Refactor layouts for alias and link dialogs.

This commit also uses LiveData Transformations to expose contact related information

bramble-android/build.gradle

@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ android {
 	defaultConfig {
 		minSdkVersion 14
 		targetSdkVersion 26
-		versionCode 10104
-		versionName "1.1.4"
+		versionCode 10103
+		versionName "1.1.3"
 		consumerProguardFiles 'proguard-rules.txt'
 
 		testInstrumentationRunner "android.support.test.runner.AndroidJUnitRunner"

bramble-api/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/api/contact/Contact.java

@@ -4,8 +4,12 @@ import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorId;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
 
+import javax.annotation.Nullable;
 import javax.annotation.concurrent.Immutable;
 
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorConstants.MAX_AUTHOR_NAME_LENGTH;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.util.StringUtils.toUtf8;
+
 @Immutable
 @NotNullByDefault
 public class Contact {
@@ -13,13 +17,21 @@ public class Contact {
 	private final ContactId id;
 	private final Author author;
 	private final AuthorId localAuthorId;
+	@Nullable
+	private final String alias;
 	private final boolean verified, active;
 
 	public Contact(ContactId id, Author author, AuthorId localAuthorId,
-			boolean verified, boolean active) {
+			@Nullable String alias, boolean verified, boolean active) {
+		if (alias != null) {
+			int aliasLength = toUtf8(alias).length;
+			if (aliasLength == 0 || aliasLength > MAX_AUTHOR_NAME_LENGTH)
+				throw new IllegalArgumentException();
+		}
 		this.id = id;
 		this.author = author;
 		this.localAuthorId = localAuthorId;
+		this.alias = alias;
 		this.verified = verified;
 		this.active = active;
 	}
@@ -36,6 +48,11 @@ public class Contact {
 		return localAuthorId;
 	}
 
+	@Nullable
+	public String getAlias() {
+		return alias;
+	}
+
 	public boolean isVerified() {
 		return verified;
 	}

bramble-api/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/api/contact/ContactManager.java

@@ -5,11 +5,14 @@ import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DbException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.Transaction;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorId;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.lifecycle.LifecycleManager;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
 
 import java.util.Collection;
 
+import javax.annotation.Nullable;
+
 @NotNullByDefault
 public interface ContactManager {
 
@@ -93,6 +96,12 @@ public interface ContactManager {
 	void setContactActive(Transaction txn, ContactId c, boolean active)
 			throws DbException;
 
+	/**
+	 * Sets an alias name for the contact or unsets it if alias is null.
+	 */
+	void setContactAlias(ContactId c, @Nullable String alias)
+			throws DbException;
+
 	/**
 	 * Return true if a contact with this name and public key already exists
 	 */
@@ -105,6 +114,16 @@ public interface ContactManager {
 	boolean contactExists(AuthorId remoteAuthorId, AuthorId localAuthorId)
 			throws DbException;
 
+	/**
+	 * Returns the {@link AuthorInfo} for the given author.
+	 */
+	AuthorInfo getAuthorInfo(AuthorId a) throws DbException;
+
+	/**
+	 * Returns the {@link AuthorInfo} for the given author.
+	 */
+	AuthorInfo getAuthorInfo(Transaction txn, AuthorId a) throws DbException;
+
 	interface ContactHook {
 
 		void addingContact(Transaction txn, Contact c) throws DbException;

bramble-api/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/api/db/DatabaseComponent.java

@@ -515,6 +515,12 @@ public interface DatabaseComponent {
 	void setContactActive(Transaction txn, ContactId c, boolean active)
 			throws DbException;
 
+	/**
+	 * Sets an alias name for the contact or unsets it if alias is null.
+	 */
+	void setContactAlias(Transaction txn, ContactId c, @Nullable String alias)
+			throws DbException;
+
 	/**
 	 * Sets the given group's visibility to the given contact.
 	 */

bramble-api/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/api/identity/Author.java

@@ -16,10 +16,6 @@ import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorConstants.MAX_PUBLIC_K
 @NotNullByDefault
 public class Author implements Nameable {
 
-	public enum Status {
-		NONE, ANONYMOUS, UNKNOWN, UNVERIFIED, VERIFIED, OURSELVES
-	}
-
 	/**
 	 * The current version of the author structure.
 	 */

bramble-api/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/api/identity/AuthorInfo.java

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+package org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity;
+
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
+
+import javax.annotation.Nullable;
+import javax.annotation.concurrent.Immutable;
+
+@Immutable
+@NotNullByDefault
+public class AuthorInfo {
+
+	public enum Status {
+		NONE, ANONYMOUS, UNKNOWN, UNVERIFIED, VERIFIED, OURSELVES;
+
+		public boolean isContact() {
+			return this == UNVERIFIED || this == VERIFIED;
+		}
+	}
+
+	private final Status status;
+	@Nullable
+	private final String alias;
+
+	public AuthorInfo(Status status, @Nullable String alias) {
+		this.status = status;
+		this.alias = alias;
+	}
+
+	public AuthorInfo(Status status) {
+		this(status, null);
+	}
+
+	public Status getStatus() {
+		return status;
+	}
+
+	@Nullable
+	public String getAlias() {
+		return alias;
+	}
+
+}

bramble-api/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/api/identity/IdentityManager.java

@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.crypto.CryptoExecutor;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DbException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.Transaction;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
 
 @NotNullByDefault
@@ -37,14 +36,4 @@ public interface IdentityManager {
 	 */
 	LocalAuthor getLocalAuthor(Transaction txn) throws DbException;
 
-	/**
-	 * Returns the {@link Status} of the given author.
-	 */
-	Status getAuthorStatus(AuthorId a) throws DbException;
-
-	/**
-	 * Returns the {@link Status} of the given author.
-	 */
-	Status getAuthorStatus(Transaction txn, AuthorId a) throws DbException;
-
 }

bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/contact/ContactManagerImpl.java

@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.NoSuchContactException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.Transaction;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorId;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.IdentityManager;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.LocalAuthor;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.transport.KeyManager;
 
@@ -18,21 +21,32 @@ import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.concurrent.CopyOnWriteArrayList;
 
+import javax.annotation.Nullable;
 import javax.annotation.concurrent.ThreadSafe;
 import javax.inject.Inject;
 
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorConstants.MAX_AUTHOR_NAME_LENGTH;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.OURSELVES;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.UNKNOWN;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.UNVERIFIED;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.VERIFIED;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.util.StringUtils.toUtf8;
+
 @ThreadSafe
 @NotNullByDefault
 class ContactManagerImpl implements ContactManager {
 
 	private final DatabaseComponent db;
 	private final KeyManager keyManager;
+	private final IdentityManager identityManager;
 	private final List<ContactHook> hooks;
 
 	@Inject
-	ContactManagerImpl(DatabaseComponent db, KeyManager keyManager) {
+	ContactManagerImpl(DatabaseComponent db, KeyManager keyManager,
+			IdentityManager identityManager) {
 		this.db = db;
 		this.keyManager = keyManager;
+		this.identityManager = identityManager;
 		hooks = new CopyOnWriteArrayList<>();
 	}
 
@@ -148,6 +162,17 @@ class ContactManagerImpl implements ContactManager {
 		db.setContactActive(txn, c, active);
 	}
 
+	@Override
+	public void setContactAlias(ContactId c, @Nullable String alias)
+			throws DbException {
+		if (alias != null) {
+			int aliasLength = toUtf8(alias).length;
+			if (aliasLength == 0 || aliasLength > MAX_AUTHOR_NAME_LENGTH)
+				throw new IllegalArgumentException();
+		}
+		db.transaction(false, txn -> db.setContactAlias(txn, c, alias));
+	}
+
 	@Override
 	public boolean contactExists(Transaction txn, AuthorId remoteAuthorId,
 			AuthorId localAuthorId) throws DbException {
@@ -176,4 +201,23 @@ class ContactManagerImpl implements ContactManager {
 		db.removeContact(txn, c);
 	}
 
+	@Override
+	public AuthorInfo getAuthorInfo(AuthorId a) throws DbException {
+		return db.transactionWithResult(true, txn -> getAuthorInfo(txn, a));
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public AuthorInfo getAuthorInfo(Transaction txn, AuthorId authorId)
+			throws DbException {
+		LocalAuthor localAuthor = identityManager.getLocalAuthor(txn);
+		if (localAuthor.getId().equals(authorId))
+			return new AuthorInfo(OURSELVES);
+		Collection<Contact> contacts = db.getContactsByAuthorId(txn, authorId);
+		if (contacts.isEmpty()) return new AuthorInfo(UNKNOWN);
+		if (contacts.size() > 1) throw new AssertionError();
+		Contact c = contacts.iterator().next();
+		if (c.isVerified()) return new AuthorInfo(VERIFIED, c.getAlias());
+		else return new AuthorInfo(UNVERIFIED, c.getAlias());
+	}
+
 }

bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/db/Database.java

@@ -616,6 +616,12 @@ interface Database<T> {
 	void setContactActive(T txn, ContactId c, boolean active)
 			throws DbException;
 
+	/**
+	 * Sets an alias name for a contact.
+	 */
+	void setContactAlias(T txn, ContactId c, @Nullable String alias)
+			throws DbException;
+
 	/**
 	 * Sets the given group's visibility to the given contact to either
 	 * {@link Visibility VISIBLE} or {@link Visibility SHARED}.

bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/db/DatabaseComponentImpl.java

@@ -859,6 +859,16 @@ class DatabaseComponentImpl<T> implements DatabaseComponent {
 		transaction.attach(new ContactStatusChangedEvent(c, active));
 	}
 
+	@Override
+	public void setContactAlias(Transaction transaction, ContactId c,
+			String alias) throws DbException {
+		if (transaction.isReadOnly()) throw new IllegalArgumentException();
+		T txn = unbox(transaction);
+		if (!db.containsContact(txn, c))
+			throw new NoSuchContactException();
+		db.setContactAlias(txn, c, alias);
+	}
+
 	@Override
 	public void setGroupVisibility(Transaction transaction, ContactId c,
 			GroupId g, Visibility v) throws DbException {

bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/db/DatabaseTypes.java

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+package org.briarproject.bramble.db;
+
+class DatabaseTypes {
+
+	private final String hashType, secretType, binaryType;
+    private final String counterType, stringType;
+
+	public DatabaseTypes(String hashType, String secretType, String binaryType,
+			String counterType, String stringType) {
+		this.hashType = hashType;
+		this.secretType = secretType;
+		this.binaryType = binaryType;
+		this.counterType = counterType;
+		this.stringType = stringType;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Replaces database type placeholders in a statement with the actual types.
+	 * These placeholders are currently supported:
+	 *	<li> _HASH
+	 *	<li> _SECRET
+	 *	<li> _BINARY
+	 *	<li> _COUNTER
+	 *	<li> _STRING
+	 */
+	String replaceTypes(String s) {
+		s = s.replaceAll("_HASH", hashType);
+		s = s.replaceAll("_SECRET", secretType);
+		s = s.replaceAll("_BINARY", binaryType);
+		s = s.replaceAll("_COUNTER", counterType);
+		s = s.replaceAll("_STRING", stringType);
+		return s;
+	}
+}

bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/db/H2Database.java

@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ class H2Database extends JdbcDatabase {
 	private static final String BINARY_TYPE = "BINARY";
 	private static final String COUNTER_TYPE = "INT NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT";
 	private static final String STRING_TYPE = "VARCHAR";
+	private static final DatabaseTypes dbTypes = new DatabaseTypes(HASH_TYPE,
+			SECRET_TYPE, BINARY_TYPE, COUNTER_TYPE, STRING_TYPE);
 
 	private final DatabaseConfig config;
 	private final String url;
@@ -40,8 +42,7 @@ class H2Database extends JdbcDatabase {
 	@Inject
 	H2Database(DatabaseConfig config, MessageFactory messageFactory,
 			Clock clock) {
-		super(HASH_TYPE, SECRET_TYPE, BINARY_TYPE, COUNTER_TYPE, STRING_TYPE,
-				messageFactory, clock);
+		super(dbTypes, messageFactory, clock);
 		this.config = config;
 		File dir = config.getDatabaseDirectory();
 		String path = new File(dir, "db").getAbsolutePath();

bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/db/HyperSqlDatabase.java

@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ class HyperSqlDatabase extends JdbcDatabase {
 	private static final String COUNTER_TYPE =
 			"INTEGER NOT NULL GENERATED ALWAYS AS IDENTITY(START WITH 1)";
 	private static final String STRING_TYPE = "VARCHAR";
+	private static final DatabaseTypes dbTypes = new DatabaseTypes(HASH_TYPE,
+			SECRET_TYPE, BINARY_TYPE, COUNTER_TYPE, STRING_TYPE);
 
 	private final DatabaseConfig config;
 	private final String url;
@@ -40,8 +42,7 @@ class HyperSqlDatabase extends JdbcDatabase {
 	@Inject
 	HyperSqlDatabase(DatabaseConfig config, MessageFactory messageFactory,
 			Clock clock) {
-		super(HASH_TYPE, SECRET_TYPE, BINARY_TYPE, COUNTER_TYPE, STRING_TYPE,
-				messageFactory, clock);
+		super(dbTypes, messageFactory, clock);
 		this.config = config;
 		File dir = config.getDatabaseDirectory();
 		String path = new File(dir, "db").getAbsolutePath();
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ class HyperSqlDatabase extends JdbcDatabase {
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public long getFreeSpace() throws DbException {
+	public long getFreeSpace() {
 		File dir = config.getDatabaseDirectory();
 		long maxSize = config.getMaxSize();
 		long free = dir.getFreeSpace();

bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/db/JdbcDatabase.java

@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ import java.util.logging.Logger;
 import javax.annotation.Nullable;
 
 import static java.sql.Types.INTEGER;
+import static java.sql.Types.VARCHAR;
 import static java.util.logging.Level.INFO;
 import static java.util.logging.Level.WARNING;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.Metadata.REMOVE;
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ import static org.briarproject.bramble.util.LogUtils.now;
 abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 
 	// Package access for testing
-	static final int CODE_SCHEMA_VERSION = 40;
+	static final int CODE_SCHEMA_VERSION = 41;
 
 	// Rotation period offsets for incoming transport keys
 	private static final int OFFSET_PREV = -1;
@@ -113,6 +114,7 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 					+ " authorId _HASH NOT NULL,"
 					+ " formatVersion INT NOT NULL,"
 					+ " name _STRING NOT NULL,"
+					+ " alias _STRING," // Null if no alias exists
 					+ " publicKey _BINARY NOT NULL,"
 					+ " localAuthorId _HASH NOT NULL,"
 					+ " verified BOOLEAN NOT NULL,"
@@ -310,10 +312,9 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 			Logger.getLogger(JdbcDatabase.class.getName());
 
 	// Different database libraries use different names for certain types
-	private final String hashType, secretType, binaryType;
-	private final String counterType, stringType;
 	private final MessageFactory messageFactory;
 	private final Clock clock;
+	private final DatabaseTypes dbTypes;
 
 	// Locking: connectionsLock
 	private final LinkedList<Connection> connections = new LinkedList<>();
@@ -328,14 +329,9 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 	private final Lock connectionsLock = new ReentrantLock();
 	private final Condition connectionsChanged = connectionsLock.newCondition();
 
-	JdbcDatabase(String hashType, String secretType, String binaryType,
-			String counterType, String stringType,
-			MessageFactory messageFactory, Clock clock) {
-		this.hashType = hashType;
-		this.secretType = secretType;
-		this.binaryType = binaryType;
-		this.counterType = counterType;
-		this.stringType = stringType;
+	JdbcDatabase(DatabaseTypes databaseTypes, MessageFactory messageFactory,
+			Clock clock) {
+		this.dbTypes = databaseTypes;
 		this.messageFactory = messageFactory;
 		this.clock = clock;
 	}
@@ -427,7 +423,11 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 
 	// Package access for testing
 	List<Migration<Connection>> getMigrations() {
-		return Arrays.asList(new Migration38_39(), new Migration39_40());
+		return Arrays.asList(
+				new Migration38_39(),
+				new Migration39_40(),
+				new Migration40_41(dbTypes)
+		);
 	}
 
 	private boolean isCompactionDue(Settings s) {
@@ -486,20 +486,20 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 		Statement s = null;
 		try {
 			s = txn.createStatement();
-			s.executeUpdate(insertTypeNames(CREATE_SETTINGS));
-			s.executeUpdate(insertTypeNames(CREATE_LOCAL_AUTHORS));
-			s.executeUpdate(insertTypeNames(CREATE_CONTACTS));
-			s.executeUpdate(insertTypeNames(CREATE_GROUPS));
-			s.executeUpdate(insertTypeNames(CREATE_GROUP_METADATA));
-			s.executeUpdate(insertTypeNames(CREATE_GROUP_VISIBILITIES));
-			s.executeUpdate(insertTypeNames(CREATE_MESSAGES));
-			s.executeUpdate(insertTypeNames(CREATE_MESSAGE_METADATA));
-			s.executeUpdate(insertTypeNames(CREATE_MESSAGE_DEPENDENCIES));
-			s.executeUpdate(insertTypeNames(CREATE_OFFERS));
-			s.executeUpdate(insertTypeNames(CREATE_STATUSES));
-			s.executeUpdate(insertTypeNames(CREATE_TRANSPORTS));
-			s.executeUpdate(insertTypeNames(CREATE_OUTGOING_KEYS));
-			s.executeUpdate(insertTypeNames(CREATE_INCOMING_KEYS));
+			s.executeUpdate(dbTypes.replaceTypes(CREATE_SETTINGS));
+			s.executeUpdate(dbTypes.replaceTypes(CREATE_LOCAL_AUTHORS));
+			s.executeUpdate(dbTypes.replaceTypes(CREATE_CONTACTS));
+			s.executeUpdate(dbTypes.replaceTypes(CREATE_GROUPS));
+			s.executeUpdate(dbTypes.replaceTypes(CREATE_GROUP_METADATA));
+			s.executeUpdate(dbTypes.replaceTypes(CREATE_GROUP_VISIBILITIES));
+			s.executeUpdate(dbTypes.replaceTypes(CREATE_MESSAGES));
+			s.executeUpdate(dbTypes.replaceTypes(CREATE_MESSAGE_METADATA));
+			s.executeUpdate(dbTypes.replaceTypes(CREATE_MESSAGE_DEPENDENCIES));
+			s.executeUpdate(dbTypes.replaceTypes(CREATE_OFFERS));
+			s.executeUpdate(dbTypes.replaceTypes(CREATE_STATUSES));
+			s.executeUpdate(dbTypes.replaceTypes(CREATE_TRANSPORTS));
+			s.executeUpdate(dbTypes.replaceTypes(CREATE_OUTGOING_KEYS));
+			s.executeUpdate(dbTypes.replaceTypes(CREATE_INCOMING_KEYS));
 			s.close();
 		} catch (SQLException e) {
 			tryToClose(s);
@@ -524,15 +524,6 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 		}
 	}
 
