Dispute for Windows is a free, open source client for Nostr, the decentralized social protocol. It suits developers who want to see how a Nostr app is built, and everyday users curious about Nostr who prefer a desktop program with a readable codebase.
The project is cross-platform. Its summary lists Linux, Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Web, and it is written in Dart and Flutter. Dispute was built as a showcase for the dart-nostr library, so much of its value is educational. Be aware that the latest code update is dated 27 December 2023, more than two years ago, so the project should be considered unmaintained. Read the safety section before you install anything.
What Nostr Is and Why Desktop Clients Matter
Nostr is an open protocol for social networking. Users sign their messages with a cryptographic key pair and publish them to relays, which are servers that store and pass along those events. No single company owns the accounts, so the app you use to read and write is only one interface among many.
A client handles the everyday work: showing timelines, composing posts, managing your key and connecting to relays. Some people prefer a desktop client because longer sessions are easier on a larger screen and a physical keyboard. Others want to run software they can inspect themselves.
Because identity lives in your keys rather than in an app, moving between clients is practical. Your posts stay on the relays you published to, not inside one program. Dispute is one option in a growing set of clients, and choosing it is mainly a question of platform, interface preference and how much you value an open codebase.
Who Dispute Is For: Developers, Testers and Curious Users
Developers working in Flutter are the clearest audience. A developer who wants to see how a Nostr client handles timelines and relay connections in Dart can clone the repository and trace the logic from the interface down to the library calls. The project gives a concrete starting point without the complexity of a large commercial app.
Testers can use the Windows build to check how a Nostr client behaves on desktop while also comparing it with versions on other platforms. Someone who maintains a relay or builds a related tool may also want a simple client on hand for quick checks.
Curious users who have only tried Nostr on a phone can install Dispute on a Windows PC to see how the protocol feels on a bigger screen. It is a reasonable experiment. It is less suitable as a primary app for people who need a polished, frequently updated product, because the code has not changed since December 2023.
How Can Learners Study a Flutter Nostr Project?
Dart and Flutter let one codebase produce interfaces for many operating systems and browsers. When you read a project like Dispute, pay attention to how the app separates the user interface from the code that talks to relays. That separation is a useful habit in any client, because protocol details change more often than screens do.
A sensible way to start is to clone the repository, open the dependency file and note which versions are pinned. Because the last code update is more than two years old, some packages may now be out of date, and you will learn a lot by working out how to update or replace them. Keep a record of each change so you can see which parts of the app depend on the dart-nostr library.
The GPLv3 license means your experiments can be shared, but any published modified version must also stay open. If you build something from this code, credit the original project and keep the license notices intact.
Key features
One Codebase, Many Platforms
Built on the dart-nostr Library
Open Source Under GPLv3
Free to Download and Use
Supported coins
The project documentation mentions Bitcoin (BTC) and Nostr. Dispute is a Nostr client, so its core job is social messaging over relays. It is not presented as a bitcoin wallet, and users who need to send or receive bitcoin should use a dedicated wallet built for that purpose.
How to install Dispute on Windows
- 1
Get the Windows Build
Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page at github.com/ethicnode/dispute. Choose the Windows build or installer from the latest release, which is currently v1.1.3. Avoid copies on other download sites, even if they look official.
- 2
Verify the File
If the release page lists a SHA-256 hash or a signature, compute the hash of your downloaded file with a tool such as PowerShell's Get-FileHash and compare the two values. If they do not match, delete the file and do not run it. Verification takes less than a minute and catches corrupted or tampered downloads.
- 3
Run the Installer or Portable Build
For an installer, double-click the file and follow the prompts. For a portable build, extract the archive to a folder you control, such as a dedicated folder in Documents, and launch the executable from there. Keep the install location in mind so you can remove the program cleanly later.
-
First Launch
Start Dispute and work through its first setup screens. Review any relay or account options before posting anything. Keep future updates tied to the same official source you used for the first download, and recheck the hash whenever you replace the program.
How to use Dispute
Dispute is a Nostr client, so using it means setting up an identity and connecting to relays. Work through the steps below on a test account first, especially if your main Nostr key holds important followers or history.
