In #gaming, send /lfg 3 Minecraft and let others tap Join.
• Disappearing messages: write in #disappearing; it's gone after an hour. In a direct message, tap the timer at the top and choose 5 minutes.
• Translation (#your-language): write in your own language. Long-press a message in another language and choose Translate. It runs on your phone; nothing goes to a translation service. It works between English and 12 European languages so far.
• Whiteboard: open #whiteboard under Try things and draw something; others see it as you draw. In a voice channel, tap More in the call bar, then Open a whiteboard, and draw with someone.
• Polls (#polls): tap the poll button next to the message box, or send /poll Pizza or tacos? | Pizza | Tacos.
• Threads (#threads): long-press a message, choose Start a thread, and reply inside it.
• Forums (#feedback): make a post with a title and a tag. Tell us what you like or what confused you.
• Events: tap Events at the top of the channel list. Say you're interested, or plan one.
• Stage (town-hall): join and tap Ask to speak.
• Watch together (Watch party): tap More in the call bar, then Watch together, and paste a YouTube link.
• Private and encrypted chats: tap someone's name and choose Message. Direct messages are end-to-end encrypted: only the two of you can read them. A channel with a lock is encrypted too.

A good daily habit for the test: open Iskra, read what's new in #announcements, try one thing from the list, and say hi in voice if someone is there.

4. Report a bug#

Report bugs right in the app. It's quick, and it includes the details we need.

1. Tap your name at the bottom of the channel list. (Also in Settings → About & legal. On a computer: press Ctrl+Shift+B.)
2. Choose Report a bug.
3. Write what happened and what you expected. Add steps if you can.
4. Add a screenshot: take one on your phone, then tap Add pictures. Need to show the bug first? Tap Keep using Iskra: the report waits in a small chip, and tapping the chip brings it back with everything you wrote.
5. Tap Send. You get a report number.

On a computer the report opens in a window of its own, so you can keep using Iskra to show the bug. In the desktop app it takes screenshots of Iskra's own windows (the main window or a popped-out one, never anything else on your screen), right away or in 5 seconds, so you have time to open the menu that misbehaves.

What gets sent: your words and screenshots, the app version, your system and the app's language, and technical logs from the last 30 minutes (settings, connection and voice status, errors). Your email only if you type it in. Never your messages, names, servers, invite links or addresses. Tap See what's included to see it all before you send. Reports go only to the Iskra team.

Ideas and questions are welcome too: post them in #feedback on the server.

5. Don't worry about#

• Updates: they arrive by themselves through Google Play or TestFlight.
• A short "Reconnecting…": it happens when your phone changes network or wakes up. Report it only if it stays.
• Notifications while the app is closed: the phone apps notify you while they're open. That's on purpose for now.
• Screen sharing and starting your own server: these are in the desktop app, not on phones.
• Breaking things: it's a test server. Messages and channels may be reset.
• Your English: write in any language you like.

6. Your privacy#

Iskra has no ads, no tracking and no analytics; bug reports are only sent when you tap Send. Don't post private things (address, phone number, passwords) on the test server. Details: https://iskra.foo/privacy