-	private String insertTypeNames(String s) {
-		s = s.replaceAll("_HASH", hashType);
-		s = s.replaceAll("_SECRET", secretType);
-		s = s.replaceAll("_BINARY", binaryType);
-		s = s.replaceAll("_COUNTER", counterType);
-		s = s.replaceAll("_STRING", stringType);
-		return s;
-	}
-
 	@Override
 	public Connection startTransaction() throws DbException {
 		Connection txn;
@@ -1258,8 +1249,8 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 		PreparedStatement ps = null;
 		ResultSet rs = null;
 		try {
-			String sql = "SELECT authorId, formatVersion, name, publicKey,"
-					+ " localAuthorId, verified, active"
+			String sql = "SELECT authorId, formatVersion, name, alias,"
+					+ " publicKey, localAuthorId, verified, active"
 					+ " FROM contacts"
 					+ " WHERE contactId = ?";
 			ps = txn.prepareStatement(sql);
@@ -1269,15 +1260,17 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 			AuthorId authorId = new AuthorId(rs.getBytes(1));
 			int formatVersion = rs.getInt(2);
 			String name = rs.getString(3);
-			byte[] publicKey = rs.getBytes(4);
-			AuthorId localAuthorId = new AuthorId(rs.getBytes(5));
-			boolean verified = rs.getBoolean(6);
-			boolean active = rs.getBoolean(7);
+			String alias = rs.getString(4);
+			byte[] publicKey = rs.getBytes(5);
+			AuthorId localAuthorId = new AuthorId(rs.getBytes(6));
+			boolean verified = rs.getBoolean(7);
+			boolean active = rs.getBoolean(8);
 			rs.close();
 			ps.close();
 			Author author =
 					new Author(authorId, formatVersion, name, publicKey);
-			return new Contact(c, author, localAuthorId, verified, active);
+			return new Contact(c, author, localAuthorId, alias, verified,
+					active);
 		} catch (SQLException e) {
 			tryToClose(rs);
 			tryToClose(ps);
@@ -1292,7 +1285,7 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 		ResultSet rs = null;
 		try {
 			String sql = "SELECT contactId, authorId, formatVersion, name,"
-					+ " publicKey, localAuthorId, verified, active"
+					+ " alias, publicKey, localAuthorId, verified, active"
 					+ " FROM contacts";
 			ps = txn.prepareStatement(sql);
 			rs = ps.executeQuery();
@@ -1302,14 +1295,15 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 				AuthorId authorId = new AuthorId(rs.getBytes(2));
 				int formatVersion = rs.getInt(3);
 				String name = rs.getString(4);
-				byte[] publicKey = rs.getBytes(5);
+				String alias = rs.getString(5);
+				byte[] publicKey = rs.getBytes(6);
 				Author author =
 						new Author(authorId, formatVersion, name, publicKey);
-				AuthorId localAuthorId = new AuthorId(rs.getBytes(6));
-				boolean verified = rs.getBoolean(7);
-				boolean active = rs.getBoolean(8);
+				AuthorId localAuthorId = new AuthorId(rs.getBytes(7));
+				boolean verified = rs.getBoolean(8);
+				boolean active = rs.getBoolean(9);
 				contacts.add(new Contact(contactId, author, localAuthorId,
-						verified, active));
+						alias, verified, active));
 			}
 			rs.close();
 			ps.close();
@@ -1350,8 +1344,8 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 		PreparedStatement ps = null;
 		ResultSet rs = null;
 		try {
-			String sql = "SELECT contactId, formatVersion, name, publicKey,"
-					+ " localAuthorId, verified, active"
+			String sql = "SELECT contactId, formatVersion, name, alias,"
+					+ " publicKey, localAuthorId, verified, active"
 					+ " FROM contacts"
 					+ " WHERE authorId = ?";
 			ps = txn.prepareStatement(sql);
@@ -1362,14 +1356,15 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 				ContactId c = new ContactId(rs.getInt(1));
 				int formatVersion = rs.getInt(2);
 				String name = rs.getString(3);
-				byte[] publicKey = rs.getBytes(4);
-				AuthorId localAuthorId = new AuthorId(rs.getBytes(5));
-				boolean verified = rs.getBoolean(6);
-				boolean active = rs.getBoolean(7);
+				String alias = rs.getString(4);
+				byte[] publicKey = rs.getBytes(5);
+				AuthorId localAuthorId = new AuthorId(rs.getBytes(6));
+				boolean verified = rs.getBoolean(7);
+				boolean active = rs.getBoolean(8);
 				Author author =
 						new Author(remote, formatVersion, name, publicKey);
-				contacts.add(new Contact(c, author, localAuthorId, verified,
-						active));
+				contacts.add(new Contact(c, author, localAuthorId, alias,
+						verified, active));
 			}
 			rs.close();
 			ps.close();
@@ -2794,6 +2789,25 @@ abstract class JdbcDatabase implements Database<Connection> {
 		}
 	}
 
+	@Override
+	public void setContactAlias(Connection txn, ContactId c,
+			@Nullable String alias) throws DbException {
+		PreparedStatement ps = null;
+		try {
+			String sql = "UPDATE contacts SET alias = ? WHERE contactId = ?";
+			ps = txn.prepareStatement(sql);
+			if (alias == null) ps.setNull(1, VARCHAR);
+			else ps.setString(1, alias);
+			ps.setInt(2, c.getInt());
+			int affected = ps.executeUpdate();
+			if (affected < 0 || affected > 1) throw new DbStateException();
+			ps.close();
+		} catch (SQLException e) {
+			tryToClose(ps);
+			throw new DbException(e);
+		}
+	}
+
 	@Override
 	public void setGroupVisibility(Connection txn, ContactId c, GroupId g,
 			boolean shared) throws DbException {

bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/db/Migration40_41.java

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+package org.briarproject.bramble.db;
+
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DbException;
+
+import java.sql.Connection;
+import java.sql.SQLException;
+import java.sql.Statement;
+import java.util.logging.Logger;
+
+import javax.annotation.Nullable;
+
+import static java.util.logging.Level.WARNING;
+import static java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.util.LogUtils.logException;
+
+class Migration40_41 implements Migration<Connection> {
+
+	private static final Logger LOG = getLogger(Migration40_41.class.getName());
+
+	private final DatabaseTypes dbTypes;
+
+	public Migration40_41(DatabaseTypes databaseTypes) {
+		this.dbTypes = databaseTypes;
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public int getStartVersion() {
+		return 40;
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public int getEndVersion() {
+		return 41;
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public void migrate(Connection txn) throws DbException {
+		Statement s = null;
+		try {
+			s = txn.createStatement();
+			s.execute("ALTER TABLE contacts"
+					+ dbTypes.replaceTypes(" ADD alias VARCHAR"));
+		} catch (SQLException e) {
+			tryToClose(s);
+			throw new DbException(e);
+		}
+	}
+
+	private void tryToClose(@Nullable Statement s) {
+		try {
+			if (s != null) s.close();
+		} catch (SQLException e) {
+			logException(LOG, WARNING, e);
+		}
+	}
+}

bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/identity/IdentityManagerImpl.java

@@ -1,29 +1,21 @@
 package org.briarproject.bramble.identity;
 
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.Contact;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.crypto.CryptoComponent;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.crypto.KeyPair;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DatabaseComponent;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DbException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.Transaction;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorFactory;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorId;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.IdentityManager;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.LocalAuthor;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
 
-import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.logging.Logger;
 
 import javax.annotation.Nullable;
 import javax.annotation.concurrent.ThreadSafe;
 import javax.inject.Inject;
 
-import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status.OURSELVES;
-import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status.UNKNOWN;
-import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status.UNVERIFIED;
-import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status.VERIFIED;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.util.LogUtils.logDuration;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.util.LogUtils.now;
 
@@ -118,26 +110,4 @@ class IdentityManagerImpl implements IdentityManager {
 		return db.getLocalAuthors(txn).iterator().next();
 	}
 
-	@Override
-	public Status getAuthorStatus(AuthorId authorId) throws DbException {
-		Transaction txn = db.startTransaction(true);
-		try {
-			return getAuthorStatus(txn, authorId);
-		} finally {
-			db.endTransaction(txn);
-		}
-	}
-
-	@Override
-	public Status getAuthorStatus(Transaction txn, AuthorId authorId)
-			throws DbException {
-		if (getLocalAuthor(txn).getId().equals(authorId)) return OURSELVES;
-		Collection<Contact> contacts = db.getContactsByAuthorId(txn, authorId);
-		if (contacts.isEmpty()) return UNKNOWN;
-		for (Contact c : contacts) {
-			if (c.isVerified()) return VERIFIED;
-		}
-		return UNVERIFIED;
-	}
-
 }

bramble-core/src/test/java/org/briarproject/bramble/contact/ContactManagerImplTest.java

@@ -5,12 +5,17 @@ import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.ContactId;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.ContactManager;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.crypto.SecretKey;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DatabaseComponent;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DbException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.NoSuchContactException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.Transaction;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorId;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.IdentityManager;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.LocalAuthor;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.transport.KeyManager;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.test.BrambleMockTestCase;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.test.DbExpectations;
 import org.jmock.Expectations;
 import org.jmock.Mockery;
 import org.junit.Test;
@@ -20,10 +25,20 @@ import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.Random;
 
+import static java.util.Collections.emptyList;
+import static java.util.Collections.singletonList;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorConstants.MAX_AUTHOR_NAME_LENGTH;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.OURSELVES;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.UNKNOWN;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.UNVERIFIED;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.VERIFIED;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getAuthor;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getLocalAuthor;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getRandomId;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getSecretKey;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.util.StringUtils.getRandomString;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertNull;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
 
 public class ContactManagerImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
@@ -31,16 +46,20 @@ public class ContactManagerImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
 	private final Mockery context = new Mockery();
 	private final DatabaseComponent db = context.mock(DatabaseComponent.class);
 	private final KeyManager keyManager = context.mock(KeyManager.class);
+	private final IdentityManager identityManager =
+			context.mock(IdentityManager.class);
 	private final ContactManager contactManager;
 	private final ContactId contactId = new ContactId(42);
 	private final Author remote = getAuthor();
 	private final AuthorId local = new AuthorId(getRandomId());
+	private final LocalAuthor localAuthor = getLocalAuthor();
+	private final String alias = getRandomString(MAX_AUTHOR_NAME_LENGTH);
 	private final boolean verified = false, active = true;
 	private final Contact contact =
-			new Contact(contactId, remote, local, verified, active);
+			new Contact(contactId, remote, local, alias, verified, active);
 
 	public ContactManagerImplTest() {
-		contactManager = new ContactManagerImpl(db, keyManager);
+		contactManager = new ContactManagerImpl(db, keyManager, identityManager);
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -105,7 +124,7 @@ public class ContactManagerImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
 			oneOf(db).startTransaction(true);
 			will(returnValue(txn));
 			oneOf(db).getContactsByAuthorId(txn, remote.getId());
-			will(returnValue(Collections.emptyList()));
+			will(returnValue(emptyList()));
 			oneOf(db).endTransaction(txn);
 		}});
 
@@ -131,7 +150,8 @@ public class ContactManagerImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
 	public void testActiveContacts() throws Exception {
 		Collection<Contact> activeContacts = Collections.singletonList(contact);
 		Collection<Contact> contacts = new ArrayList<>(activeContacts);
-		contacts.add(new Contact(new ContactId(3), remote, local, true, false));
+		contacts.add(new Contact(new ContactId(3), remote, local, alias, true,
+				false));
 		Transaction txn = new Transaction(null, true);
 		context.checking(new Expectations() {{
 			oneOf(db).startTransaction(true);
@@ -171,6 +191,23 @@ public class ContactManagerImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
 		contactManager.setContactActive(txn, contactId, active);
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void testSetContactAlias() throws Exception {
+		Transaction txn = new Transaction(null, false);
+		context.checking(new DbExpectations() {{
+			oneOf(db).transaction(with(equal(false)), withDbRunnable(txn));
+			oneOf(db).setContactAlias(txn, contactId, alias);
+		}});
+
+		contactManager.setContactAlias(contactId, alias);
+	}
+
+	@Test(expected = IllegalArgumentException.class)
+	public void testSetContactAliasTooLong() throws Exception {
+		contactManager.setContactAlias(contactId,
+				getRandomString(MAX_AUTHOR_NAME_LENGTH + 1));
+	}
+
 	@Test
 	public void testContactExists() throws Exception {
 		Transaction txn = new Transaction(null, true);
@@ -186,4 +223,79 @@ public class ContactManagerImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
 		assertTrue(contactManager.contactExists(remote.getId(), local));
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void testGetAuthorStatus() throws Exception {
+		Transaction txn = new Transaction(null, true);
+		Collection<Contact> contacts = singletonList(
+				new Contact(new ContactId(1), remote, localAuthor.getId(),
+						alias, false, true));
+
+		context.checking(new DbExpectations() {{
+			oneOf(db).transactionWithResult(with(equal(true)),
+					withDbCallable(txn));
+			oneOf(identityManager).getLocalAuthor(txn);
+			will(returnValue(localAuthor));
+			oneOf(db).getContactsByAuthorId(txn, remote.getId());
+			will(returnValue(contacts));
+		}});
+		AuthorInfo authorInfo =
+				contactManager.getAuthorInfo(txn, remote.getId());
+		assertEquals(UNVERIFIED, authorInfo.getStatus());
+		assertEquals(alias, contact.getAlias());
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testGetAuthorStatusTransaction() throws DbException {
+		Transaction txn = new Transaction(null, true);
+
+		// check unknown author
+		context.checking(new Expectations() {{
+			oneOf(identityManager).getLocalAuthor(txn);
+			will(returnValue(localAuthor));
+			oneOf(db).getContactsByAuthorId(txn, remote.getId());
+			will(returnValue(emptyList()));
+		}});
+		AuthorInfo authorInfo =
+				contactManager.getAuthorInfo(txn, remote.getId());
+		assertEquals(UNKNOWN, authorInfo.getStatus());
+		assertNull(authorInfo.getAlias());
+
+		// check unverified contact
+		Collection<Contact> contacts = singletonList(
+				new Contact(new ContactId(1), remote, localAuthor.getId(),
+						alias, false, true));
+		checkAuthorStatusContext(txn, remote.getId(), contacts);
+		authorInfo = contactManager.getAuthorInfo(txn, remote.getId());
+		assertEquals(UNVERIFIED, authorInfo.getStatus());
+		assertEquals(alias, contact.getAlias());
+
+		// check verified contact
+		contacts = singletonList(new Contact(new ContactId(1), remote,
+				localAuthor.getId(), alias, true, true));
+		checkAuthorStatusContext(txn, remote.getId(), contacts);
+		authorInfo = contactManager.getAuthorInfo(txn, remote.getId());
+		assertEquals(VERIFIED, authorInfo.getStatus());
+		assertEquals(alias, contact.getAlias());
+
+		// check ourselves
+		context.checking(new Expectations() {{
+			oneOf(identityManager).getLocalAuthor(txn);
+			will(returnValue(localAuthor));
+			never(db).getContactsByAuthorId(txn, remote.getId());
+		}});
+		authorInfo = contactManager.getAuthorInfo(txn, localAuthor.getId());
+		assertEquals(OURSELVES, authorInfo.getStatus());
+		assertNull(authorInfo.getAlias());
+	}
+
+	private void checkAuthorStatusContext(Transaction txn, AuthorId authorId,
+			Collection<Contact> contacts) throws DbException {
+		context.checking(new Expectations() {{
+			oneOf(identityManager).getLocalAuthor(txn);
+			will(returnValue(localAuthor));
+			oneOf(db).getContactsByAuthorId(txn, authorId);
+			will(returnValue(contacts));
+		}});
+	}
+
 }

bramble-core/src/test/java/org/briarproject/bramble/db/DatabaseComponentImplTest.java

@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getMessage;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getRandomId;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getSecretKey;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getTransportId;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.util.StringUtils.getRandomString;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertFalse;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertNotNull;
@@ -99,6 +100,7 @@ public class DatabaseComponentImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
 	private final Group group;
 	private final Author author;
 	private final LocalAuthor localAuthor;
+	private final String alias;
 	private final Message message, message1;
 	private final MessageId messageId, messageId1;
 	private final Metadata metadata;
@@ -115,6 +117,7 @@ public class DatabaseComponentImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
 		groupId = group.getId();
 		author = getAuthor();
 		localAuthor = getLocalAuthor();
+		alias = getRandomString(5);
 		message = getMessage(groupId);
 		message1 = getMessage(groupId);
 		messageId = message.getId();
@@ -124,7 +127,7 @@ public class DatabaseComponentImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
 		transportId = getTransportId();
 		maxLatency = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
 		contactId = new ContactId(234);
-		contact = new Contact(contactId, author, localAuthor.getId(),
+		contact = new Contact(contactId, author, localAuthor.getId(), alias,
 				true, true);
 		keySetId = new KeySetId(345);
 	}
@@ -288,11 +291,11 @@ public class DatabaseComponentImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
 			throws Exception {
 		context.checking(new Expectations() {{
 			// Check whether the contact is in the DB (which it's not)
-			exactly(16).of(database).startTransaction();
+			exactly(17).of(database).startTransaction();
 			will(returnValue(txn));
-			exactly(16).of(database).containsContact(txn, contactId);
+			exactly(17).of(database).containsContact(txn, contactId);
 			will(returnValue(false));
-			exactly(16).of(database).abortTransaction(txn);
+			exactly(17).of(database).abortTransaction(txn);
 		}});
 		DatabaseComponent db = createDatabaseComponent(database, eventBus,
 				shutdown);
@@ -450,6 +453,16 @@ public class DatabaseComponentImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
 			db.endTransaction(transaction);
 		}
 
