fix(Nostr DM): Trying to fix reliability issues with Nostr DMs

dev-docs/README.md

@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 # Developer Docs
 
-This file contains notes taken during software development. These notes may eventually be edited into informaiton that goes into the top-level README, or other documentation.
+This file contains notes taken during software development. These notes may eventually be edited into information that goes into the top-level README, or other documentation.
+
+## Change notes
+
+- [reliable-nostr-dms.md](./reliable-nostr-dms.md) — Why nostr-chat DMs failed to load, and the frontend changes for short subscription IDs, GET history, and chat reliability.
 
 ## Main Features of this App
 

dev-docs/reliable-nostr-dms.md

@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+# Reliable Nostr DMs (Frontend)
+
+## Problem
+
+On the nostr-chat page, the DM sidebar could list conversations (kind-4 history existed on relays), but opening a conversation often showed **no messages**. Sending a DM also often failed to appear in the UI until a full refresh — and sometimes not even then.
+
+Logs from the REST2NOSTR proxy showed:
+
+- `GET /req/dms-…` returning multiple kind-4 events (inbox listing worked)
+- `POST /req/dm-{64-char-pubkey}-…` SSE subscriptions finishing immediately after relay `NOTICE` / close (conversation load failed)
+
+The channel-info URL (`kinds:[41]`) is **not** the DM fetch path; it only loads NIP-28 group channel metadata.
+
+## Root cause
+
+[NIP-01](https://nips.nostr.com/1) requires subscription IDs to be at most **64 characters**.
+
+The chat page built SSE subscription IDs like:
+
+```text
+dm-{64-char-peer-pubkey}-{timestamp}-{random}
+```
+
+That alone is already ~90 characters. The same pattern was used for group chat (`group-{channelId}-…`). Relays reject overlong `REQ` subscription IDs, so the SSE stream ended with no events.
+
+Other Nostr pages (`profile`, `user-feeds`, `global-feeds`, likes, follow list) already used short prefixes and were unaffected.
+
+Additionally:
+
+- Conversation history depended entirely on SSE `onEvent` (no GET bootstrap).
+- `selectedChannelIsDm` was inferred from `profiles[ch]`, so opening a DM before the profile finished loading could skip the DM subscription path.
+- Outbound messages were not shown until an SSE echo arrived.
+
+## Changes
+
+### Short opaque subscription IDs
+
+[`src/services/nostr-rest-client.js`](../src/services/nostr-rest-client.js) — `generateSubId(prefix)`:
+
+- Accepts a short semantic prefix (`dm`, `group`, `dm-notify`, `profile`, …).
+- Produces `{prefix}-{timestampBase36}-{random}` capped under a client-safe length.
+- Strips accidental embedded 64-char hex (pubkey / event id) if a caller still embeds one.
+
+Chat call sites now use `generateSubId('dm')` and `generateSubId('group')` instead of embedding hex IDs.
+
+### GET history + live-only SSE
+
+[`src/services/nostr-queries.js`](../src/services/nostr-queries.js):
+
+- `getDmMessages(myPub, peerPub)` — kind-4 conversation history via GET `/req`
+- `getChannelMessages(channelId)` — kind-42 group history via GET `/req`
+
+[`src/components/app-body/nostr-chat/index.js`](../src/components/app-body/nostr-chat/index.js):
+
+1. On channel select, load history with those helpers.
+2. Decrypt / render, then set `loadedMessages`.
+3. Open SSE with `limit: 0` (and `since` when history exists) for live updates only.
+
+### Chat reliability polish
+
+- DM vs group detection uses known DM / group channel membership (not only loaded profiles).
+- After a successful publish, the outbound message is shown immediately via `onMsgRead` (optimistic UI).
+- Subscription cleanup uses a single `subscription.close()` path (avoids double DELETE / abort noise).
+
+## Side effects
+
+| Area | Impact |
+|---|---|
+| Feeds / profile / likes / follow | Unchanged (already short sub-ids; still GET queries) |
+| Publish (`/event`) | Unchanged |
+| Group chat | Same reliability/efficiency pattern as DMs |
+| REST contract | Unchanged paths and response shapes |
+
+## Related
+
+- REST2NOSTR companion doc: `nostr/REST2NOSTR/dev-docs/reliable-subscription-ids.md`

src/components/app-body/nostr-chat/index.js

@@ -12,8 +12,6 @@ import ChatSidebar from './chat-sidebar'
 import ChatMain from './chat-main'
 import config from '../../../config'
 
