Documentation

Quick Start

Create a local Harbor identity in the current developer preview.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, you'll need:

  • An Ethereum wallet — MetaMask, Rabby, or any EIP-1193 compatible wallet
  • A modern browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge

You don't need any cryptocurrency to create your identity. You'll only need a small amount of ETH on Base if you want to send messages (transaction fees are minimal).

Step 1: Open Harbor

Visit harborbase.xyz to open the Harbor web client. You'll see the welcome screen with options to get started or import an existing identity.

Step 2: Connect Your Wallet

Click Get Started and connect your Ethereum wallet. Harbor will ask you to connect — this links your wallet address to your Harbor identity but doesn't give Harbor any access to your funds.

Note: Your wallet is used for identity verification and on-chain operations. Your encryption keys are generated separately from your wallet. V1 backup and device enrollment flows can export encrypted identity material.

Step 3: Create Your Identity

After connecting your wallet, Harbor will generate your cryptographic identity:

  • X25519 key pair — For key agreement (establishing shared secrets)
  • Ed25519 key pair — For signing (proving authenticity)

These keys are generated locally in your browser. They are never transmitted to any server. Click Create Identity to proceed.

Step 4: Create a Backup

This is the most important step.

After creating your identity, Harbor will prompt you to create an encrypted backup. This backup file contains your private keys, encrypted with a password you choose.

Important

If you lose your device without a backup, your identity and all your messages are permanently lost. There is no recovery. Harbor cannot help you recover your keys.

To create your backup:

  1. Choose a strong password (minimum 12 characters)
  2. Confirm the password
  3. Download the encrypted backup file
  4. Store the backup securely (password manager, secure cloud, or offline storage)

Step 5: Developer Preview Status

Once your identity is created and backed up, you can inspect the app shell. Real messaging is not launch-ready yet:

  • On-chain key registration is not wired into web onboarding
  • Contact discovery and session establishment are incomplete
  • Message receipt, decryption, and persistence are not implemented end to end

Importing an Existing Identity

If you already have a Harbor identity, you can import it on a new device:

  1. Click Import Existing Identity on the welcome screen
  2. Select your backup file (.enc)
  3. Enter your backup password
  4. The backup decrypts, but persistent unlock after reload has a known blocker

Next Steps