+		transaction = db.startTransaction(false);
+		try {
+			db.setContactAlias(transaction, contactId, alias);
+			fail();
+		} catch (NoSuchContactException expected) {
+			// Expected
+		} finally {
+			db.endTransaction(transaction);
+		}
+
 		transaction = db.startTransaction(false);
 		try {
 			db.setGroupVisibility(transaction, contactId, groupId, SHARED);

bramble-core/src/test/java/org/briarproject/bramble/db/JdbcDatabaseTest.java

@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ import static java.util.Collections.singletonList;
 import static java.util.Collections.singletonMap;
 import static java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit.SECONDS;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.Metadata.REMOVE;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorConstants.MAX_AUTHOR_NAME_LENGTH;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.Group.Visibility.INVISIBLE;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.Group.Visibility.SHARED;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.Group.Visibility.VISIBLE;
@@ -74,6 +75,7 @@ import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getRandomId;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getSecretKey;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getTestDirectory;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getTransportId;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.util.StringUtils.getRandomString;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertArrayEquals;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertFalse;
@@ -1713,6 +1715,39 @@ public abstract class JdbcDatabaseTest extends BrambleTestCase {
 		db.close();
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void testSetContactAlias() throws Exception {
+		Database<Connection> db = open(false);
+		Connection txn = db.startTransaction();
+
+		// Add a contact
+		db.addLocalAuthor(txn, localAuthor);
+		assertEquals(contactId, db.addContact(txn, author, localAuthor.getId(),
+				true, true));
+
+		// The contact should have no alias
+		Contact contact = db.getContact(txn, contactId);
+		assertNull(contact.getAlias());
+
+		// Set a contact alias
+		String alias = getRandomString(MAX_AUTHOR_NAME_LENGTH);
+		db.setContactAlias(txn, contactId, alias);
+
+		// The contact should have an alias
+		contact = db.getContact(txn, contactId);
+		assertEquals(alias, contact.getAlias());
+
+		// Set the contact alias null
+		db.setContactAlias(txn, contactId, null);
+
+		// The contact should have no alias
+		contact = db.getContact(txn, contactId);
+		assertNull(contact.getAlias());
+
+		db.commitTransaction(txn);
+		db.close();
+	}
+
 	@Test
 	public void testSetMessageState() throws Exception {
 		Database<Connection> db = open(false);

bramble-core/src/test/java/org/briarproject/bramble/identity/IdentityManagerImplTest.java

@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 package org.briarproject.bramble.identity;
 
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.Contact;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.ContactId;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.crypto.CryptoComponent;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.crypto.KeyPair;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.crypto.PrivateKey;
@@ -9,9 +7,7 @@ import org.briarproject.bramble.api.crypto.PublicKey;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DatabaseComponent;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DbException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.Transaction;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorFactory;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorId;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.IdentityManager;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.LocalAuthor;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.test.BrambleMockTestCase;
@@ -19,15 +15,9 @@ import org.jmock.Expectations;
 import org.junit.Before;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
-import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.Collections;
 
-import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status.OURSELVES;
-import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status.UNKNOWN;
-import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status.UNVERIFIED;
-import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status.VERIFIED;
-import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getAuthor;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getLocalAuthor;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
 
@@ -107,60 +97,4 @@ public class IdentityManagerImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
 		assertEquals(localAuthor, identityManager.getLocalAuthor());
 	}
 
-	@Test
-	public void testGetAuthorStatus() throws DbException {
-		Author author = getAuthor();
-		AuthorId authorId = author.getId();
-		Collection<Contact> contacts = new ArrayList<>();
-
-		context.checking(new Expectations() {{
-			oneOf(db).startTransaction(true);
-			will(returnValue(txn));
-			oneOf(db).getLocalAuthors(txn);
-			will(returnValue(localAuthors));
-			oneOf(db).getContactsByAuthorId(txn, authorId);
-			will(returnValue(contacts));
-			oneOf(db).endTransaction(txn);
-		}});
-		assertEquals(UNKNOWN, identityManager.getAuthorStatus(authorId));
-
-		// add one unverified contact
-		Contact contact = new Contact(new ContactId(1), author,
-				localAuthor.getId(), false, true);
-		contacts.add(contact);
-
-		checkAuthorStatusContext(authorId, contacts);
-		assertEquals(UNVERIFIED, identityManager.getAuthorStatus(authorId));
-
-		// add one verified contact
-		Contact contact2 = new Contact(new ContactId(1), author,
-				localAuthor.getId(), true, true);
-		contacts.add(contact2);
-
-		checkAuthorStatusContext(authorId, contacts);
-		assertEquals(VERIFIED, identityManager.getAuthorStatus(authorId));
-
-		context.checking(new Expectations() {{
-			oneOf(db).startTransaction(true);
-			will(returnValue(txn));
-			never(db).getLocalAuthors(txn);
-			never(db).getContactsByAuthorId(txn, authorId);
-			oneOf(db).endTransaction(txn);
-		}});
-		assertEquals(OURSELVES,
-				identityManager.getAuthorStatus(localAuthor.getId()));
-	}
-
-	private void checkAuthorStatusContext(AuthorId authorId,
-			Collection<Contact> contacts) throws DbException {
-		context.checking(new Expectations() {{
-			oneOf(db).startTransaction(true);
-			will(returnValue(txn));
-			never(db).getLocalAuthors(txn);
-			oneOf(db).getContactsByAuthorId(txn, authorId);
-			will(returnValue(contacts));
-			oneOf(db).endTransaction(txn);
-		}});
-	}
-
 }

bramble-core/src/test/java/org/briarproject/bramble/properties/TransportPropertyManagerImplTest.java

@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getGroup;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getLocalAuthor;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getMessage;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getRandomId;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.util.StringUtils.getRandomString;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertFalse;
 
@@ -612,7 +613,7 @@ public class TransportPropertyManagerImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
 	private Contact getContact(boolean active) {
 		ContactId c = new ContactId(nextContactId++);
 		return new Contact(c, getAuthor(), localAuthor.getId(),
-				true, active);
+				getRandomString(5), true, active);
 	}
 
 	private void expectGetLocalProperties(Transaction txn) throws Exception {

bramble-core/src/test/java/org/briarproject/bramble/test/DbExpectations.java

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+package org.briarproject.bramble.test;
+
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DbCallable;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DbRunnable;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.Transaction;
+import org.jmock.Expectations;
+
+public class DbExpectations extends Expectations {
+
+	protected <E extends Exception> DbRunnable<E> withDbRunnable(
+			Transaction txn) {
+		addParameterMatcher(any(DbRunnable.class));
+		currentBuilder().setAction(new RunTransactionAction(txn));
+		return null;
+	}
+
+	protected <R, E extends Exception> DbCallable<R, E> withDbCallable(
+			Transaction txn) {
+		addParameterMatcher(any(DbCallable.class));
+		currentBuilder().setAction(new RunTransactionWithResultAction(txn));
+		return null;
+	}
+
+}

bramble-core/src/test/java/org/briarproject/bramble/test/RunTransactionAction.java

@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+package org.briarproject.bramble.test;
+
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DbRunnable;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.Transaction;
+import org.hamcrest.Description;
+import org.jmock.api.Action;
+import org.jmock.api.Invocation;
+
+public class RunTransactionAction implements Action {
+
+	private final Transaction txn;
+
+	@SuppressWarnings("WeakerAccess")
+	public RunTransactionAction(Transaction txn) {
+		this.txn = txn;
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public Object invoke(Invocation invocation) throws Throwable {
+		DbRunnable task = (DbRunnable) invocation.getParameter(1);
+		task.run(txn);
+		return null;
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public void describeTo(Description description) {
+		description.appendText("runs a task inside a database transaction");
+	}
+
+}

bramble-core/src/test/java/org/briarproject/bramble/test/RunTransactionWithResultAction.java

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+package org.briarproject.bramble.test;
+
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DbCallable;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.Transaction;
+import org.hamcrest.Description;
+import org.jmock.api.Action;
+import org.jmock.api.Invocation;
+
+public class RunTransactionWithResultAction implements Action {
+
+	private final Transaction txn;
+
+	public RunTransactionWithResultAction(Transaction txn) {
+		this.txn = txn;
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public Object invoke(Invocation invocation) throws Throwable {
+		DbCallable task = (DbCallable) invocation.getParameter(1);
+		return task.call(txn);
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public void describeTo(Description description) {
+		description.appendText("runs a task inside a database transaction");
+	}
+}

bramble-core/src/test/java/org/briarproject/bramble/transport/KeyManagerImplTest.java

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getRandomBytes;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getRandomId;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getSecretKey;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getTransportId;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.util.StringUtils.getRandomString;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
 
 public class KeyManagerImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
@@ -66,10 +67,10 @@ public class KeyManagerImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
 		Author remoteAuthor = getAuthor();
 		AuthorId localAuthorId = new AuthorId(getRandomId());
 		Collection<Contact> contacts = new ArrayList<>();
-		contacts.add(new Contact(contactId, remoteAuthor, localAuthorId, true,
-				true));
+		contacts.add(new Contact(contactId, remoteAuthor, localAuthorId,
+				getRandomString(5), true, true));
 		contacts.add(new Contact(inactiveContactId, remoteAuthor, localAuthorId,
-				true, false));
+				getRandomString(5), true, false));
 		SimplexPluginFactory pluginFactory =
 				context.mock(SimplexPluginFactory.class);
 		Collection<SimplexPluginFactory> factories =

bramble-core/src/test/java/org/briarproject/bramble/versioning/ClientVersioningManagerImplTest.java

@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getGroup;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getLocalAuthor;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getMessage;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getRandomId;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.util.StringUtils.getRandomString;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.versioning.ClientVersioningConstants.GROUP_KEY_CONTACT_ID;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.versioning.ClientVersioningConstants.MSG_KEY_LOCAL;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.versioning.ClientVersioningConstants.MSG_KEY_UPDATE_VERSION;
@@ -56,7 +57,8 @@ public class ClientVersioningManagerImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
 	private final Group localGroup = getGroup(CLIENT_ID, MAJOR_VERSION);
 	private final Group contactGroup = getGroup(CLIENT_ID, MAJOR_VERSION);
 	private final Contact contact = new Contact(new ContactId(123),
-			getAuthor(), getLocalAuthor().getId(), true, true);
+			getAuthor(), getLocalAuthor().getId(), getRandomString(5), true,
+			true);
 	private final ClientId clientId = getClientId();
 	private final long now = System.currentTimeMillis();
 	private final Transaction txn = new Transaction(null, false);

briar-android/build.gradle

@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ android {
 	defaultConfig {
 		minSdkVersion 15
 		targetSdkVersion 26
-		versionCode 10104
-		versionName "1.1.4"
+		versionCode 10103
+		versionName "1.1.3"
 		applicationId "org.briarproject.briar.android"
 		buildConfigField "String", "GitHash",
 				"\"${getStdout(['git', 'rev-parse', '--short=7', 'HEAD'], 'No commit hash')}\""
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ dependencies {
 	implementation "com.android.support:cardview-v7:$supportVersion"
 	implementation "com.android.support:support-annotations:$supportVersion"
 	implementation 'com.android.support.constraint:constraint-layout:1.1.3'
+	implementation "android.arch.lifecycle:extensions:1.1.1"
 
 	implementation('ch.acra:acra:4.11') {
 		exclude module: 'support-v4'

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/AndroidComponent.java

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import org.briarproject.bramble.api.system.LocationUtils;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.plugin.tor.CircumventionProvider;
 import org.briarproject.briar.BriarCoreEagerSingletons;
 import org.briarproject.briar.BriarCoreModule;
+import org.briarproject.briar.android.contact.ConversationViewModel;
 import org.briarproject.briar.android.login.SignInReminderReceiver;
 import org.briarproject.briar.android.reporting.BriarReportSender;
 import org.briarproject.briar.android.view.TextInputView;
@@ -164,6 +165,8 @@ public interface AndroidComponent
 
 	void inject(TextInputView textInputView);
 
+	void inject(ConversationViewModel conversationViewModel);
+
 	// Eager singleton load
 	void inject(AppModule.EagerSingletons init);
 }

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/blog/BlogPostItem.java

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ package org.briarproject.briar.android.blog;
 import android.support.annotation.NonNull;
 
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.GroupId;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.MessageId;
 import org.briarproject.briar.api.blog.BlogPostHeader;
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import javax.annotation.concurrent.NotThreadSafe;
 public class BlogPostItem implements Comparable<BlogPostItem> {
 
 	private final BlogPostHeader header;
+	@Nullable
 	protected String text;
 	private boolean read;
 
@@ -40,10 +41,11 @@ public class BlogPostItem implements Comparable<BlogPostItem> {
 		return header.getAuthor();
 	}
 
-	Status getAuthorStatus() {
-		return header.getAuthorStatus();
+	AuthorInfo getAuthorInfo() {
+		return header.getAuthorInfo();
 	}
 
+	@Nullable
 	public String getText() {
 		return text;
 	}

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/blog/BlogPostViewHolder.java

@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ import android.view.ViewGroup;
 import android.widget.ImageButton;
 import android.widget.TextView;
 
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.MessageId;
 import org.briarproject.briar.R;
 import org.briarproject.briar.android.view.AuthorView;
@@ -98,9 +97,7 @@ class BlogPostViewHolder extends RecyclerView.ViewHolder {
 
 		// author and date
 		BlogPostHeader post = item.getPostHeader();
-		Author a = post.getAuthor();
-		author.setAuthor(a);
-		author.setAuthorStatus(post.getAuthorStatus());
+		author.setAuthor(post.getAuthor(), post.getAuthorInfo());
 		author.setDate(post.getTimestamp());
 		author.setPersona(
 				item.isRssFeed() ? AuthorView.RSS_FEED : AuthorView.NORMAL);
@@ -143,8 +140,7 @@ class BlogPostViewHolder extends RecyclerView.ViewHolder {
 
 	private void onBindComment(BlogCommentItem item) {
 		// reblogger
-		reblogger.setAuthor(item.getAuthor());
-		reblogger.setAuthorStatus(item.getAuthorStatus());
+		reblogger.setAuthor(item.getAuthor(), item.getAuthorInfo());
 		reblogger.setDate(item.getTimestamp());
 		if (!fullText) {
 			reblogger.setAuthorClickable(v -> listener.onAuthorClick(item));
@@ -165,8 +161,7 @@ class BlogPostViewHolder extends RecyclerView.ViewHolder {
 			AuthorView author = v.findViewById(R.id.authorView);
 			TextView text = v.findViewById(R.id.textView);
 
-			author.setAuthor(c.getAuthor());
-			author.setAuthorStatus(c.getAuthorStatus());
+			author.setAuthor(c.getAuthor(), c.getAuthorInfo());
 			author.setDate(c.getTimestamp());
 			// TODO make author clickable #624
 

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/contact/AliasDialogFragment.java

@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+package org.briarproject.briar.android.contact;
+
+import android.arch.lifecycle.ViewModelProviders;
+import android.os.Bundle;
+import android.support.annotation.NonNull;
+import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatDialogFragment;
+import android.view.LayoutInflater;
+import android.view.View;
+import android.view.ViewGroup;
+import android.widget.Button;
+import android.widget.EditText;
+
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.Contact;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.ContactId;
+import org.briarproject.briar.R;
+
+public class AliasDialogFragment extends AppCompatDialogFragment {
+
+	final static String TAG = AliasDialogFragment.class.getName();
+
+	private ConversationViewModel viewModel;
+	private ContactId contactId;
+	private EditText aliasEditText;
+
+	public static AliasDialogFragment newInstance(ContactId id) {
+		AliasDialogFragment f = new AliasDialogFragment();
+
+		Bundle args = new Bundle();
+		args.putInt("contactId", id.getInt());
+		f.setArguments(args);
+
+		return f;
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
+		super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
+
+		if (getArguments() == null) throw new IllegalArgumentException();
+		int contactIdInt = getArguments().getInt("contactId", -1);
+		if (contactIdInt == -1) throw new IllegalArgumentException();
+		contactId = new ContactId(contactIdInt);
+
+		setStyle(STYLE_NO_TITLE, R.style.BriarDialogTheme);
+
+		viewModel =
+				ViewModelProviders.of(getActivity()).get(ConversationViewModel.class);
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public View onCreateView(@NonNull LayoutInflater inflater,
+			ViewGroup container, Bundle savedInstanceState) {
+
+		View v = inflater.inflate(R.layout.fragment_alias_dialog, container,
+				false);
+
+		aliasEditText = v.findViewById(R.id.aliasEditText);
+		Contact contact = viewModel.getContact().getValue();
+		String alias = contact == null ? null : contact.getAlias();
+		aliasEditText.setText(alias);
+		if (alias != null) aliasEditText.setSelection(alias.length());
+
+		Button setButton = v.findViewById(R.id.setButton);
+		setButton.setOnClickListener(v1 -> {
+			viewModel.setContactAlias(contactId,
+					aliasEditText.getText().toString());
+			getDialog().dismiss();
+		});
+
+		Button cancelButton = v.findViewById(R.id.cancelButton);
+		cancelButton.setOnClickListener(v1 -> getDialog().cancel());
+
+		return v;
+	}
+}

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/contact/BaseContactListAdapter.java

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package org.briarproject.briar.android.contact;
 
 import android.content.Context;
+import android.support.annotation.NonNull;
 import android.view.View;
 
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.ContactId;
@@ -9,6 +10,7 @@ import org.briarproject.briar.android.util.BriarAdapter;
 import javax.annotation.Nullable;
 
 import static android.support.v7.util.SortedList.INVALID_POSITION;
+import static org.briarproject.briar.android.util.UiUtils.getContactDisplayName;
 
 public abstract class BaseContactListAdapter<I extends ContactItem, VH extends ContactItemViewHolder<I>>
 		extends BriarAdapter<I, VH> {
@@ -23,15 +25,15 @@ public abstract class BaseContactListAdapter<I extends ContactItem, VH extends C
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public void onBindViewHolder(VH ui, int position) {
+	public void onBindViewHolder(@NonNull VH ui, int position) {
 		I item = items.get(position);
 		ui.bind(item, listener);
 	}
 
 	@Override
 	public int compare(I c1, I c2) {
-		return c1.getContact().getAuthor().getName()
-				.compareTo(c2.getContact().getAuthor().getName());
+		return getContactDisplayName(c1.getContact())
+				.compareTo(getContactDisplayName(c2.getContact()));
 	}
 