-// Global variables and constants
-
 function NostrChat (props) {
   const { appData } = props
   const { nostrQueries, bchWalletState, startChannelChat } = appData
@@ -38,16 +36,32 @@ function NostrChat (props) {
 
   const profilesRef = useRef({})
   const dmChannelsRef = useRef([])
+  const groupChannelsRef = useRef(config.chatsId)
+
+  // True if channel id is a known DM peer (not a configured group channel).
+  const isDmChannel = useCallback((ch) => {
+    if (!ch) return false
+    if (groupChannelsRef.current.includes(ch)) return false
+    return dmChannelsRef.current.includes(ch) || !!profilesRef.current[ch]
+  }, [])
+
+  // Close one tracked SSE subscription (single cleanup path).
+  const closeTrackedSubscription = useCallback((subId) => {
+    const subscriptions = subscriptionsRef.current
+    if (subscriptions[subId]) {
+      subscriptions[subId].close()
+      delete subscriptions[subId]
+    }
+  }, [])
 
   // Reset states on change channel
   const onChangeChannel = useCallback((ch) => {
     if (selectedChannel === ch) return
-    const profiles = profilesRef.current
+    setSelectedChannelIsDm(isDmChannel(ch))
-    setSelectedChannelIsDm(!!profiles[ch])
     setMessages([])
     setLoadedMessages(false)
     setSelectedChannel(ch)
-  }, [selectedChannel])
+  }, [selectedChannel, isDmChannel])
 
   // Add a new DM to the list
   const addPrivateMessage = useCallback(async (profile) => {
@@ -55,7 +69,8 @@ function NostrChat (props) {
       const exist = dmChannelsRef.current.find(val => val === profile.pubKey)
       setMessages([])
       setLoadedMessages(false)
-      onChangeChannel(profile.pubKey)
+      setSelectedChannelIsDm(true)
+      setSelectedChannel(profile.pubKey)
       if (exist) return
       setDmChannels(currentChs => {
         let newChs = [...currentChs]
@@ -75,7 +90,7 @@ function NostrChat (props) {
     } catch (error) {
       console.warn(error)
     }
-  }, [onChangeChannel])
+  }, [])
 
   // Define starter chat
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -116,8 +131,6 @@ function NostrChat (props) {
   // Handle read messages
   const onMsgRead = useCallback(async (ev) => {
     try {
-      // console.log('onMsgRead() msg: ', msg)
-
       // Update messages list
       setMessages(current => {
         // ignore existing messages
@@ -161,7 +174,7 @@ function NostrChat (props) {
     } catch (error) {
       console.warn(error)
     }
-  }, [appData, profilesRef])
+  }, [appData])
 
   const decryptMsg = useCallback(async ({ ev, pubKey }) => {
     try {
@@ -185,179 +198,164 @@ function NostrChat (props) {
     }
   }, [appData, onMsgRead])
 
-  // Handle SSE subscription for group channels
+  // Load group history via GET, then SSE for live messages only
   useEffect(() => {
-    // fetch messages when channel selected and channel metadata are loaded
     if (!selectedChannel || !channelsLoaded || selectedChannelIsDm) return
-
-    // wait for deleted chats
     if (!deletedChats || !Array.isArray(deletedChats)) return
 
-    // Create subscription for group channel messages
+    let cancelled = false
-    const subId = generateSubId(`group-${selectedChannel}`)
+    const subId = generateSubId('group')
-    const filter = { limit: 10, kinds: [42], '#e': [selectedChannel] }
 
-    // Track if EOSE has been called
+    const loadGroup = async () => {
-    let eoseCalled = false
+      try {
-    let eoseTimeoutId = null
+        const history = await nostrQueries.getChannelMessages(selectedChannel, 50)
+        if (cancelled) return
 