- Launch Dispute and read the initial setup screens before entering anything.
- Choose how to set up your identity. If you already have a Nostr key, import it carefully. Store the key in a password manager or an offline note, not in a plain text file on your desktop.
- Add one or more relays. Relays are the servers that store and distribute your events, so pick reputable ones and add a second relay as a backup.
- Check that the timeline loads. If nothing appears, confirm that the relay address is correct and that your network allows the connection.
- Follow a few accounts you already know. Following people helps you see how events arrive and how the client displays them.
- Publish a short test note. Verify that it appears on your relay list and in the client.
- Back up your key and relay list. Recheck both after any major change to the program.
Pros & cons
- Free to use and released under the open source GPLv3 license
- One Flutter codebase targets Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and Web
- Public source code makes it a useful reference for Nostr development in Dart
- Clear purpose: it demonstrates the dart-nostr library in a working app
- The latest code update is dated 27 December 2023, so the project is effectively unmaintained
- As a library showcase, it may lack the features expected from mainstream social apps
- After more than two years without code updates, compatibility with newer Nostr changes is uncertain
Is Dispute safe?
Get Dispute only from the official website or the project's GitHub pages, and compare the SHA-256 hash or signature with the value published in the release before running the file. Dispute handles Nostr keys, which give full control of your identity, so treat them like a password. Never paste a private key into a third-party website, a chat or a form that claims to help you recover an account. Store keys in a password manager and keep a backup. Because the last code update is dated 27 December 2023, the program has had no fixes for more than two years. Use it on a secondary account while you evaluate it, and check the project page for the latest version before installing.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/ethicnology/dispute. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Vega is a cross-platform desktop client for Nostr, so it is the closest match for someone who wants a desktop-focused experience. Nostrid is multi-platform and offers binaries for Android, Windows, macOS and Linux, which suits people who move between a phone and a computer. Notedeck is a Rust-based desktop Nostr browser by Damus, a choice for users who prefer Rust-built software.
Dispute differs mainly in its purpose and technology. It uses Dart and Flutter, covers six platforms including the web, and exists to showcase the dart-nostr library. That makes it a better fit for learners and developers than for users who want the newest features. For daily use, compare how recently each client was updated before you commit.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- GPLv3
- Latest version
- v1.1.3
- Last update
- 27 Dec 2023
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/ethicnology/dispute
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Dispute is free and released under the GNU General Public License version 3, so you can download and run it without paying. Free software does not guarantee support, though. The latest code update is dated 27 December 2023, so check the project page and update history before relying on it.
Safety depends mainly on where you get the file and how you handle your keys. Use only the project's official GitHub pages, verify the SHA-256 hash or signature, and never paste a private Nostr key into a third-party website. Because the project has had no code updates since December 2023, use a secondary account while you test it.
Nostr is an open protocol for decentralized social networking. Users sign their messages with a key pair and publish them to relays, which store and pass them along. Because no single company controls accounts, your identity can move between different clients that support the protocol.
The project documentation mentions Bitcoin (BTC) and Nostr. Dispute is a Nostr client, so its main job is social messaging rather than payments. If you need to send or receive bitcoin, use a wallet designed for that purpose, and keep its seed phrase offline.
Yes. The project lists Linux, Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Web as supported platforms. This page covers the Windows version. Installation steps differ on each system, so follow the instructions for your platform on the project's GitHub page and verify each download before running it.
Not actively. The latest code update is dated 27 December 2023, more than two years ago. Treat the project as unmaintained: it is useful for study and testing, but less suitable as a primary client for anything important.
Vega is a cross-platform desktop client for Nostr, Nostrid offers binaries for Android, Windows, macOS and Linux, and Notedeck is a Rust-based desktop browser by Damus. Compare each option's platform support and update activity before choosing one for regular use.
Verdict
Dispute is a free, GPL-licensed Nostr client best suited to Flutter developers, students of decentralized apps and curious testers who want a Windows build to explore Nostr. It is a weaker choice as a daily driver for ordinary users, because development stopped in December 2023. If you need an actively used desktop client, compare Vega or Notedeck first. If you want to study how a working Nostr client is built in Dart, Dispute gives you a concrete, readable example.