 	@Override

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/contact/ContactItemViewHolder.java

@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ import javax.annotation.Nullable;
 
 import im.delight.android.identicons.IdenticonDrawable;
 
+import static org.briarproject.briar.android.util.UiUtils.getContactDisplayName;
+
 @UiThread
 @NotNullByDefault
 public class ContactItemViewHolder<I extends ContactItem>
@@ -41,8 +43,7 @@ public class ContactItemViewHolder<I extends ContactItem>
 		Author author = item.getContact().getAuthor();
 		avatar.setImageDrawable(
 				new IdenticonDrawable(author.getId().getBytes()));
-		String contactName = author.getName();
-		name.setText(contactName);
+		name.setText(getContactDisplayName(item.getContact()));
 
 		if (bulb != null) {
 			// online/offline

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/contact/ConversationActivity.java

@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 package org.briarproject.briar.android.contact;
 
-import android.arch.lifecycle.MutableLiveData;
+import android.arch.lifecycle.LiveData;
 import android.arch.lifecycle.Observer;
+import android.arch.lifecycle.ViewModelProviders;
 import android.content.DialogInterface;
 import android.content.Intent;
 import android.os.Bundle;
@@ -23,7 +24,6 @@ import android.widget.TextView;
 import android.widget.Toast;
 
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.FormatException;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.Contact;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.ContactId;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.ContactManager;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.event.ContactRemovedEvent;
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.NoSuchContactException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.event.Event;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.event.EventBus;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.event.EventListener;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorId;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.MethodsNotNullByDefault;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.ParametersNotNullByDefault;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.plugin.ConnectionRegistry;
@@ -131,8 +130,8 @@ public class ConversationActivity extends BriarActivity
 	Executor cryptoExecutor;
 
 	private final Map<MessageId, String> textCache = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
-	private final MutableLiveData<String> contactName = new MutableLiveData<>();
 
+	private ConversationViewModel viewModel;
 	private ConversationVisitor visitor;
 	private ConversationAdapter adapter;
 	private Toolbar toolbar;
@@ -166,8 +165,6 @@ public class ConversationActivity extends BriarActivity
 
 	private volatile ContactId contactId;
 	@Nullable
-	private volatile AuthorId contactAuthorId;
-	@Nullable
 	private volatile GroupId messagingGroupId;
 
 	@SuppressWarnings("ConstantConditions")
@@ -176,6 +173,9 @@ public class ConversationActivity extends BriarActivity
 		setSceneTransitionAnimation();
 		super.onCreate(state);
 
+		viewModel =
+				ViewModelProviders.of(this).get(ConversationViewModel.class);
+
 		Intent i = getIntent();
 		int id = i.getIntExtra(CONTACT_ID, -1);
 		if (id == -1) throw new IllegalStateException();
@@ -185,16 +185,29 @@ public class ConversationActivity extends BriarActivity
 
 		// Custom Toolbar
 		toolbar = setUpCustomToolbar(true);
-		if (toolbar != null) {
-			toolbarAvatar = toolbar.findViewById(R.id.contactAvatar);
-			toolbarStatus = toolbar.findViewById(R.id.contactStatus);
-			toolbarTitle = toolbar.findViewById(R.id.contactName);
-		}
+		toolbarAvatar = toolbar.findViewById(R.id.contactAvatar);
+		toolbarStatus = toolbar.findViewById(R.id.contactStatus);
+		toolbarTitle = toolbar.findViewById(R.id.contactName);
+
+		viewModel.getContactAuthorId().observe(this, authorId -> {
+			toolbarAvatar.setImageDrawable(
+					new IdenticonDrawable(authorId.getBytes()));
+			// we only need this once
+			viewModel.getContactAuthorId().removeObservers(this);
+		});
+		viewModel.getContactDisplayName().observe(this, contactName -> {
+			toolbarTitle.setText(contactName);
+		});
+		viewModel.isContactDeleted().observe(this, deleted -> {
+			if (deleted != null && deleted) finish();
+		});
+		viewModel.loadContact(contactId);
 
 		setTransitionName(toolbarAvatar, getAvatarTransitionName(contactId));
 		setTransitionName(toolbarStatus, getBulbTransitionName(contactId));
 
-		visitor = new ConversationVisitor(this, this, contactName);
+		visitor = new ConversationVisitor(this, this,
+				viewModel.getContactDisplayName());
 		adapter = new ConversationAdapter(this, this);
 		list = findViewById(R.id.conversationView);
 		list.setLayoutManager(new LinearLayoutManager(this));
@@ -229,7 +242,19 @@ public class ConversationActivity extends BriarActivity
 		notificationManager.blockContactNotification(contactId);
 		notificationManager.clearContactNotification(contactId);
 		displayContactOnlineStatus();
-		loadContactDetailsAndMessages();
+		LiveData<String> contactName = viewModel.getContactDisplayName();
+		if (contactName.getValue() == null) {
+			// wait for contact name to be initialized
+			contactName.observe(this, new Observer<String>() {
+				@Override
+				public void onChanged(@Nullable String cName) {
+					if (cName != null) {
+						loadMessages();
+						contactName.removeObserver(this);
+					}
+				}
+			});
+		} else loadMessages();
 		list.startPeriodicUpdate();
 	}
 
@@ -266,6 +291,10 @@ public class ConversationActivity extends BriarActivity
 				intent.putExtra(CONTACT_ID, contactId.getInt());
 				startActivityForResult(intent, REQUEST_INTRODUCTION);
 				return true;
+			case R.id.action_set_alias:
+				AliasDialogFragment.newInstance(contactId).show(
+						getSupportFragmentManager(), AliasDialogFragment.TAG);
+				return true;
 			case R.id.action_social_remove_person:
 				askToRemoveContact();
 				return true;
@@ -274,36 +303,6 @@ public class ConversationActivity extends BriarActivity
 		}
 	}
 
-	private void loadContactDetailsAndMessages() {
-		runOnDbThread(() -> {
-			try {
-				long start = now();
-				if (contactAuthorId == null) {
-					Contact contact = contactManager.getContact(contactId);
-					contactName.postValue(contact.getAuthor().getName());
-					contactAuthorId = contact.getAuthor().getId();
-				}
-				logDuration(LOG, "Loading contact", start);
-				loadMessages();
-				displayContactDetails();
-			} catch (NoSuchContactException e) {
-				finishOnUiThread();
-			} catch (DbException e) {
-				logException(LOG, WARNING, e);
-			}
-		});
-	}
-
-	// contactAuthorId and contactName are expected to be set
-	private void displayContactDetails() {
-		runOnUiThreadUnlessDestroyed(() -> {
-			//noinspection ConstantConditions
-			toolbarAvatar.setImageDrawable(
-					new IdenticonDrawable(contactAuthorId.getBytes()));
-			toolbarTitle.setText(contactName.getValue());
-		});
-	}
-
 	private void displayContactOnlineStatus() {
 		runOnUiThreadUnlessDestroyed(() -> {
 			if (connectionRegistry.isConnected(contactId)) {
@@ -453,15 +452,17 @@ public class ConversationActivity extends BriarActivity
 	private void onNewPrivateMessage(PrivateMessageHeader h) {
 		runOnUiThreadUnlessDestroyed(() -> {
 			if (h instanceof PrivateRequest || h instanceof PrivateResponse) {
-				String cName = contactName.getValue();
+				String cName = viewModel.getContactDisplayName().getValue();
 				if (cName == null) {
 					// Wait for the contact name to be loaded
-					contactName.observe(this, new Observer<String>() {
+					viewModel.getContactDisplayName()
+							.observe(this, new Observer<String>() {
 						@Override
 						public void onChanged(@Nullable String cName) {
 							if (cName != null) {
 								addConversationItem(h.accept(visitor));
-								contactName.removeObserver(this);
+								viewModel.getContactDisplayName()
+										.removeObserver(this);
 							}
 						}
 					});

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/contact/ConversationViewModel.java

@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+package org.briarproject.briar.android.contact;
+
+import android.app.Application;
+import android.arch.lifecycle.AndroidViewModel;
+import android.arch.lifecycle.LiveData;
+import android.arch.lifecycle.MutableLiveData;
+import android.arch.lifecycle.Transformations;
+import android.support.annotation.NonNull;
+
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.Contact;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.ContactId;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.ContactManager;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DatabaseExecutor;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DbException;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.NoSuchContactException;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorId;
+import org.briarproject.briar.android.AndroidComponent;
+import org.briarproject.briar.android.BriarApplication;
+import org.briarproject.briar.android.util.UiUtils;
+
+import java.util.concurrent.Executor;
+import java.util.logging.Logger;
+
+import javax.inject.Inject;
+
+import static java.util.logging.Level.WARNING;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.util.LogUtils.logDuration;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.util.LogUtils.logException;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.util.LogUtils.now;
+
+public class ConversationViewModel extends AndroidViewModel {
+
+	private static Logger LOG =
+			Logger.getLogger(ConversationViewModel.class.getName());
+
+	@Inject
+	@DatabaseExecutor
+	Executor dbExecutor;
+	@Inject
+	ContactManager contactManager;
+
+	private final MutableLiveData<Contact> contact = new MutableLiveData<>();
+	private final LiveData<AuthorId> contactAuthorId =
+			Transformations.map(contact, c -> c.getAuthor().getId());
+	private final LiveData<String> contactName =
+			Transformations.map(contact, UiUtils::getContactDisplayName);
+	private final MutableLiveData<Boolean> contactDeleted =
+			new MutableLiveData<>();
+
+	public ConversationViewModel(@NonNull Application application) {
+		super(application);
+		AndroidComponent component =
+				((BriarApplication) application).getApplicationComponent();
+		component.inject(this);
+		contactDeleted.setValue(false);
+	}
+
+	void loadContact(ContactId contactId) {
+		dbExecutor.execute(() -> {
+			try {
+				long start = now();
+				contact.postValue(contactManager.getContact(contactId));
+				logDuration(LOG, "Loading contact", start);
+			} catch (NoSuchContactException e) {
+				contactDeleted.postValue(true);
+			} catch (DbException e) {
+				logException(LOG, WARNING, e);
+			}
+		});
+	}
+
+	void setContactAlias(ContactId contactId, String alias) {
+		dbExecutor.execute(() -> {
+			try {
+				contactManager.setContactAlias(contactId,
+						alias.isEmpty() ? null : alias);
+				loadContact(contactId);
+			} catch (DbException e) {
+				logException(LOG, WARNING, e);
+			}
+		});
+	}
+
+	LiveData<Contact> getContact() {
+		return contact;
+	}
+
+	LiveData<AuthorId> getContactAuthorId() {
+		return contactAuthorId;
+	}
+
+	LiveData<String> getContactDisplayName() {
+		return contactName;
+	}
+
+	LiveData<Boolean> isContactDeleted() {
+		return contactDeleted;
+	}
+
+}

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/contact/ConversationVisitor.java

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import static org.briarproject.briar.android.contact.ConversationRequestItem.Req
 import static org.briarproject.briar.android.contact.ConversationRequestItem.RequestType.FORUM;
 import static org.briarproject.briar.android.contact.ConversationRequestItem.RequestType.GROUP;
 import static org.briarproject.briar.android.contact.ConversationRequestItem.RequestType.INTRODUCTION;
+import static org.briarproject.briar.android.util.UiUtils.getContactDisplayName;
 
 @UiThread
 @NotNullByDefault
@@ -188,33 +189,36 @@ class ConversationVisitor implements PrivateMessageVisitor<ConversationItem> {
 
 	@Override
 	public ConversationItem visitIntroductionRequest(IntroductionRequest r) {
+		String name = getContactDisplayName(r.getNameable(), r.getAlias());
 		if (r.isLocal()) {
 			String text = ctx.getString(R.string.introduction_request_sent,
-					contactName.getValue(), r.getName());
+					contactName.getValue(), name);
 			return new ConversationNoticeOutItem(text, r);
 		} else {
 			String text = ctx.getString(R.string.introduction_request_received,
-					contactName.getValue(), r.getName());
+					contactName.getValue(), name);
 			return new ConversationRequestItem(text, INTRODUCTION, r);
 		}
 	}
 
 	@Override
 	public ConversationItem visitIntroductionResponse(IntroductionResponse r) {
+		String introducedAuthor =
+				getContactDisplayName(r.getIntroducedAuthor(),
+						r.getIntroducedAuthorInfo().getAlias());
 		if (r.isLocal()) {
 			String text;
 			if (r.wasAccepted()) {
-				String introducee = r.getIntroducedAuthor().getName();
 				text = ctx.getString(
 						R.string.introduction_response_accepted_sent,
-						introducee)
+						introducedAuthor)
 						+ "\n\n" + ctx.getString(
 						R.string.introduction_response_accepted_sent_info,
-						introducee);
+						introducedAuthor);
 			} else {
 				text = ctx.getString(
 						R.string.introduction_response_declined_sent,
-						r.getIntroducedAuthor().getName());
+						introducedAuthor);
 			}
 			return new ConversationNoticeOutItem(text, r);
 		} else {
@@ -223,17 +227,17 @@ class ConversationVisitor implements PrivateMessageVisitor<ConversationItem> {
 				text = ctx.getString(
 						R.string.introduction_response_accepted_received,
 						contactName.getValue(),
-						r.getIntroducedAuthor().getName());
+						introducedAuthor);
 			} else if (r.isIntroducer()) {
 				text = ctx.getString(
 						R.string.introduction_response_declined_received,
 						contactName.getValue(),
-						r.getIntroducedAuthor().getName());
+						introducedAuthor);
 			} else {
 				text = ctx.getString(
 						R.string.introduction_response_declined_received_by_introducee,
 						contactName.getValue(),
-						r.getIntroducedAuthor().getName());
+						introducedAuthor);
 			}
 			return new ConversationNoticeInItem(text, r);
 		}

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/forum/ForumItem.java

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 package org.briarproject.briar.android.forum;
 
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.MessageId;
 import org.briarproject.briar.android.threaded.ThreadItem;
 import org.briarproject.briar.api.forum.ForumPostHeader;
@@ -14,11 +14,11 @@ class ForumItem extends ThreadItem {
 
 	ForumItem(ForumPostHeader h, String text) {
 		super(h.getId(), h.getParentId(), text, h.getTimestamp(), h.getAuthor(),
-				h.getAuthorStatus(), h.isRead());
+				h.getAuthorInfo(), h.isRead());
 	}
 
 	ForumItem(MessageId messageId, @Nullable MessageId parentId, String text,
-			long timestamp, Author author, Status status) {
+			long timestamp, Author author, AuthorInfo status) {
 		super(messageId, parentId, text, timestamp, author, status, true);
 	}
 

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/introduction/IntroductionMessageFragment.java

@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ import static android.view.View.VISIBLE;
 import static android.widget.Toast.LENGTH_SHORT;
 import static java.util.logging.Level.WARNING;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.util.LogUtils.logException;
+import static org.briarproject.briar.android.util.UiUtils.getContactDisplayName;
 import static org.briarproject.briar.api.introduction.IntroductionConstants.MAX_INTRODUCTION_TEXT_LENGTH;
 
 public class IntroductionMessageFragment extends BaseFragment
@@ -148,8 +149,8 @@ public class IntroductionMessageFragment extends BaseFragment
 					c2.getAuthor().getId().getBytes()));
 
 			// set contact names
-			ui.contactName1.setText(c1.getAuthor().getName());
-			ui.contactName2.setText(c2.getAuthor().getName());
+			ui.contactName1.setText(getContactDisplayName(c1));
+			ui.contactName2.setText(getContactDisplayName(c2));
 
 			// hide progress bar
 			ui.progressBar.setVisibility(GONE);

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/privategroup/conversation/GroupMessageItem.java

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import android.support.annotation.LayoutRes;
 import android.support.annotation.UiThread;
 
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.GroupId;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.MessageId;
 import org.briarproject.briar.R;
@@ -22,14 +22,14 @@ class GroupMessageItem extends ThreadItem {
 
 	private GroupMessageItem(MessageId messageId, GroupId groupId,
 			@Nullable MessageId parentId, String text, long timestamp,
-			Author author, Status status, boolean isRead) {
+			Author author, AuthorInfo status, boolean isRead) {
 		super(messageId, parentId, text, timestamp, author, status, isRead);
 		this.groupId = groupId;
 	}
 
 	GroupMessageItem(GroupMessageHeader h, String text) {
 		this(h.getId(), h.getGroupId(), h.getParentId(), text, h.getTimestamp(),
-				h.getAuthor(), h.getAuthorStatus(), h.isRead());
+				h.getAuthor(), h.getAuthorInfo(), h.isRead());
 	}
 
 	public GroupId getGroupId() {

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/privategroup/conversation/JoinMessageItemViewHolder.java

@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ import org.briarproject.briar.R;
 import org.briarproject.briar.android.threaded.BaseThreadItemViewHolder;
 import org.briarproject.briar.android.threaded.ThreadItemAdapter.ThreadItemListener;
 
-import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status.OURSELVES;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.OURSELVES;
+import static org.briarproject.briar.android.util.UiUtils.getContactDisplayName;
 
 @UiThread
 @NotNullByDefault
@@ -36,24 +37,27 @@ class JoinMessageItemViewHolder
 		if (item.isInitial()) {
 			textView.setText(R.string.groups_member_created_you);
 		} else {
-			textView.setText(
-					getContext().getString(R.string.groups_member_joined,
-							item.getAuthor().getName()));
+			String name = getContactDisplayName(item.getAuthor(),
+					item.getAuthorInfo().getAlias());
+			textView.setText(getContext()
+					.getString(R.string.groups_member_joined, name));
 		}
 	}
 
 	private void bind(JoinMessageItem item) {
 		Context ctx = getContext();
+		String name = getContactDisplayName(item.getAuthor(),
+				item.getAuthorInfo().getAlias());
 
 		if (item.isInitial()) {
-			textView.setText(ctx.getString(R.string.groups_member_created,
-					item.getAuthor().getName()));
+			textView.setText(
+					ctx.getString(R.string.groups_member_created, name));
 		} else {
-			if (item.getStatus() == OURSELVES) {
+			if (item.getAuthorInfo().getStatus() == OURSELVES) {
 				textView.setText(R.string.groups_member_joined_you);
 			} else {
-				textView.setText(ctx.getString(R.string.groups_member_joined,
-						item.getAuthor().getName()));
+				textView.setText(
+						ctx.getString(R.string.groups_member_joined, name));
 			}
 		}
 	}