-    const subscription = restClient.current.createSubscription(subId, filter, {
+        for (const ev of history) {
-      onEvent: (ev) => {
+          const onBlackList = nostrQueries.blackList.find((val) => val === ev.pubkey)
-        console.log('Group post retrieved from REST API', ev.content)
+          const isDeleted = deletedChats.find((val) => val.eventId === ev.id)
-        const onBlackList = nostrQueries.blackList.find((val) => { return val === ev.pubkey })
+          if (!onBlackList && !isDeleted) {
-        const isDeleted = deletedChats.find((val) => { return val.eventId === ev.id })
+            onMsgRead(ev)
-        if (!onBlackList && !isDeleted) {
+          }
-          onMsgRead(ev)
         }
-      },
+
-      onEose: () => {
+        if (!cancelled) {
-        eoseCalled = true
+          setLoadedMessages(true)
-        if (eoseTimeoutId) {
-          clearTimeout(eoseTimeoutId)
-          eoseTimeoutId = null
         }
-        if (!selectedChannelIsDm) {
+
-          // Use setTimeout to ensure state updates from onEvent callbacks are processed
+        if (cancelled) return
-          // before setting loadedMessages to true
+
-          setTimeout(() => {
+        const newest = history.reduce((max, ev) => Math.max(max, ev.created_at || 0), 0)
-            setLoadedMessages(true)
+        const liveFilter = {
-          }, 100)
+          limit: 0,
+          kinds: [42],
+          '#e': [selectedChannel],
+          ...(newest > 0 ? { since: newest } : {})
         }
-      },
+
-      onClosed: (message) => {
+        const subscription = restClient.current.createSubscription(subId, liveFilter, {
-        console.log('Group channel subscription closed:', message)
+          onEvent: (ev) => {
-      },
+            console.log('Group post retrieved from REST API', ev.content)
-      onError: (error) => {
+            const onBlackList = nostrQueries.blackList.find((val) => val === ev.pubkey)
-        console.warn('Group channel subscription error:', error)
+            const isDeleted = deletedChats.find((val) => val.eventId === ev.id)
+            if (!onBlackList && !isDeleted) {
+              onMsgRead(ev)
+            }
+          },
+          onEose: () => {},
+          onClosed: (message) => {
+            console.log('Group channel subscription closed:', message)
+          },
+          onError: (error) => {
+            console.warn('Group channel subscription error:', error)
+          }
+        })
+
+        if (cancelled) {
+          subscription.close()
+          return
+        }
+
+        subscriptionsRef.current[subId] = subscription
+      } catch (error) {
+        console.warn('Error loading group messages:', error)
+        if (!cancelled) setLoadedMessages(true)
       }
-    })
+    }
 
-    subscriptionsRef.current[subId] = subscription
+    loadGroup()
-
-    // Set up EOSE timeout fallback - if EOSE doesn't arrive within 10 seconds, set loadedMessages anyway
-    const EOSE_TIMEOUT_MS = 10000 // 10 seconds
-    eoseTimeoutId = setTimeout(() => {
-      if (!eoseCalled && !selectedChannelIsDm) {
-        console.warn(`EOSE timeout reached for subscription ${subId} - setting loadedMessages to true`)
-        setLoadedMessages(true)
-      }
-    }, EOSE_TIMEOUT_MS)
-
-    // Capture values for cleanup
-    const subscriptionsRefValue = subscriptionsRef.current
-    const restClientValue = restClient.current
 
     return () => {
-      // Clear EOSE timeout if it exists
+      cancelled = true
-      if (eoseTimeoutId) {
-        clearTimeout(eoseTimeoutId)
-      }
-      // Close subscription on component unmount or selected channel changes
       console.log('Close existing subscription for group channel')
-      if (subscriptionsRefValue[subId]) {
+      closeTrackedSubscription(subId)
-        subscriptionsRefValue[subId].close()
-        delete subscriptionsRefValue[subId]
-      }
-      restClientValue.closeSubscription(subId).catch(err => {
-        // Subscription already closed is not an error - this is expected behavior
-        const errorMessage = err?.message || err?.toString() || ''
-        if (!errorMessage.includes('not found') && !errorMessage.includes('already closed')) {
-          console.warn('Error closing subscription:', err)
-        }
-      })
     }
-  }, [onMsgRead, selectedChannel, selectedChannelIsDm, nostrQueries, channelsLoaded, deletedChats])
+  }, [onMsgRead, selectedChannel, selectedChannelIsDm, nostrQueries, channelsLoaded, deletedChats, closeTrackedSubscription])
 