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/privategroup/invitation/GroupInvitationViewHolder.java

@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import org.briarproject.briar.api.privategroup.invitation.GroupInvitationItem;
 
 import javax.annotation.Nullable;
 
+import static org.briarproject.briar.android.util.UiUtils.getContactDisplayName;
+
 class GroupInvitationViewHolder
 		extends InvitationViewHolder<GroupInvitationItem> {
 
@@ -24,7 +26,7 @@ class GroupInvitationViewHolder
 
 		sharedBy.setText(
 				sharedBy.getContext().getString(R.string.groups_created_by,
-						item.getCreator().getAuthor().getName()));
+						getContactDisplayName(item.getCreator())));
 	}
 
 }

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/privategroup/list/GroupItem.java

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package org.briarproject.briar.android.privategroup.list;
 
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.GroupId;
 import org.briarproject.briar.api.client.MessageTracker.GroupCount;
@@ -12,12 +13,15 @@ import org.briarproject.briar.api.privategroup.PrivateGroup;
 class GroupItem {
 
 	private final PrivateGroup privateGroup;
+	private final AuthorInfo authorInfo;
 	private int messageCount, unreadCount;
 	private long timestamp;
 	private boolean dissolved;
 
-	GroupItem(PrivateGroup privateGroup, GroupCount count, boolean dissolved) {
+	GroupItem(PrivateGroup privateGroup, AuthorInfo authorInfo,
+			GroupCount count, boolean dissolved) {
 		this.privateGroup = privateGroup;
+		this.authorInfo = authorInfo;
 		this.messageCount = count.getMsgCount();
 		this.unreadCount = count.getUnreadCount();
 		this.timestamp = count.getLatestMsgTime();
@@ -46,6 +50,10 @@ class GroupItem {
 		return privateGroup.getCreator();
 	}
 
+	AuthorInfo getCreatorInfo() {
+		return authorInfo;
+	}
+
 	String getName() {
 		return privateGroup.getName();
 	}

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/privategroup/list/GroupListControllerImpl.java

@@ -2,12 +2,15 @@ package org.briarproject.briar.android.privategroup.list;
 
 import android.support.annotation.CallSuper;
 
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.ContactManager;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DatabaseExecutor;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DbException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.NoSuchGroupException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.event.Event;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.event.EventBus;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.event.EventListener;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorId;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.lifecycle.LifecycleManager;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.MethodsNotNullByDefault;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.ParametersNotNullByDefault;
@@ -30,7 +33,9 @@ import org.briarproject.briar.api.privategroup.invitation.GroupInvitationManager
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collection;
+import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.concurrent.Executor;
 import java.util.logging.Logger;
 
@@ -52,6 +57,7 @@ class GroupListControllerImpl extends DbControllerImpl
 
 	private final PrivateGroupManager groupManager;
 	private final GroupInvitationManager groupInvitationManager;
+	private final ContactManager contactManager;
 	private final AndroidNotificationManager notificationManager;
 	private final EventBus eventBus;
 
@@ -61,10 +67,12 @@ class GroupListControllerImpl extends DbControllerImpl
 	GroupListControllerImpl(@DatabaseExecutor Executor dbExecutor,
 			LifecycleManager lifecycleManager, PrivateGroupManager groupManager,
 			GroupInvitationManager groupInvitationManager,
+			ContactManager contactManager,
 			AndroidNotificationManager notificationManager, EventBus eventBus) {
 		super(dbExecutor, lifecycleManager);
 		this.groupManager = groupManager;
 		this.groupInvitationManager = groupInvitationManager;
+		this.contactManager = contactManager;
 		this.notificationManager = notificationManager;
 		this.eventBus = eventBus;
 	}
@@ -153,12 +161,22 @@ class GroupListControllerImpl extends DbControllerImpl
 				Collection<PrivateGroup> groups =
 						groupManager.getPrivateGroups();
 				List<GroupItem> items = new ArrayList<>(groups.size());
+				Map<AuthorId, AuthorInfo> authorInfos = new HashMap<>();
 				for (PrivateGroup g : groups) {
 					try {
 						GroupId id = g.getId();
+						AuthorId authorId = g.getCreator().getId();
+						AuthorInfo authorInfo;
+						if (authorInfos.containsKey(authorId)) {
+							authorInfo = authorInfos.get(authorId);
+						} else {
+							authorInfo = contactManager.getAuthorInfo(authorId);
+							authorInfos.put(authorId, authorInfo);
+						}
 						GroupCount count = groupManager.getGroupCount(id);
 						boolean dissolved = groupManager.isDissolved(id);
-						items.add(new GroupItem(g, count, dissolved));
+						items.add(
+								new GroupItem(g, authorInfo, count, dissolved));
 					} catch (NoSuchGroupException e) {
 						// Continue
 					}

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/privategroup/list/GroupViewHolder.java

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import static android.view.View.GONE;
 import static android.view.View.VISIBLE;
 import static org.briarproject.briar.android.activity.BriarActivity.GROUP_ID;
 import static org.briarproject.briar.android.activity.BriarActivity.GROUP_NAME;
+import static org.briarproject.briar.android.util.UiUtils.getContactDisplayName;
 
 @MethodsNotNullByDefault
 @ParametersNotNullByDefault
@@ -60,8 +61,9 @@ class GroupViewHolder extends RecyclerView.ViewHolder {
 		name.setText(group.getName());
 
 		// Creator
-		creator.setText(ctx.getString(R.string.groups_created_by,
-				group.getCreator().getName()));
+		String creatorName = getContactDisplayName(group.getCreator(),
+				group.getCreatorInfo().getAlias());
+		creator.setText(ctx.getString(R.string.groups_created_by, creatorName));
 
 		if (!group.isDissolved()) {
 			// full visibility

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/privategroup/memberlist/MemberListAdapter.java

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package org.briarproject.briar.android.privategroup.memberlist;
 
 import android.content.Context;
+import android.support.annotation.NonNull;
 import android.view.LayoutInflater;
 import android.view.View;
 import android.view.ViewGroup;
@@ -8,6 +9,8 @@ import android.view.ViewGroup;
 import org.briarproject.briar.R;
 import org.briarproject.briar.android.util.BriarAdapter;
 
+import static org.briarproject.briar.android.util.UiUtils.getContactDisplayName;
+
 class MemberListAdapter extends
 		BriarAdapter<MemberListItem, MemberListItemHolder> {
 
@@ -15,8 +18,9 @@ class MemberListAdapter extends
 		super(context, MemberListItem.class);
 	}
 
+	@NonNull
 	@Override
-	public MemberListItemHolder onCreateViewHolder(ViewGroup viewGroup,
+	public MemberListItemHolder onCreateViewHolder(@NonNull ViewGroup viewGroup,
 			int i) {
 		View v = LayoutInflater.from(ctx).inflate(
 				R.layout.list_item_group_member, viewGroup, false);
@@ -24,13 +28,18 @@ class MemberListAdapter extends
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public void onBindViewHolder(MemberListItemHolder ui, int position) {
+	public void onBindViewHolder(@NonNull MemberListItemHolder ui,
+			int position) {
 		ui.bind(items.get(position));
 	}
 
 	@Override
 	public int compare(MemberListItem m1, MemberListItem m2) {
-		return m1.getMember().getName().compareTo(m2.getMember().getName());
+		String n1 = getContactDisplayName(m1.getMember(),
+				m1.getAuthorInfo().getAlias());
+		String n2 = getContactDisplayName(m2.getMember(),
+				m2.getAuthorInfo().getAlias());
+		return n1.compareTo(n2);
 	}
 
 	@Override

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/privategroup/memberlist/MemberListItem.java

@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@ package org.briarproject.briar.android.privategroup.memberlist;
 
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.ContactId;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
 import org.briarproject.briar.api.privategroup.GroupMember;
 
@@ -25,8 +26,12 @@ class MemberListItem {
 		return groupMember.getAuthor();
 	}
 
+	AuthorInfo getAuthorInfo() {
+		return groupMember.getAuthorInfo();
+	}
+
 	Status getStatus() {
-		return groupMember.getStatus();
+		return groupMember.getAuthorInfo().getStatus();
 	}
 
 	boolean isCreator() {

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/privategroup/memberlist/MemberListItemHolder.java

@@ -10,7 +10,10 @@ import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
 import org.briarproject.briar.R;
 import org.briarproject.briar.android.view.AuthorView;
 
-import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status.OURSELVES;
+import static android.view.View.GONE;
+import static android.view.View.VISIBLE;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.OURSELVES;
+import static org.briarproject.briar.android.util.UiUtils.getContactDisplayName;
 
 @UiThread
 @NotNullByDefault
@@ -29,33 +32,33 @@ class MemberListItemHolder extends RecyclerView.ViewHolder {
 
 	protected void bind(MemberListItem item) {
 		// member name, avatar and status
-		author.setAuthor(item.getMember());
-		author.setAuthorStatus(item.getStatus());
+		author.setAuthor(item.getMember(), item.getAuthorInfo());
 
 		// online status of visible contacts
 		if (item.getContactId() != null) {
-			bulb.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
+			bulb.setVisibility(VISIBLE);
 			if (item.isOnline()) {
 				bulb.setImageResource(R.drawable.contact_connected);
 			} else {
 				bulb.setImageResource(R.drawable.contact_disconnected);
 			}
 		} else {
-			bulb.setVisibility(View.GONE);
+			bulb.setVisibility(GONE);
 		}
 
 		// text shown for creator
 		if (item.isCreator()) {
-			creator.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
+			creator.setVisibility(VISIBLE);
 			if (item.getStatus() == OURSELVES) {
 				creator.setText(R.string.groups_member_created_you);
 			} else {
+				String name = getContactDisplayName(item.getMember(),
+						item.getAuthorInfo().getAlias());
 				creator.setText(creator.getContext()
-						.getString(R.string.groups_member_created,
-								item.getMember().getName()));
+						.getString(R.string.groups_member_created, name));
 			}
 		} else {
-			creator.setVisibility(View.GONE);
+			creator.setVisibility(GONE);
 		}
 	}
 

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/privategroup/reveal/RevealableContactViewHolder.java

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import javax.annotation.Nullable;
 import static org.briarproject.briar.android.privategroup.VisibilityHelper.getVisibilityIcon;
 import static org.briarproject.briar.android.privategroup.VisibilityHelper.getVisibilityString;
 import static org.briarproject.briar.android.util.UiUtils.GREY_OUT;
+import static org.briarproject.briar.android.util.UiUtils.getContactDisplayName;
 
 @UiThread
 @NotNullByDefault
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ class RevealableContactViewHolder
 		icon.setImageResource(getVisibilityIcon(item.getVisibility()));
 		info.setText(
 				getVisibilityString(info.getContext(), item.getVisibility(),
-						item.getContact().getAuthor().getName()));
+						getContactDisplayName(item.getContact())));
 	}
 
 	@Override

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/sharing/SharingInvitationViewHolder.java

@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ import java.util.Collection;
 
 import javax.annotation.Nullable;
 
+import static org.briarproject.briar.android.util.UiUtils.getContactDisplayName;
+
 class SharingInvitationViewHolder
 		extends InvitationViewHolder<SharingInvitationItem> {
 
@@ -28,7 +30,7 @@ class SharingInvitationViewHolder
 
 		Collection<String> names = new ArrayList<>();
 		for (Contact c : item.getNewSharers())
-			names.add(c.getAuthor().getName());
+			names.add(getContactDisplayName(c));
 		sharedBy.setText(
 				sharedBy.getContext().getString(R.string.shared_by_format,
 						StringUtils.join(names, ", ")));

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/threaded/BaseThreadItemViewHolder.java

@@ -43,9 +43,8 @@ public abstract class BaseThreadItemViewHolder<I extends ThreadItem>
 	public void bind(I item, ThreadItemListener<I> listener) {
 		textView.setText(StringUtils.trim(item.getText()));
 
-		author.setAuthor(item.getAuthor());
+		author.setAuthor(item.getAuthor(), item.getAuthorInfo());
 		author.setDate(item.getTimestamp());
-		author.setAuthorStatus(item.getStatus());
 
 		if (item.isHighlighted()) {
 			layout.setActivated(true);

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/threaded/ThreadItem.java

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 package org.briarproject.briar.android.threaded;
 
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.MessageId;
 import org.briarproject.briar.api.client.MessageTree.MessageNode;
@@ -21,19 +21,19 @@ public abstract class ThreadItem implements MessageNode {
 	private final String text;
 	private final long timestamp;
 	private final Author author;
-	private final Status status;
+	private final AuthorInfo authorInfo;
 	private int level = UNDEFINED;
 	private boolean isRead, highlighted;
 
 	public ThreadItem(MessageId messageId, @Nullable MessageId parentId,
-			String text, long timestamp, Author author, Status status,
+			String text, long timestamp, Author author, AuthorInfo authorInfo,
 			boolean isRead) {
 		this.messageId = messageId;
 		this.parentId = parentId;
 		this.text = text;
 		this.timestamp = timestamp;
 		this.author = author;
-		this.status = status;
+		this.authorInfo = authorInfo;
 		this.isRead = isRead;
 		this.highlighted = false;
 	}
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ public abstract class ThreadItem implements MessageNode {
 		return author;
 	}
 
-	public Status getStatus() {
-		return status;
+	public AuthorInfo getAuthorInfo() {
+		return authorInfo;
 	}
 
 	@Override

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/util/UiUtils.java

@@ -33,7 +33,9 @@ import android.view.View;
 import android.widget.TextView;
 
 import org.acra.ACRA;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.Contact;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.ContactId;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.MethodsNotNullByDefault;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.ParametersNotNullByDefault;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.system.AndroidExecutor;
@@ -74,6 +76,17 @@ public class UiUtils {
 	public static final int TEASER_LENGTH = 320;
 	public static final float GREY_OUT = 0.5f;
 
+	public static String getContactDisplayName(Author author,
+			@Nullable String alias) {
+		String name = author.getName();
+		if (alias == null) return name;
+		else return String.format("%s (%s)", alias, name);
+	}
+
+	public static String getContactDisplayName(Contact c) {
+		return getContactDisplayName(c.getAuthor(), c.getAlias());
+	}
+
 	public static void setError(TextInputLayout til, @Nullable String error,
 			boolean set) {
 		if (set) {
@@ -127,7 +140,9 @@ public class UiUtils {
 		return builder;
 	}
 
-	public static Spanned getSpanned(String s) {
+	public static Spanned getSpanned(@Nullable String s) {
+		// TODO move to HtmlCompat
+		// https://commonsware.com/blog/2018/05/29/at-last-htmlcompat.html
 		return Html.fromHtml(s);
 	}
 

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/view/AuthorView.java

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import android.widget.ImageView;
 import android.widget.TextView;
 
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.briar.R;
 import org.briarproject.briar.android.util.UiUtils;
 
@@ -24,8 +24,9 @@ import im.delight.android.identicons.IdenticonDrawable;
 import static android.content.Context.LAYOUT_INFLATER_SERVICE;
 import static android.graphics.Typeface.BOLD;
 import static android.util.TypedValue.COMPLEX_UNIT_PX;
-import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status.NONE;
-import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status.OURSELVES;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.NONE;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.OURSELVES;
+import static org.briarproject.briar.android.util.UiUtils.getContactDisplayName;
 import static org.briarproject.briar.android.util.UiUtils.resolveAttribute;
 
 @UiThread
@@ -70,24 +71,20 @@ public class AuthorView extends ConstraintLayout {
 		this(context, null);
 	}
 
-	public void setAuthor(Author author) {
-		authorName.setText(author.getName());
+	public void setAuthor(Author author, AuthorInfo authorInfo) {
+		authorName
+				.setText(getContactDisplayName(author, authorInfo.getAlias()));
 		IdenticonDrawable d = new IdenticonDrawable(author.getId().getBytes());
 		avatar.setImageDrawable(d);
 
-		invalidate();
-		requestLayout();
-	}
-
-	public void setAuthorStatus(Status status) {
-		if (status != NONE) {
-			trustIndicator.setTrustLevel(status);
+		if (authorInfo.getStatus() != NONE) {
+			trustIndicator.setTrustLevel(authorInfo.getStatus());
 			trustIndicator.setVisibility(VISIBLE);
 		} else {
 			trustIndicator.setVisibility(GONE);
 		}
 
-		if (status == OURSELVES) {
+		if (authorInfo.getStatus() == OURSELVES) {
 			authorName.setTypeface(authorNameTypeface, BOLD);
 		} else {
 			authorName.setTypeface(authorNameTypeface, NORMAL);
@@ -123,7 +120,7 @@ public class AuthorView extends ConstraintLayout {
 	 *
 	 * Attention: RSS_FEED and RSS_FEED_REBLOGGED change the avatar
 	 *            and override the one set by
-	 *            {@link AuthorView#setAuthor(Author)}.
+	 *            {@link AuthorView#setAuthor(Author, AuthorInfo)}.
 	 */
 	public void setPersona(int persona) {
 		switch (persona) {

briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/view/TrustIndicatorView.java

@@ -3,14 +3,14 @@ package org.briarproject.briar.android.view;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.support.annotation.UiThread;
 import android.support.v4.content.ContextCompat;
+import android.support.v7.widget.AppCompatImageView;
 import android.util.AttributeSet;
-import android.widget.ImageView;
 
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status;
 import org.briarproject.briar.R;
 
 @UiThread
-public class TrustIndicatorView extends ImageView {
+public class TrustIndicatorView extends AppCompatImageView {
 
 	public TrustIndicatorView(Context context) {
 		super(context);

briar-android/src/main/res/layout/fragment_alias_dialog.xml

@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<LinearLayout
+	xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+	android:layout_width="match_parent"
+	android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+	android:orientation="vertical"
+	android:padding="16dp">
+
+	<TextView
+		android:id="@+id/titleView"
+		android:layout_width="match_parent"
+		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+		android:text="@string/set_contact_alias"
+		android:textColor="?android:attr/textColorPrimary"
+		android:textSize="@dimen/text_size_large"
+		android:textStyle="bold"/>
+
+	<EditText
+		android:id="@+id/aliasEditText"
+		android:layout_width="match_parent"
+		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+		android:layout_marginTop="16dp"
+		android:hint="@string/set_contact_alias_hint"
+		android:inputType="textPersonName"
+		android:textColor="?android:attr/textColorPrimary"
+		android:textSize="@dimen/text_size_medium"/>
+
+	<LinearLayout
+		android:layout_width="match_parent"
+		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+		android:layout_marginLeft="@dimen/margin_xxlarge"
+		android:layout_marginStart="@dimen/margin_xxlarge"
+		android:gravity="end"
+		android:orientation="horizontal">
+
+		<Button
+			android:id="@+id/cancelButton"
+			style="@style/BriarButtonFlat.Negative"
+			android:layout_width="wrap_content"
+			android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+			android:text="@string/cancel"/>
+
+		<Button
+			android:id="@+id/setButton"
+			style="@style/BriarButtonFlat.Positive"
+			android:layout_width="wrap_content"
+			android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+			android:text="@string/set_alias"/>
+
+	</LinearLayout>
+
+</LinearLayout>

briar-android/src/main/res/layout/fragment_link_dialog.xml

@@ -1,75 +1,69 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <LinearLayout
 	xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
-	xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
 	xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
 	android:layout_width="match_parent"
-	android:layout_height="match_parent"
-	android:orientation="vertical">
+	android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+	android:orientation="vertical"
+	android:padding="16dp">
+
+	<TextView
+		android:layout_width="match_parent"
+		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+		android:text="@string/link_warning_title"
+		android:textColor="?android:attr/textColorPrimary"
+		android:textSize="@dimen/text_size_large"
+		android:textStyle="bold"/>
+
+	<TextView
+		android:layout_width="match_parent"
+		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+		android:layout_marginTop="@dimen/margin_large"
+		android:text="@string/link_warning_intro"
+		android:textColor="?android:attr/textColorPrimary"
+		android:textSize="@dimen/text_size_medium"/>
+
+	<TextView
+		android:id="@+id/urlView"
+		android:layout_width="match_parent"
+		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+		android:layout_marginTop="@dimen/margin_large"
+		android:textColor="?android:attr/textColorPrimary"
+		android:textIsSelectable="true"
+		android:textSize="@dimen/text_size_medium"
+		android:typeface="monospace"
+		tools:text="http://very.bad.site.com"/>
+
+	<TextView
+		android:layout_width="match_parent"
+		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+		android:layout_marginTop="@dimen/margin_large"
+		android:text="@string/link_warning_text"
+		android:textColor="?android:attr/textColorPrimary"
+		android:textSize="@dimen/text_size_medium"/>
 
 	<LinearLayout
-		android:layout_width="wrap_content"
-		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-		android:orientation="vertical"
-		android:padding="@dimen/margin_large">
-
-		<TextView
-			android:layout_width="match_parent"
-			android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-			android:text="@string/link_warning_title"
-			android:textColor="?android:attr/textColorPrimary"
-			android:textSize="@dimen/text_size_large"
-			android:textStyle="bold"/>
-
-		<TextView
-			android:layout_width="match_parent"
-			android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-			android:layout_marginTop="@dimen/margin_large"
-			android:text="@string/link_warning_intro"
-			android:textColor="?android:attr/textColorPrimary"
-			android:textSize="@dimen/text_size_medium"/>
-
-		<TextView
-			android:id="@+id/urlView"
-			android:layout_width="match_parent"
-			android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-			android:layout_marginTop="@dimen/margin_large"
-			android:textIsSelectable="true"
-			android:typeface="monospace"
-			tools:text="http://very.bad.site.com"/>
-
-		<TextView
-			android:layout_width="match_parent"
-			android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-			android:layout_marginTop="@dimen/margin_large"
-			android:text="@string/link_warning_text"
-			android:textColor="?android:attr/textColorPrimary"
-			android:textSize="@dimen/text_size_medium"/>
-
-	</LinearLayout>
-
-	<android.support.constraint.ConstraintLayout
 		android:layout_width="match_parent"
-		android:layout_height="@dimen/button_size">
+		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+		android:layout_marginLeft="@dimen/margin_xxlarge"
+		android:layout_marginStart="@dimen/margin_xxlarge"
+		android:gravity="end"
+		android:orientation="horizontal">
 
 		<Button
 			android:id="@+id/cancelButton"
 			style="@style/BriarButtonFlat.Positive"
-			android:layout_width="0dp"
+			android:layout_width="wrap_content"
 			android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-			android:text="@string/cancel"
-			app:layout_constraintEnd_toStartOf="@+id/openButton"
-			app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"/>
+			android:text="@string/cancel"/>
 
 		<Button
 			android:id="@+id/openButton"
 			style="@style/BriarButtonFlat.Negative"
-			android:layout_width="0dp"
+			android:layout_width="wrap_content"
 			android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-			android:text="@string/link_warning_open_link"
-			app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
-			app:layout_constraintStart_toEndOf="@+id/cancelButton"/>
+			android:text="@string/link_warning_open_link"/>
 
-	</android.support.constraint.ConstraintLayout>
+	</LinearLayout>
 
 </LinearLayout>

briar-android/src/main/res/menu/conversation_actions.xml

@@ -10,6 +10,12 @@
 		android:enabled="false"
 		app:showAsAction="never"/>
 
+	<item
+		android:id="@+id/action_set_alias"
+		android:title="@string/set_contact_alias"
+		android:enabled="true"
+		app:showAsAction="never"/>
+
 	<item
 		android:id="@+id/action_social_remove_person"
 		android:icon="@drawable/action_delete_white"

briar-android/src/main/res/values-ar/strings.xml

@@ -471,6 +471,7 @@
   <string name="permission_camera_title">إذن الكاميرا</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_request_body">للتمكن من مسح رمز QR، يحتاج Briar (براير) إلى إستعمال الكاميرا.</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">قد رفضت إعطاء إذن الكاميرا، لكن إضافة جهات إتصال يتطلب إستعمال الكاميرا.\n\nالرجاء منح الإذن.</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">لم يتم منح الإذن بإستعمال الكاميرا</string>
   <string name="qr_code">رمز QR</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">اظهار رمز QR بوضع ملء الشاشة</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-ca/strings.xml

@@ -430,6 +430,7 @@
   <string name="permission_camera_title">Permís de la càmera</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_request_body">Per escanejar el codi QR, Briar necessita accedir a la càmera.</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">Heu denegat l\'accés a la càmera però per afegir contactes cal utilitzar la càmera.\n\nRecomanem que permeteu l\'accés a la càmera.</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">No s\'ha concedit el permís per accedir a la càmera</string>
   <string name="qr_code">Codi QR</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">Mostra el codi QR a pantalla completa</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-cs/strings.xml

@@ -403,6 +403,7 @@
   <string name="permission_camera_title">Oprávnění pro přístup k fotoaparátu</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_request_body">Pro scan QR kódu, Briar vyžaduje přístup k fotoaparátu.</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">Odmítli jste udělit oprávnění přístupu k fotoaparátu, avšak pro přidání kontaktů je nutné použití fotoaparátu.\n\nZvažte prosím, opětovné udělení přístupu.</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">Oprávnění pro přístup k fotoaparátu nebylo uděleno</string>
   <string name="qr_code">QR kód</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">Zobrazit QR kód na celou obrazovku</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-de/strings.xml

@@ -430,6 +430,7 @@
   <string name="permission_camera_title">Berechtigung Kamera</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_request_body">Um den QR-Code zu scannen, benötigt Briar Zugriff auf die Kamera.</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">Du hast den Zugriff auf die Kamera verweigert, aber das Hinzufügen von Kontakten erfordert die Verwendung der Kamera.\n\nBitte gewähre den Zugriff.</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">Berechtigung für Kamera wurde nicht gewährt</string>
   <string name="qr_code">QR-Code</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">QR-Code im Vollbildmodus anzeigen</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-es/strings.xml

@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@
   <string name="download_briar_button">Descargar Briar 1.0</string>
   <string name="startup_open_database">Descifrando la base de datos...</string>
   <string name="startup_migrate_database">Actualizando la base de datos...</string>
-  <string name="startup_compact_database">Compactando base de datos...</string>
   <!--Navigation Drawer-->
   <string name="nav_drawer_open_description">Abre el panel de navegación</string>
   <string name="nav_drawer_close_description">Cierra el panel de navegación</string>
@@ -436,6 +435,7 @@
   <string name="permission_camera_title">Permiso de cámara</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_request_body">Para escanear el código QR, Briar necesita acceso a la cámara.</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">Has denegado el acceso a la cámara, pero para añadir contactos se requiere el uso de la cámara.\n\nPor favor considera la posibilidad de conceder el acceso.</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">No se concedió el permiso de cámara</string>
   <string name="qr_code">Código QR</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">Mostrar código QR a pantalla completa</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-eu/strings.xml

@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@
   <string name="download_briar_button">Deskargatu Briar 1.0</string>
   <string name="startup_open_database">Datu-basea deszifratzen...</string>
   <string name="startup_migrate_database">Datu-basea eguneratzen...</string>
-  <string name="startup_compact_database">Datu-basea trinkotzen…</string>
   <!--Navigation Drawer-->
   <string name="nav_drawer_open_description">Ireki nabigazio-tiradera</string>
   <string name="nav_drawer_close_description">Itxi nabigazio-tiradera</string>
@@ -436,6 +435,7 @@
   <string name="permission_camera_title">Kamera erabiltzeko baimena</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_request_body">QR kodea eskaneatzeko Briar-ek kamera atzitu behar du.</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">Kamera atzitzeko baimena ukatu duzu, baina kontaktuak gehitzeko kamera erabili behar da.\n\nMesedez baimendu kamera atzitzea.</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">Ez da kamera erabiltzeko baimenik eman</string>
   <string name="qr_code">QR kodea</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">Erakutsi QR kodea pantaila osoan</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-fa/strings.xml

@@ -474,6 +474,7 @@
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">شما دسترسی به دوربین را رد کرده اید، اما افزودن مخاطب نیاز به دوربین دارد.
 
 لطفا اجازه دسترسی را بدهید.</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">اجازه دسترسی به دوربین پذیرفته نشد</string>
   <string name="qr_code">کد QR</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">نمایش کد QR به صورت فول اسکرین</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-fi/strings.xml

@@ -430,6 +430,7 @@
   <string name="permission_camera_title">Kameran käyttöoikeus</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_request_body">Skannatakseen QR koodin, Briar tarvitsee luvan käyttää kameraa.</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">Olet kieltänyt käyttämästä kameraa, mutta yhteyshenkilöiden lisääminen vaatii kameran käyttöä.\n\nOle hyvä ja harkitse kameraluvan myöntämistä.</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">Kameran käyttöoikeutta ei myönnetty</string>
   <string name="qr_code">QR-koodi</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">Näytä QR-koodi koko näytöllä</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-fr/strings.xml

@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@
   <string name="qr_code_invalid">Le code QR est invalide</string>
   <string name="qr_code_too_old">Le code QR que vous avez lu provient d’une version plus ancienne de %s.\n\nVeuillez demander à votre contact de passer à la version la plus récente, puis ressayez.</string>
   <string name="qr_code_too_new">Le code QR que vous avez lu provient d’une version plus récente de %s.\n\nVeuillez passer à la version la plus récente, puis ressayez.</string>
-  <string name="camera_error">Erreur de l’appareil photo</string>
+  <string name="camera_error">Erreur de la caméra</string>
   <string name="connecting_to_device">Connexion à l’appareil\u2026</string>
   <string name="authenticating_with_device">Autentification avec l’appareil\u2026</string>
   <string name="connection_error_title">Impossible de se connecter à votre contact</string>
@@ -433,13 +433,10 @@
   <string name="screen_filter_body">Une autre appli s’affiche par-dessus Briar. Pour protéger votre sécurité, Briar ne répondra pas au toucher si une autre appli s’affiche par-dessus.\n\nLes applis suivantes pourraient s’afficher par-dessus Briar : \n\n%1$s</string>
   <string name="screen_filter_allow">Permettre à ces applis de s’afficher par-dessus</string>
   <!--Permission Requests-->
-  <string name="permission_camera_title">Accès à l’appareil photo</string>
-  <string name="permission_camera_request_body">Afin de lire le code QR, Briar doit accéder à l’appareil photo.</string>
-  <string name="permission_location_title">Autorisation d’accès à la position</string>
-  <string name="permission_location_request_body">Afin de découvrir des périphériques Bluetooth, Briar doit accéder à votre position.\n\nBriar n’enregistre pas votre position et ne la partage avec personne.</string>
-  <string name="permission_camera_location_title">Appareil photo et position</string>
-  <string name="permission_camera_location_request_body">Afin de lire le code QR, Briar doit accéder à l’appareil photo.\n\nAfin de découvrir des périphériques Bluetooth, Briar doit accéder à votre position.\n\nBriar n’enregistre pas votre position et ne la partage avec personne.</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_title">Accès à la caméra</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_request_body">Pour lire le code QR, Briar doit accéder à la caméra.</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">Vous avez refusé l’accès à la caméra, mais l’ajout de contacts exige l’utilisation de celle-ci.\n\nVeuillez envisager d’y accorder l’accès.</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">L’accès à la caméra n’a pas été accordé</string>
   <string name="qr_code">Code QR</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">Afficher le code QR en plein écran</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-gl/strings.xml

@@ -436,6 +436,7 @@
   <string name="permission_camera_title">Permiso da cámara</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_request_body">Para escanear códigos QR, Briar precisa acceso a cámara.</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">Denegou o permiso de acceso a cámara, pero é necesario para engadir contactos.\n\nPor favor, considere conceder o permiso.</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">Non concedeu o acceso a cámara</string>
   <string name="qr_code">Código QR</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">Amosar o código QR a pantalla completa</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-he/strings.xml

@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@
   <string name="download_briar_button">הורד את Briar 1.0</string>
   <string name="startup_open_database">מפענח מסד נתונים...</string>
   <string name="startup_migrate_database">משדרג מסד נתונים...</string>
-  <string name="startup_compact_database">מכווץ מסד נתונים...</string>
   <!--Navigation Drawer-->
   <string name="nav_drawer_open_description">פתח את מגירת הניווט</string>
   <string name="nav_drawer_close_description">סגור את מגירת הניווט</string>
@@ -318,7 +317,6 @@
   <string name="blogs_remove_blog_ok">הסר</string>
   <string name="blogs_blog_removed">בלוג הוסר</string>
   <string name="blogs_reblog_comment_hint">הוסף תגובה (רשותי)</string>
-  <string name="blogs_reblog_button">פרסם מחדש</string>
   <!--Blog Sharing-->
   <string name="blogs_sharing_share">שתף בלוג</string>
   <string name="blogs_sharing_error">הייתה שגיאה בשיתוף בלוג זה.</string>
@@ -463,12 +461,11 @@
   <string name="progress_title_logout">מתנתק מן Briar...</string>
   <!--Screen Filters & Tapjacking-->
   <string name="screen_filter_title">ציפוי מסך התגלה</string>
-  <string name="screen_filter_body">יישום אחר מציירת מעל Briar. כדי להגן על אבטחתך, Briar לא יגיב לנגיעות כאשר יישום אחר מצייר מעל.\n\nהיישומים הבאים יכולים לצייר מעל:\n\n%1$s</string>
-  <string name="screen_filter_allow">התר ליישומים אלו לצייר מעל</string>
   <!--Permission Requests-->
   <string name="permission_camera_title">הרשאת מצלמה</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_request_body">כדי לסרוק את קוד ה־QR, היישום Briar צריך גישה אל המצלמה.</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">דחית גישה אל המצלמה, אבל הוספת אנשי קשר דורשת שימוש במצלמה.\n\nאנא שקול הענקת גישה.</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">הרשאת מצלמה לא הוענקה</string>
   <string name="qr_code">קוד QR</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">הראה קוד QR במסך מלא</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-hi/strings.xml

@@ -430,6 +430,7 @@
   <string name="permission_camera_title">कैमरा अनुमति</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_request_body">QR कोड को स्कैन करने के लिए, Briar को कैमरे तक पहुंच की आवश्यकता है।</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">आपने कैमरे तक पहुंच से वंचित किया है, लेकिन संपर्क जोड़ने के लिए कैमरे का उपयोग करने की आवश्यकता है। \ N \ n कृपया पहुंच प्रदान करने पर विचार करें।</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">कैमरा अनुमति नहीं दी गई थी</string>
   <string name="qr_code">क्यूआर कोड</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">क्यूआर कोड पूर्णस्क्रीन दिखाएं</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-hu/strings.xml

@@ -433,6 +433,7 @@ Vigyázat: Ez végleg törli az identitásait, kapcsolatait és üzeneteit</stri
   <string name="permission_camera_title">Kamera jogosultságok</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_request_body">A QR kód olvasáshoz a Briar-nak szüksége van kamera hozzáférésre.</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">Megtiltotta hozzáférést a kamerához, de a kapcsolatok hozzáadásához szükséges a kamera.\n\nKérjük gondolja meg a jog megadását.</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">A kamera jogosultság nincs megadva</string>
   <string name="qr_code">QR kód</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">A QR kód teljes képernyősen</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-it/strings.xml

@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@
   <string name="download_briar_button">Scarica Briar 1.0</string>
   <string name="startup_open_database">Decrittazione database...</string>
   <string name="startup_migrate_database">Aggiornamento database...</string>
-  <string name="startup_compact_database">Compattazione database…</string>
   <!--Navigation Drawer-->
   <string name="nav_drawer_open_description">Apri la barra di navigazione</string>
   <string name="nav_drawer_close_description">Chiudi la barra di navigazione</string>
@@ -436,6 +435,7 @@
   <string name="permission_camera_title">Autorizzazione fotocamera</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_request_body">Per scansionare il codice QR, Briar deve accedere alla fotocamera.</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">Hai negato l\'accesso alla fotocamera, ma questa serve per aggiungere i contatti.\n\nConsidera la possibilità di concedere l\'accesso.</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">Autorizzazione fotocamera non concessa</string>
   <string name="qr_code">Codice QR</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">Mostra codice QR a tutto schermo</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-nl/strings.xml

@@ -430,6 +430,7 @@
   <string name="permission_camera_title">Cameratoestemming</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_request_body">Om de QR-code te scannen moet Briar toegang hebben tot de camera.</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">Je hebt toegang tot de camera niet vrijgegeven, terwijl het toevoegen van contacten de camera nodig heeft.\n\nOverweeg alsjeblieft toegang vrij te geven.</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">Cameratoegang niet vrijgegeven</string>
   <string name="qr_code">QR-code</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">Toon QR-code op volledig scherm</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-oc/strings.xml