-  // Handle SSE subscription for dm channels
+  // Load DM history via GET, then SSE for live messages only
   useEffect(() => {
-    // fetch messages when channel selected and channel metadata are loaded
-
     if (!selectedChannel || !selectedChannelIsDm) return
 
+    let cancelled = false
     const { nostrKeyPair } = bchWalletState
     const dmPubKey = selectedChannel
+    const subId = generateSubId('dm')
 
-    // Create subscription for DM channel messages
+    const loadDm = async () => {
-    const subId = generateSubId(`dm-${dmPubKey}`)
+      try {
-    // Use array of filters for multiple conditions
+        const history = await nostrQueries.getDmMessages(nostrKeyPair.pubHex, dmPubKey, 50)
-    const filters = [
+        if (cancelled) return
-      { limit: 10, kinds: [4], '#p': [nostrKeyPair.pubHex], authors: [dmPubKey] }, // received messages
-      { limit: 10, kinds: [4], '#p': [dmPubKey], authors: [nostrKeyPair.pubHex] } // sent messages
-    ]
 
-    // Track if EOSE has been called
+        for (const ev of history) {
-    let eoseCalled = false
+          if (ev.pubkey === nostrKeyPair.pubHex) {
-    let eoseTimeoutId = null
+            await decryptMsg({ ev, pubKey: dmPubKey })
+          } else {
+            await decryptMsg({ ev, pubKey: ev.pubkey })
+          }
+        }
 
-    const subscription = restClient.current.createSubscription(subId, filters, {
+        if (!cancelled) {
-      onEvent: (ev) => {
+          setLoadedMessages(true)
-        console.log('DM post retrieved from REST API', ev.content)
-        // decrypt message
-        if (ev.pubkey === nostrKeyPair.pubHex) {
-          // Sent messages
-          decryptMsg({ ev, pubKey: dmPubKey })
-        } else {
-          // Received messages
-          decryptMsg({ ev, pubKey: ev.pubkey })
         }
-      },
+
-      onEose: () => {
+        if (cancelled) return
-        eoseCalled = true
+
-        if (eoseTimeoutId) {
+        const newest = history.reduce((max, ev) => Math.max(max, ev.created_at || 0), 0)
-          clearTimeout(eoseTimeoutId)
+        const liveFilters = [
-          eoseTimeoutId = null
+          {
+            limit: 0,
+            kinds: [4],
+            '#p': [nostrKeyPair.pubHex],
+            authors: [dmPubKey],
+            ...(newest > 0 ? { since: newest } : {})
+          },
+          {
+            limit: 0,
+            kinds: [4],
+            '#p': [dmPubKey],
+            authors: [nostrKeyPair.pubHex],
+            ...(newest > 0 ? { since: newest } : {})
+          }
+        ]
+
+        const subscription = restClient.current.createSubscription(subId, liveFilters, {
+          onEvent: (ev) => {
+            console.log('DM post retrieved from REST API', ev.content)
+            if (ev.pubkey === nostrKeyPair.pubHex) {
+              decryptMsg({ ev, pubKey: dmPubKey })
+            } else {
+              decryptMsg({ ev, pubKey: ev.pubkey })
+            }
+          },
+          onEose: () => {},
+          onClosed: (message) => {
+            console.log('DM channel subscription closed:', message)
+          },
+          onError: (error) => {
+            console.warn('DM channel subscription error:', error)
+          }
+        })
+
+        if (cancelled) {
+          subscription.close()
+          return
         }
-        if (selectedChannelIsDm) {
+
-          // Use setTimeout to ensure state updates from onEvent callbacks are processed
+        subscriptionsRef.current[subId] = subscription
-          // before setting loadedMessages to true
+      } catch (error) {
-          setTimeout(() => {
+        console.warn('Error loading DM messages:', error)
-            setLoadedMessages(true)
+        if (!cancelled) setLoadedMessages(true)
-          }, 100)
-        }
-      },
-      onClosed: (message) => {
-        console.log('DM channel subscription closed:', message)
-      },
-      onError: (error) => {
-        console.warn('DM channel subscription error:', error)
       }
-    })
+    }
 
-    subscriptionsRef.current[subId] = subscription
+    loadDm()
-
-    // Set up EOSE timeout fallback - if EOSE doesn't arrive within 10 seconds, set loadedMessages anyway
-    const EOSE_TIMEOUT_MS = 10000 // 10 seconds
-    eoseTimeoutId = setTimeout(() => {
-      if (!eoseCalled && selectedChannelIsDm) {
-        console.warn(`EOSE timeout reached for subscription ${subId} - setting loadedMessages to true`)
-        setLoadedMessages(true)
-      }
-    }, EOSE_TIMEOUT_MS)
-
-    // Capture values for cleanup
-    const subscriptionsRefValue = subscriptionsRef.current
-    const restClientValue = restClient.current
 
     return () => {
-      // Clear EOSE timeout if it exists
+      cancelled = true
-      if (eoseTimeoutId) {
-        clearTimeout(eoseTimeoutId)
-      }
-      // Close subscription on component unmount or selected channel changes
       console.log('Close existing subscription for private channel')
-      if (subscriptionsRefValue[subId]) {
+      closeTrackedSubscription(subId)
-        subscriptionsRefValue[subId].close()
-        delete subscriptionsRefValue[subId]
-      }
-      restClientValue.closeSubscription(subId).catch(err => {
-        // Subscription already closed is not an error - this is expected behavior
-        const errorMessage = err?.message || err?.toString() || ''
-        if (!errorMessage.includes('not found') && !errorMessage.includes('already closed')) {
-          console.warn('Error closing subscription:', err)
-        }
-      })
     }
-  }, [onMsgRead, selectedChannel, selectedChannelIsDm, nostrQueries, bchWalletState, decryptMsg])
+  }, [selectedChannel, selectedChannelIsDm, nostrQueries, bchWalletState, decryptMsg, closeTrackedSubscription])
 
   const handleIncomingDms = useCallback(async (pubKey) => {
     try {
@@ -400,18 +398,15 @@ function NostrChat (props) {
     const { bchWalletState } = appData
     const { nostrKeyPair } = bchWalletState
 
-    // Create subscription for new incoming DM notifications
     const subId = generateSubId('dm-notify')
-    const filter = { limit: 0, kinds: [4], '#p': [nostrKeyPair.pubHex] } // received messages
+    const filter = { limit: 0, kinds: [4], '#p': [nostrKeyPair.pubHex] }
 
     const subscription = restClient.current.createSubscription(subId, filter, {
       onEvent: (ev) => {
         console.log('New message received from REST API', ev)
         handleIncomingDms(ev.pubkey)
       },
-      onEose: () => {
+      onEose: () => {},
-        // EOSE received, subscription is active
-      },
       onClosed: (message) => {
         console.log('DM notification subscription closed:', message)
       },
@@ -422,26 +417,11 @@ function NostrChat (props) {
 
     subscriptionsRef.current[subId] = subscription
 
-    // Capture values for cleanup
-    const subscriptionsRefValue = subscriptionsRef.current
-    const restClientValue = restClient.current
-
     return () => {
-      // Close subscription on component unmount
       console.log('Close existing subscription for DM notifications')
-      if (subscriptionsRefValue[subId]) {
+      closeTrackedSubscription(subId)
-        subscriptionsRefValue[subId].close()
-        delete subscriptionsRefValue[subId]
-      }
-      restClientValue.closeSubscription(subId).catch(err => {
-        // Subscription already closed is not an error - this is expected behavior
-        const errorMessage = err?.message || err?.toString() || ''
-        if (!errorMessage.includes('not found') && !errorMessage.includes('already closed')) {
-          console.warn('Error closing subscription:', err)
-        }
-      })
     }
-  }, [handleIncomingDms, appData, nostrQueries, dmListLoaded, channelsLoaded])
+  }, [handleIncomingDms, appData, dmListLoaded, channelsLoaded, closeTrackedSubscription])
 