@@ -440,6 +440,7 @@ contactes qu’avètz partejat aqueste flux quitaràn benlèu de recebre las mes
   <string name="permission_camera_title">Permission de la camèra</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_request_body">Per numerizar lo còdi QR cal que Briar aja l’accès a la camèra.</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">Avètz regetat l’accès a la camèra, mas per ajustar de contacte cal utilizar la camèra.\n\n Mercés de li donar l’accès</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">La permission a la camèra es pas estada donada</string>
   <string name="qr_code">Còdi QR</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">Mostrar lo còdi QR en ecran complèt</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-pl/strings.xml

@@ -450,6 +450,7 @@
   <string name="permission_camera_title">Dostęp do aparatu</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_request_body">Aby zeskanować kod QR, Briar potrzebuje mieć dostęp do aparatu.</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">Odmówiłeś dostępu do kamery, lecz dodawanie kontaktów tego wymaga.\n\nProszę udzielić dostępu.</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">Dostęp do aparatu nie został przyznany</string>
   <string name="qr_code">Kod QR</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">Pokaż QR na pełnym ekranie</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-pt-rBR/strings.xml

@@ -430,6 +430,7 @@
   <string name="permission_camera_title">Permissão da câmera</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_request_body">O Briar precisa acessar a câmera para pode escanear o código QR.</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">Você negou acesso à câmera, mas para adicionar contatos você precisa da câmera.\n\nPor favor, pense em liberar o acesso a ela.</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">A permissão da câmera não foi concedida</string>
   <string name="qr_code">Código QR</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">Mostrar o código QR na tela cheia</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-ro/strings.xml

@@ -446,6 +446,7 @@
   <string name="permission_camera_title">Permisiune de acces la camera foto</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_request_body">Pentru a scana codul QR, Briar are nevoie să acceseze camera foto.</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">Ați refuzat accesul la camera foto, dar pentru a adăuga contacte este necesară folosirea camerei foto.\n\nVă rugăm să luați în considerare acordarea accesului.</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">Permisiunea de acces la camera foto nu a fost acordată</string>
   <string name="qr_code">Cod QR</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">Arată codul QR pe tot ecranul</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-ru/strings.xml

@@ -452,6 +452,7 @@
   <string name="permission_camera_title">Доступ к камере</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_request_body">Для сканирования QR-кода Briar необходим доступ к камере.</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">Вы отказали в доступе к камере. Для добавления контактов необходимо использовать камеру.\n\nРассмотрите возможность предоставления доступа.</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">Доступ к камере предоставлен не был</string>
   <string name="qr_code">QR-код</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">Показать QR-код во весь экран</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-sq/strings.xml

@@ -436,6 +436,7 @@
   <string name="permission_camera_title">Leje mbi kamerën</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_request_body">Që të skanojë kodin QR, Briar-i lypset të hyjë te kamera.</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">Keni mohuar hyrjen në kamera, por shtimi i kontakteve lyp përdorimin e kamerës.\n\nJu lutemi, shihni mundësinë e akordimit të hyrjes.</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">S\’u akorduan leje mbi kamerën</string>
   <string name="qr_code">Kod QR</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">Shfaqe kodin QR sa tërë ekrani</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-sr/strings.xml

@@ -466,6 +466,7 @@ Slijedeće aplikacije mogu precrtavati preko:
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">Uskratili ste pristup kameri, ali dodavanje kontakata zahtijeva pristup kameri.
 
 Molim vas da uzmete u obzir odobravanja pristupa.</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">Dozvola kameri nije odobrena</string>
   <string name="qr_code">QR kod</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">Prikazi QR kod na puni ekran</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values-zh-rCN/strings.xml

@@ -420,6 +420,7 @@
   <string name="permission_camera_title">相机权限</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_request_body">Briar 需要获得相机权限以扫描二维码。</string>
   <string name="permission_camera_denied_body">您已拒绝相机权限，而添加联系人需要使用相机。\n\n请考虑授予相机权限。</string>
+  <string name="permission_camera_denied_toast">未授予相机权限</string>
   <string name="qr_code">二维码</string>
   <string name="show_qr_code_fullscreen">全屏显示二维码</string>
   <!--App Locking-->

briar-android/src/main/res/values/strings.xml

@@ -127,6 +127,9 @@
 	<string name="date_no_private_messages">No messages.</string>
 	<string name="no_private_messages">No messages to show</string>
 	<string name="message_hint">Type message</string>
+	<string name="set_contact_alias">Set alias name</string>
+	<string name="set_contact_alias_hint">Contact alias</string>
+	<string name="set_alias">Set Alias</string>
 	<string name="delete_contact">Delete contact</string>
 	<string name="dialog_title_delete_contact">Confirm Contact Deletion</string>
 	<string name="dialog_message_delete_contact">Are you sure that you want to remove this contact and all messages exchanged with this contact?</string>

briar-android/src/test/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/forum/ForumActivityTest.java

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import junit.framework.Assert;
 
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DbException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.MessageId;
 import org.briarproject.briar.android.TestBriarApplication;
 import org.briarproject.briar.android.controller.handler.UiResultExceptionHandler;
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ import java.util.Arrays;
 
 import static junit.framework.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static junit.framework.Assert.assertTrue;
-import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status.UNKNOWN;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.UNKNOWN;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getAuthor;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getRandomId;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.util.StringUtils.getRandomString;
@@ -87,7 +88,8 @@ public class ForumActivityTest {
 			Author author = getAuthor();
 			String text = getRandomString(MAX_FORUM_POST_TEXT_LENGTH);
 			forumItems[i] = new ForumItem(MESSAGE_IDS[i], PARENT_IDS[i],
-					text, System.currentTimeMillis(), author, UNKNOWN);
+					text, System.currentTimeMillis(), author,
+					new AuthorInfo(UNKNOWN));
 			forumItems[i].setLevel(LEVELS[i]);
 		}
 		ThreadItemList<ForumItem> list = new ThreadItemListImpl<>();

briar-android/witness.gradle

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ dependencyVerification {
         'android.arch.core:common:1.1.1:common-1.1.1.jar:3a616a32f433e9e23f556b38575c31b013613d3ae85206263b7625fe1f4c151a',
         'android.arch.core:runtime:1.1.1:runtime-1.1.1.aar:c3215aa5873311b3f88a6f4e4a3c25ad89971bc127de8c3e1291c57f93a05c39',
         'android.arch.lifecycle:common:1.1.1:common-1.1.1.jar:8d378e88ebd5189e09eef623414812c868fd90aa519d6160e2311fb8b81cff56',
+        'android.arch.lifecycle:extensions:1.1.1:extensions-1.1.1.aar:429426b2feec2245ffc5e75b3b5309bedb36159cf06dc71843ae43526ac289b6',
         'android.arch.lifecycle:livedata-core:1.1.1:livedata-core-1.1.1.aar:d6fdd8b985d6178d7ea2f16986a24e83f1bee936b74d43167c69e08d3cc12c50',
         'android.arch.lifecycle:livedata:1.1.1:livedata-1.1.1.aar:50ab0490c1ff1a7cfb4e554032998b080888946d0dd424f39900efc4a1bcd750',
         'android.arch.lifecycle:runtime:1.1.1:runtime-1.1.1.aar:c4e4be66c1b2f0abec593571454e1de14013f7e0f96bf2a9f212931a48cae550',

briar-api/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/api/blog/BlogCommentHeader.java

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 package org.briarproject.briar.api.blog;
 
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.GroupId;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.MessageId;
@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@ public class BlogCommentHeader extends BlogPostHeader {
 	public BlogCommentHeader(MessageType type, GroupId groupId,
 			@Nullable String comment, BlogPostHeader parent, MessageId id,
 			long timestamp, long timeReceived, Author author,
-			Status authorStatus, boolean read) {
+			AuthorInfo authorInfo, boolean read) {
 
 		super(type, groupId, id, parent.getId(), timestamp,
-				timeReceived, author, authorStatus, false, read);
+				timeReceived, author, authorInfo, false, read);
 
 		if (type != COMMENT && type != WRAPPED_COMMENT)
 			throw new IllegalArgumentException("Incompatible Message Type");

briar-api/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/api/blog/BlogPostHeader.java

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 package org.briarproject.briar.api.blog;
 
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.GroupId;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.MessageId;
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ public class BlogPostHeader extends PostHeader {
 
 	public BlogPostHeader(MessageType type, GroupId groupId, MessageId id,
 			@Nullable MessageId parentId, long timestamp, long timeReceived,
-			Author author, Status authorStatus, boolean rssFeed, boolean read) {
-		super(id, parentId, timestamp, author, authorStatus, read);
+			Author author, AuthorInfo authorInfo, boolean rssFeed, boolean read) {
+		super(id, parentId, timestamp, author, authorInfo, read);
 		this.type = type;
 		this.groupId = groupId;
 		this.timeReceived = timeReceived;
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@ public class BlogPostHeader extends PostHeader {
 
 	public BlogPostHeader(MessageType type, GroupId groupId, MessageId id,
 			long timestamp, long timeReceived, Author author,
-			Status authorStatus, boolean rssFeed, boolean read) {
+			AuthorInfo authorInfo, boolean rssFeed, boolean read) {
 		this(type, groupId, id, null, timestamp, timeReceived, author,
-				authorStatus, rssFeed, read);
+				authorInfo, rssFeed, read);
 	}
 
 	public MessageType getType() {

briar-api/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/api/client/PostHeader.java

@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 package org.briarproject.briar.api.client;
 
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.MessageId;
 
@@ -17,16 +18,16 @@ public abstract class PostHeader {
 	private final MessageId parentId;
 	private final long timestamp;
 	private final Author author;
-	private final Status authorStatus;
+	private final AuthorInfo authorInfo;
 	private final boolean read;
 
 	public PostHeader(MessageId id, @Nullable MessageId parentId,
-			long timestamp, Author author, Status authorStatus, boolean read) {
+			long timestamp, Author author, AuthorInfo authorInfo, boolean read) {
 		this.id = id;
 		this.parentId = parentId;
 		this.timestamp = timestamp;
 		this.author = author;
-		this.authorStatus = authorStatus;
+		this.authorInfo = authorInfo;
 		this.read = read;
 	}
 
@@ -39,7 +40,11 @@ public abstract class PostHeader {
 	}
 
 	public Status getAuthorStatus() {
-		return authorStatus;
+		return authorInfo.getStatus();
+	}
+
+	public AuthorInfo getAuthorInfo() {
+		return authorInfo;
 	}
 
 	public long getTimestamp() {

briar-api/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/api/forum/ForumPostHeader.java

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package org.briarproject.briar.api.forum;
 
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.MessageId;
 import org.briarproject.briar.api.client.PostHeader;
@@ -13,9 +14,9 @@ import javax.annotation.concurrent.Immutable;
 public class ForumPostHeader extends PostHeader {
 
 	public ForumPostHeader(MessageId id, @Nullable MessageId parentId,
-			long timestamp, Author author, Author.Status authorStatus,
+			long timestamp, Author author, AuthorInfo authorInfo,
 			boolean read) {
-		super(id, parentId, timestamp, author, authorStatus, read);
+		super(id, parentId, timestamp, author, authorInfo, read);
 	}
 
 }

briar-api/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/api/introduction/IntroductionRequest.java

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package org.briarproject.briar.api.introduction;
 
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.GroupId;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.MessageId;
@@ -15,19 +16,24 @@ import javax.annotation.concurrent.Immutable;
 @NotNullByDefault
 public class IntroductionRequest extends PrivateRequest<Author> {
 
-	private final boolean contact;
+	private final AuthorInfo authorInfo;
 
 	public IntroductionRequest(MessageId messageId, GroupId groupId,
 			long time, boolean local, boolean sent, boolean seen, boolean read,
 			SessionId sessionId, Author author, @Nullable String text,
-			boolean answered, boolean contact) {
+			boolean answered, AuthorInfo authorInfo) {
 		super(messageId, groupId, time, local, sent, seen, read, sessionId,
 				author, text, answered);
-		this.contact = contact;
+		this.authorInfo = authorInfo;
+	}
+
+	@Nullable
+	public String getAlias() {
+		return authorInfo.getAlias();
 	}
 
 	public boolean isContact() {
-		return contact;
+		return authorInfo.getStatus().isContact();
 	}
 
 	@Override

briar-api/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/api/introduction/IntroductionResponse.java

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package org.briarproject.briar.api.introduction;
 
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.GroupId;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.MessageId;
@@ -17,14 +18,17 @@ import static org.briarproject.briar.api.introduction.Role.INTRODUCER;
 public class IntroductionResponse extends PrivateResponse {
 
 	private final Author introducedAuthor;
+	private final AuthorInfo introducedAuthorInfo;
 	private final Role ourRole;
 
 	public IntroductionResponse(MessageId messageId, GroupId groupId, long time,
 			boolean local, boolean sent, boolean seen, boolean read,
-			SessionId sessionId, boolean accepted, Author author, Role role) {
+			SessionId sessionId, boolean accepted, Author author,
+			AuthorInfo introducedAuthorInfo, Role role) {
 		super(messageId, groupId, time, local, sent, seen, read, sessionId,
 				accepted);
 		this.introducedAuthor = author;
+		this.introducedAuthorInfo = introducedAuthorInfo;
 		this.ourRole = role;
 	}
 
@@ -32,6 +36,10 @@ public class IntroductionResponse extends PrivateResponse {
 		return introducedAuthor;
 	}
 
+	public AuthorInfo getIntroducedAuthorInfo() {
+		return introducedAuthorInfo;
+	}
+
 	public boolean isIntroducer() {
 		return ourRole == INTRODUCER;
 	}

briar-api/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/api/privategroup/GroupMember.java

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ package org.briarproject.briar.api.privategroup;
 
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.ContactId;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
 
 import javax.annotation.Nullable;
@@ -13,16 +13,16 @@ import javax.annotation.concurrent.Immutable;
 public class GroupMember {
 
 	private final Author author;
-	private final Status status;
+	private final AuthorInfo authorInfo;
 	private final boolean isCreator;
 	@Nullable
 	private final ContactId contactId;
 	private final Visibility visibility;
 
-	public GroupMember(Author author, Status status, boolean isCreator,
+	public GroupMember(Author author, AuthorInfo status, boolean isCreator,
 			@Nullable ContactId contactId, Visibility visibility) {
 		this.author = author;
-		this.status = status;
+		this.authorInfo = status;
 		this.isCreator = isCreator;
 		this.contactId = contactId;
 		this.visibility = visibility;
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ public class GroupMember {
 		return author;
 	}
 
-	public Status getStatus() {
-		return status;
+	public AuthorInfo getAuthorInfo() {
+		return authorInfo;
 	}
 
 	public boolean isCreator() {

briar-api/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/api/privategroup/GroupMessageHeader.java

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 package org.briarproject.briar.api.privategroup;
 
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.GroupId;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.MessageId;
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ public class GroupMessageHeader extends PostHeader {
 
 	public GroupMessageHeader(GroupId groupId, MessageId id,
 			@Nullable MessageId parentId, long timestamp,
-			Author author, Status authorStatus, boolean read) {
-		super(id, parentId, timestamp, author, authorStatus, read);
+			Author author, AuthorInfo authorInfo, boolean read) {
+		super(id, parentId, timestamp, author, authorInfo, read);
 		this.groupId = groupId;
 	}
 

briar-api/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/api/privategroup/JoinMessageHeader.java

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ public class JoinMessageHeader extends GroupMessageHeader {
 	public JoinMessageHeader(GroupMessageHeader h, Visibility visibility,
 			boolean isInitial) {
 		super(h.getGroupId(), h.getId(), h.getParentId(), h.getTimestamp(),
-				h.getAuthor(), h.getAuthorStatus(), h.isRead());
+				h.getAuthor(), h.getAuthorInfo(), h.isRead());
 		this.visibility = visibility;
 		this.isInitial = isInitial;
 	}

briar-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/blog/BlogManagerImpl.java

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package org.briarproject.briar.blog;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.FormatException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.client.ClientHelper;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.Contact;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.ContactManager;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.ContactManager.ContactHook;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.data.BdfDictionary;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.data.BdfEntry;
@@ -12,8 +13,8 @@ import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DatabaseComponent;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DbException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.Transaction;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorId;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.IdentityManager;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.LocalAuthor;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ import java.util.concurrent.CopyOnWriteArrayList;
 import javax.annotation.Nullable;
 import javax.inject.Inject;
 
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.NONE;
 import static org.briarproject.briar.api.blog.BlogConstants.KEY_AUTHOR;
 import static org.briarproject.briar.api.blog.BlogConstants.KEY_COMMENT;
 import static org.briarproject.briar.api.blog.BlogConstants.KEY_ORIGINAL_MSG_ID;
@@ -68,17 +70,19 @@ import static org.briarproject.briar.api.blog.MessageType.WRAPPED_POST;
 class BlogManagerImpl extends BdfIncomingMessageHook implements BlogManager,
 		ContactHook, Client {
 
+	private final ContactManager contactManager;
 	private final IdentityManager identityManager;
 	private final BlogFactory blogFactory;
 	private final BlogPostFactory blogPostFactory;
 	private final List<RemoveBlogHook> removeHooks;
 