   // Load Dm channels
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -545,6 +525,7 @@ function NostrChat (props) {
               dmListLoaded={dmListLoaded && channelsLoaded}
               onChangeChannel={onChangeChannel}
               addPrivateMessage={addPrivateMessage}
+              onMsgRead={onMsgRead}
               {...props}
             />
           </Col>

src/components/app-body/nostr-chat/message-input.js

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import { hexToBytes } from '@noble/hashes/utils' // already an installed depende
 import NostrRestClient from '../../../services/nostr-rest-client.js'
 
 function MessageInput (props) {
-  const { appData, selectedChannel, profiles } = props
+  const { appData, selectedChannel, profiles, selectedChannelIsDm, onMsgRead } = props
   const { bchWalletState, nostrQueries } = appData
   // Initialize REST client for publishing
   const restClient = new NostrRestClient()
@@ -24,9 +24,11 @@ function MessageInput (props) {
   // Define input type between private or public
   useEffect(() => {
     const dmTo = profiles[selectedChannel]
-    setIsDm(!!dmTo)
+    // Prefer explicit DM channel flag; fall back to profile presence
-    setDmProfile(dmTo)
+    const privateChat = selectedChannelIsDm || !!dmTo
-  }, [selectedChannel, profiles])
+    setIsDm(privateChat)
+    setDmProfile(dmTo || (privateChat ? { pubKey: selectedChannel } : false))
+  }, [selectedChannel, profiles, selectedChannelIsDm])
 
   const handleSubmitPrivate = async (e) => {
     e.preventDefault()
@@ -36,13 +38,15 @@ function MessageInput (props) {
       console.log('dm To : ', dmProfile)
 
       const { nostrKeyPair } = bchWalletState
+      const peerPubKey = dmProfile?.pubKey || selectedChannel
       // Convert private key to binary
       const privateKeyBin = hexToBytes(nostrKeyPair.privHex)
+      const plaintext = message
 
       const encryptedMsg = await nostrQueries.encryptMsg({
         senderPrivKey: nostrKeyPair.privHex,
-        receiverPubKey: dmProfile?.pubKey,
+        receiverPubKey: peerPubKey,
-        message
+        message: plaintext
       })
 
       console.log('encryptedMsg', encryptedMsg)
@@ -50,7 +54,7 @@ function MessageInput (props) {
       const eventTemplate = {
         kind: 4,
         created_at: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000),
-        tags: [['p', dmProfile.pubKey]],
+        tags: [['p', peerPubKey]],
         content: encryptedMsg
       }
       console.log(`eventTemplate: ${JSON.stringify(eventTemplate, null, 2)}`)
@@ -72,6 +76,14 @@ function MessageInput (props) {
         throw err
       }
 
+      // Show the outbound message immediately (do not wait for SSE echo)
+      if (onMsgRead) {
+        onMsgRead({
+          ...signedEvent,
+          content: plaintext
+        })
+      }
+
       setMessage('')
       setOnFetch(false)
     } catch (error) {
@@ -90,16 +102,14 @@ function MessageInput (props) {
 
       // Convert private key to binary
       const privateKeyBin = hexToBytes(nostrKeyPair.privHex)
-
+      const plaintext = message
-      // Relay list
-      // const psf = 'wss://nostr-relay.psfoundation.info'
 
       // Generate a post.
       const eventTemplate = {
         kind: 42,
         created_at: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000),
         tags: [['e', selectedChannel, 'root']],
-        content: message
+        content: plaintext
       }
       console.log(`eventTemplate: ${JSON.stringify(eventTemplate, null, 2)}`)
 
@@ -120,6 +130,11 @@ function MessageInput (props) {
         throw err
       }
 
+      // Show the outbound message immediately
+      if (onMsgRead) {
+        onMsgRead(signedEvent)
+      }
+
       setMessage('')
       setOnFetch(false)
     } catch (error) {

src/services/nostr-queries.js

@@ -279,6 +279,56 @@ export default class NostrQueries {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Load DM conversation history between myPub and peerPub (kind 4).
+   * Prefer this GET query over SSE for initial history.
+   */
+  async getDmMessages (myPub, peerPub, limit = 50) {
+    try {
+      const subId = generateSubId('dm-hist')
+      const filters = [
+        { limit, kinds: [4], '#p': [myPub], authors: [peerPub] },
+        { limit, kinds: [4], '#p': [peerPub], authors: [myPub] }
+      ]
+
+      let events = await this.restClient.queryEvents(subId, filters)
+
+      events = events.filter((val, i, list) => {
+        const existingIndex = list.findIndex(value => value.id === val.id)
+        return existingIndex === i
+      })
+
+      events.sort((a, b) => a.created_at - b.created_at)
+      return events || []
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.warn(`Error fetching DM messages for ${peerPub}:`, error)
+      return []
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Load group channel message history (kind 42).
+   */
+  async getChannelMessages (channelId, limit = 50) {
+    try {
+      const subId = generateSubId('ch-hist')
+      const filter = { limit, kinds: [42], '#e': [channelId] }
+
+      let events = await this.restClient.queryEvents(subId, filter)
+
+      events = events.filter((val, i, list) => {
+        const existingIndex = list.findIndex(value => value.id === val.id)
+        return existingIndex === i
+      })
+
+      events.sort((a, b) => a.created_at - b.created_at)
+      return events || []
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.warn(`Error fetching channel messages for ${channelId}:`, error)
+      return []
+    }
+  }
+
   async encryptMsg (inObj = {}) {
     try {
       const { senderPrivKey, receiverPubKey, message } = inObj

src/services/nostr-rest-client.js

@@ -5,12 +5,39 @@
 import config from '../config/index.js'
 
 /**
- * Generate a unique subscription ID
+ * NIP-01 max subscription id length. REST2NOSTR may append a short per-relay
- * @param {string} prefix - Prefix for the subscription ID
+ * suffix, so keep client ids well under 64.
+ */
+export const MAX_CLIENT_SUB_ID_LENGTH = 48
+
+/**
+ * Generate a unique subscription ID that stays within NIP-01 limits.
+ * Use a short semantic prefix only (e.g. 'dm', 'group', 'profile', 'dm-notify').
+ * Do not embed pubkeys or channel hex — those exceed the 64-char limit.
+ *
+ * @param {string} prefix - Short prefix for the subscription ID
  * @returns {string} Unique subscription ID
  */
 export function generateSubId (prefix = 'sub') {
-  return `${prefix}-${Date.now()}-${Math.random().toString(36).substr(2, 9)}`
+  let safePrefix = String(prefix || 'sub')
+
+  // If a caller still passes `dm-${pubkey}` / `group-${channelId}`, drop the hex.
+  const hexMatch = safePrefix.match(/[0-9a-f]{64}/i)
+  if (hexMatch) {
+    const cut = safePrefix.indexOf(hexMatch[0])
+    safePrefix = safePrefix.slice(0, cut).replace(/-+$/, '') || 'sub'
+  }
+
+  safePrefix = safePrefix.slice(0, 20) || 'sub'
+  const timestamp = Date.now().toString(36)
+  const random = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2, 8)
+  let subId = `${safePrefix}-${timestamp}-${random}`
+
+  if (subId.length > MAX_CLIENT_SUB_ID_LENGTH) {
+    subId = subId.slice(0, MAX_CLIENT_SUB_ID_LENGTH)
+  }
+
+  return subId
 }
 
 class NostrRestClient {
@@ -177,12 +204,13 @@ class NostrRestClient {
       }
     }
 
-    // Store subscription for cleanup
+    // Store subscription for cleanup. close() is the single entry point —
+    // it aborts the stream and DELETEs on the server (do not also call
+    // closeSubscription from effect cleanup).
     const subscription = {
       subId,
       abortController,
       close: () => {
-        abortController.abort()
         this.closeSubscription(subId)
       }
     }