 	@Inject
-	BlogManagerImpl(DatabaseComponent db, IdentityManager identityManager,
-			ClientHelper clientHelper, MetadataParser metadataParser,
-			BlogFactory blogFactory, BlogPostFactory blogPostFactory) {
+	BlogManagerImpl(DatabaseComponent db, ContactManager contactManager,
+			IdentityManager identityManager, ClientHelper clientHelper,
+			MetadataParser metadataParser, BlogFactory blogFactory,
+			BlogPostFactory blogPostFactory) {
 		super(db, clientHelper, metadataParser);
-
+		this.contactManager = contactManager;
 		this.identityManager = identityManager;
 		this.blogFactory = blogFactory;
 		this.blogPostFactory = blogPostFactory;
@@ -501,25 +505,24 @@ class BlogManagerImpl extends BdfIncomingMessageHook implements BlogManager,
 					new HashMap<>(metadata1.size() + metadata2.size());
 			metadata.putAll(metadata1);
 			metadata.putAll(metadata2);
-			// get all authors we need to get the status for
+			// get all authors we need to get the information for
 			Set<AuthorId> authors = new HashSet<>();
 			for (Entry<MessageId, BdfDictionary> entry : metadata.entrySet()) {
 				BdfList authorList = entry.getValue().getList(KEY_AUTHOR);
 				Author a = clientHelper.parseAndValidateAuthor(authorList);
 				authors.add(a.getId());
 			}
-			// get statuses for all authors
-			Map<AuthorId, Status> authorStatuses = new HashMap<>();
+			// get information for all authors
+			Map<AuthorId, AuthorInfo> authorInfos = new HashMap<>();
 			for (AuthorId authorId : authors) {
-				authorStatuses.put(authorId,
-						identityManager.getAuthorStatus(txn, authorId));
+				authorInfos.put(authorId,
+						contactManager.getAuthorInfo(txn, authorId));
 			}
 			// get post headers
 			for (Entry<MessageId, BdfDictionary> entry : metadata.entrySet()) {
 				BdfDictionary meta = entry.getValue();
-				BlogPostHeader h =
-						getPostHeaderFromMetadata(txn, g, entry.getKey(), meta,
-								authorStatuses);
+				BlogPostHeader h = getPostHeaderFromMetadata(txn, g,
+						entry.getKey(), meta, authorInfos);
 				headers.add(h);
 			}
 			db.commitTransaction(txn);
@@ -563,7 +566,7 @@ class BlogManagerImpl extends BdfIncomingMessageHook implements BlogManager,
 
 	private BlogPostHeader getPostHeaderFromMetadata(Transaction txn,
 			GroupId groupId, MessageId id, BdfDictionary meta,
-			Map<AuthorId, Status> authorStatuses)
+			Map<AuthorId, AuthorInfo> authorInfos)
 			throws DbException, FormatException {
 
 		MessageType type = getMessageType(meta);
@@ -574,13 +577,13 @@ class BlogManagerImpl extends BdfIncomingMessageHook implements BlogManager,
 		BdfList authorList = meta.getList(KEY_AUTHOR);
 		Author author = clientHelper.parseAndValidateAuthor(authorList);
 		boolean isFeedPost = meta.getBoolean(KEY_RSS_FEED, false);
-		Status authorStatus;
+		AuthorInfo authorInfo;
 		if (isFeedPost) {
-			authorStatus = Status.NONE;
-		} else if (authorStatuses.containsKey(author.getId())) {
-			authorStatus = authorStatuses.get(author.getId());
+			authorInfo = new AuthorInfo(NONE);
+		} else if (authorInfos.containsKey(author.getId())) {
+			authorInfo = authorInfos.get(author.getId());
 		} else {
-			authorStatus = identityManager.getAuthorStatus(txn, author.getId());
+			authorInfo = contactManager.getAuthorInfo(txn, author.getId());
 		}
 
 		boolean read = meta.getBoolean(KEY_READ, false);
@@ -591,10 +594,10 @@ class BlogManagerImpl extends BdfIncomingMessageHook implements BlogManager,
 			BlogPostHeader parent =
 					getPostHeaderFromMetadata(txn, groupId, parentId);
 			return new BlogCommentHeader(type, groupId, comment, parent, id,
-					timestamp, timeReceived, author, authorStatus, read);
+					timestamp, timeReceived, author, authorInfo, read);
 		} else {
 			return new BlogPostHeader(type, groupId, id, timestamp,
-					timeReceived, author, authorStatus, isFeedPost, read);
+					timeReceived, author, authorInfo, isFeedPost, read);
 		}
 	}
 

briar-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/forum/ForumManagerImpl.java

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package org.briarproject.briar.forum;
 
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.FormatException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.client.ClientHelper;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.ContactManager;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.data.BdfDictionary;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.data.BdfList;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.data.MetadataParser;
@@ -9,9 +10,8 @@ import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DatabaseComponent;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DbException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.Transaction;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorId;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.IdentityManager;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.LocalAuthor;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.Group;
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ import javax.annotation.Nullable;
 import javax.annotation.concurrent.ThreadSafe;
 import javax.inject.Inject;
 
-import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status.OURSELVES;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.OURSELVES;
 import static org.briarproject.briar.api.forum.ForumConstants.KEY_AUTHOR;
 import static org.briarproject.briar.api.forum.ForumConstants.KEY_LOCAL;
 import static org.briarproject.briar.api.forum.ForumConstants.KEY_PARENT;
@@ -56,19 +56,19 @@ import static org.briarproject.briar.client.MessageTrackerConstants.MSG_KEY_READ
 @NotNullByDefault
 class ForumManagerImpl extends BdfIncomingMessageHook implements ForumManager {
 
-	private final IdentityManager identityManager;
+	private final ContactManager contactManager;
 	private final ForumFactory forumFactory;
 	private final ForumPostFactory forumPostFactory;
 	private final MessageTracker messageTracker;
 	private final List<RemoveForumHook> removeHooks;
 
 	@Inject
-	ForumManagerImpl(DatabaseComponent db, IdentityManager identityManager,
+	ForumManagerImpl(DatabaseComponent db, ContactManager contactManager,
 			ClientHelper clientHelper, MetadataParser metadataParser,
 			ForumFactory forumFactory, ForumPostFactory forumPostFactory,
 			MessageTracker messageTracker) {
 		super(db, clientHelper, metadataParser);
-		this.identityManager = identityManager;
+		this.contactManager = contactManager;
 		this.forumFactory = forumFactory;
 		this.forumPostFactory = forumPostFactory;
 		this.messageTracker = messageTracker;
@@ -142,8 +142,9 @@ class ForumManagerImpl extends BdfIncomingMessageHook implements ForumManager {
 				throw new AssertionError(e);
 			}
 		});
+		AuthorInfo authorInfo = new AuthorInfo(OURSELVES);
 		return new ForumPostHeader(p.getMessage().getId(), p.getParent(),
-				p.getMessage().getTimestamp(), p.getAuthor(), OURSELVES, true);
+				p.getMessage().getTimestamp(), p.getAuthor(), authorInfo, true);
 	}
 
 	@Override
@@ -196,7 +197,7 @@ class ForumManagerImpl extends BdfIncomingMessageHook implements ForumManager {
 				Collection<ForumPostHeader> headers = new ArrayList<>();
 				Map<MessageId, BdfDictionary> metadata =
 						clientHelper.getMessageMetadataAsDictionary(txn, g);
-				// get all authors we need to get the status for
+				// get all authors we need to get the info for
 				Set<AuthorId> authors = new HashSet<>();
 				for (Entry<MessageId, BdfDictionary> entry :
 						metadata.entrySet()) {
@@ -204,17 +205,17 @@ class ForumManagerImpl extends BdfIncomingMessageHook implements ForumManager {
 					Author a = clientHelper.parseAndValidateAuthor(authorList);
 					authors.add(a.getId());
 				}
-				// get statuses for all authors
-				Map<AuthorId, Status> statuses = new HashMap<>();
+				// get information for all authors
+				Map<AuthorId, AuthorInfo> authorInfos = new HashMap<>();
 				for (AuthorId id : authors) {
-					statuses.put(id, identityManager.getAuthorStatus(txn, id));
+					authorInfos.put(id, contactManager.getAuthorInfo(txn, id));
 				}
 				// Parse the metadata
 				for (Entry<MessageId, BdfDictionary> entry :
 						metadata.entrySet()) {
 					BdfDictionary meta = entry.getValue();
 					headers.add(getForumPostHeader(txn, entry.getKey(), meta,
-							statuses));
+							authorInfos));
 				}
 				return headers;
 			});
@@ -252,7 +253,7 @@ class ForumManagerImpl extends BdfIncomingMessageHook implements ForumManager {
 	}
 
 	private ForumPostHeader getForumPostHeader(Transaction txn, MessageId id,
-			BdfDictionary meta, Map<AuthorId, Status> statuses)
+			BdfDictionary meta, Map<AuthorId, AuthorInfo> authorInfos)
 			throws DbException, FormatException {
 
 		long timestamp = meta.getLong(KEY_TIMESTAMP);
@@ -261,12 +262,12 @@ class ForumManagerImpl extends BdfIncomingMessageHook implements ForumManager {
 			parentId = new MessageId(meta.getRaw(KEY_PARENT));
 		BdfList authorList = meta.getList(KEY_AUTHOR);
 		Author author = clientHelper.parseAndValidateAuthor(authorList);
-		Status status = statuses.get(author.getId());
-		if (status == null)
-			status = identityManager.getAuthorStatus(txn, author.getId());
+		AuthorInfo authorInfo = authorInfos.get(author.getId());
+		if (authorInfo == null)
+			authorInfo = contactManager.getAuthorInfo(txn, author.getId());
 		boolean read = meta.getBoolean(MSG_KEY_READ);
 
-		return new ForumPostHeader(id, parentId, timestamp, author, status,
+		return new ForumPostHeader(id, parentId, timestamp, author, authorInfo,
 				read);
 	}
 

briar-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/introduction/AbstractProtocolEngine.java

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DbException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.Transaction;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorId;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.IdentityManager;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.plugin.TransportId;
@@ -149,11 +150,13 @@ abstract class AbstractProtocolEngine<S extends Session>
 			throws DbException {
 		AuthorId localAuthorId = identityManager.getLocalAuthor(txn).getId();
 		Contact c = contactManager.getContact(txn, sender, localAuthorId);
+		AuthorInfo otherAuthorInfo =
+				contactManager.getAuthorInfo(txn, otherAuthor.getId());
 		IntroductionResponse response =
 				new IntroductionResponse(m.getMessageId(), m.getGroupId(),
 						m.getTimestamp(), false, false, false, false,
 						s.getSessionId(), m instanceof AcceptMessage,
-						otherAuthor, s.getRole());
+						otherAuthor, otherAuthorInfo, s.getRole());
 		IntroductionResponseReceivedEvent e =
 				new IntroductionResponseReceivedEvent(response, c.getId());
 		txn.attach(e);

briar-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/introduction/IntroduceeProtocolEngine.java

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.ContactExistsException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DatabaseComponent;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DbException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.Transaction;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.IdentityManager;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.LocalAuthor;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
@@ -251,12 +252,12 @@ class IntroduceeProtocolEngine
 		LocalAuthor localAuthor = identityManager.getLocalAuthor(txn);
 		Contact c = contactManager.getContact(txn, s.getIntroducer().getId(),
 				localAuthor.getId());
-		boolean contactExists = contactManager
-				.contactExists(txn, m.getAuthor().getId(), localAuthor.getId());
+		AuthorInfo authorInfo =
+				contactManager.getAuthorInfo(txn, m.getAuthor().getId());
 		IntroductionRequest request = new IntroductionRequest(m.getMessageId(),
 				m.getGroupId(), m.getTimestamp(), false, false, false, false,
 				s.getSessionId(), m.getAuthor(), m.getText(), false,
-				contactExists);
+				authorInfo);
 		IntroductionRequestReceivedEvent e =
 				new IntroductionRequestReceivedEvent(request, c.getId());
 		txn.attach(e);

briar-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/introduction/IntroductionManagerImpl.java

@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DbException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.Metadata;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.Transaction;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorId;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.IdentityManager;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.LocalAuthor;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
@@ -39,6 +41,7 @@ import org.briarproject.briar.introduction.IntroducerSession.Introducee;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collection;
+import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Map.Entry;
@@ -408,6 +411,7 @@ class IntroductionManagerImpl extends ConversationClientImpl
 					.getMessageMetadataAsDictionary(txn, contactGroupId, query);
 			List<PrivateMessageHeader> messages =
 					new ArrayList<>(results.size());
+			Map<AuthorId, AuthorInfo> authorInfos = new HashMap<>();
 			for (Entry<MessageId, BdfDictionary> e : results.entrySet()) {
 				MessageId m = e.getKey();
 				MessageMetadata meta =
@@ -419,15 +423,17 @@ class IntroductionManagerImpl extends ConversationClientImpl
 				if (type == REQUEST) {
 					messages.add(
 							parseInvitationRequest(txn, contactGroupId, m,
-									meta, status, ss.bdfSession));
+									meta, status, ss.bdfSession, authorInfos));
 				} else if (type == ACCEPT) {
 					messages.add(
-							parseInvitationResponse(contactGroupId, m, meta,
-									status, ss.bdfSession, true));
+							parseInvitationResponse(txn, contactGroupId, m,
+									meta, status, ss.bdfSession, authorInfos,
+									true));
 				} else if (type == DECLINE) {
 					messages.add(
-							parseInvitationResponse(contactGroupId, m, meta,
-									status, ss.bdfSession, false));
+							parseInvitationResponse(txn, contactGroupId, m,
+									meta, status, ss.bdfSession, authorInfos,
+									false));
 				}
 			}
 			return messages;
@@ -438,7 +444,8 @@ class IntroductionManagerImpl extends ConversationClientImpl
 
 	private IntroductionRequest parseInvitationRequest(Transaction txn,
 			GroupId contactGroupId, MessageId m, MessageMetadata meta,
-			MessageStatus status, BdfDictionary bdfSession)
+			MessageStatus status, BdfDictionary bdfSession,
+			Map<AuthorId, AuthorInfo> authorInfos)
 			throws DbException, FormatException {
 		Role role = sessionParser.getRole(bdfSession);
 		SessionId sessionId;
@@ -462,19 +469,22 @@ class IntroductionManagerImpl extends ConversationClientImpl
 		BdfList body = clientHelper.toList(msg);
 		RequestMessage rm = messageParser.parseRequestMessage(msg, body);
 		String text = rm.getText();
-		LocalAuthor localAuthor = identityManager.getLocalAuthor(txn);
-		boolean contactExists = contactManager
-				.contactExists(txn, rm.getAuthor().getId(),
-						localAuthor.getId());
+		AuthorInfo authorInfo = authorInfos.get(author.getId());
+		if (authorInfo == null) {
+			authorInfo = contactManager.getAuthorInfo(txn, author.getId());
+			authorInfos.put(author.getId(), authorInfo);
+		}
 		return new IntroductionRequest(m, contactGroupId, meta.getTimestamp(),
 				meta.isLocal(), status.isSent(), status.isSeen(), meta.isRead(),
 				sessionId, author, text, !meta.isAvailableToAnswer(),
-				contactExists);
+				authorInfo);
 	}
 
-	private IntroductionResponse parseInvitationResponse(GroupId contactGroupId,
-			MessageId m, MessageMetadata meta, MessageStatus status,
-			BdfDictionary bdfSession, boolean accept) throws FormatException {
+	private IntroductionResponse parseInvitationResponse(Transaction txn,
+			GroupId contactGroupId, MessageId m, MessageMetadata meta,
+			MessageStatus status, BdfDictionary bdfSession,
+			Map<AuthorId, AuthorInfo> authorInfos, boolean accept)
+			throws FormatException, DbException {
 		Role role = sessionParser.getRole(bdfSession);
 		SessionId sessionId;
 		Author author;
@@ -493,9 +503,14 @@ class IntroductionManagerImpl extends ConversationClientImpl
 			sessionId = session.getSessionId();
 			author = session.getRemote().author;
 		} else throw new AssertionError();
+		AuthorInfo authorInfo = authorInfos.get(author.getId());
+		if (authorInfo == null) {
+			authorInfo = contactManager.getAuthorInfo(txn, author.getId());
+			authorInfos.put(author.getId(), authorInfo);
+		}
 		return new IntroductionResponse(m, contactGroupId, meta.getTimestamp(),
 				meta.isLocal(), status.isSent(), status.isSeen(), meta.isRead(),
-				sessionId, accept, author, role);
+				sessionId, accept, author, authorInfo, role);
 	}
 
 	private void removeSessionWithIntroducer(Transaction txn,

briar-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/privategroup/PrivateGroupManagerImpl.java

@@ -13,8 +13,9 @@ import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DbException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.Transaction;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.event.Event;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorId;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.IdentityManager;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.LocalAuthor;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
@@ -53,9 +54,9 @@ import java.util.concurrent.CopyOnWriteArrayList;
 import javax.annotation.concurrent.ThreadSafe;
 import javax.inject.Inject;
 
-import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status.OURSELVES;
-import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status.UNVERIFIED;
-import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status.VERIFIED;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.OURSELVES;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.UNVERIFIED;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.VERIFIED;
 import static org.briarproject.briar.api.privategroup.MessageType.JOIN;
 import static org.briarproject.briar.api.privategroup.MessageType.POST;
 import static org.briarproject.briar.api.privategroup.Visibility.INVISIBLE;
@@ -231,9 +232,10 @@ class PrivateGroupManagerImpl extends BdfIncomingMessageHook
 		} finally {
 			db.endTransaction(txn);
 		}
+		AuthorInfo authorInfo = new AuthorInfo(OURSELVES);
 		return new GroupMessageHeader(m.getMessage().getGroupId(),
 				m.getMessage().getId(), m.getParent(),
-				m.getMessage().getTimestamp(), m.getMember(), OURSELVES, true);
+				m.getMessage().getTimestamp(), m.getMember(), authorInfo, true);
 	}
 
 	private void addMessageMetadata(BdfDictionary meta, GroupMessage m) {
@@ -321,15 +323,15 @@ class PrivateGroupManagerImpl extends BdfIncomingMessageHook
 		try {
 			Map<MessageId, BdfDictionary> metadata =
 					clientHelper.getMessageMetadataAsDictionary(txn, g);
-			// get all authors we need to get the status for
+			// get all authors we need to get the information for
 			Set<AuthorId> authors = new HashSet<>();
 			for (BdfDictionary meta : metadata.values()) {
 				authors.add(getAuthor(meta).getId());
 			}
-			// get statuses for all authors
-			Map<AuthorId, Status> statuses = new HashMap<>();
+			// get information for all authors
+			Map<AuthorId, AuthorInfo> authorInfos = new HashMap<>();
 			for (AuthorId id : authors) {
-				statuses.put(id, identityManager.getAuthorStatus(txn, id));
+				authorInfos.put(id, contactManager.getAuthorInfo(txn, id));
 			}
 			// get current visibilities for join messages
 			Map<Author, Visibility> visibilities = getMembers(txn, g);
@@ -340,10 +342,10 @@ class PrivateGroupManagerImpl extends BdfIncomingMessageHook
 					Author member = getAuthor(meta);
 					Visibility v = visibilities.get(member);
 					headers.add(getJoinMessageHeader(txn, g, entry.getKey(),
-							meta, statuses, v));
+							meta, authorInfos, v));
 				} else {
 					headers.add(getGroupMessageHeader(txn, g, entry.getKey(),
-							meta, statuses));
+							meta, authorInfos));
 				}
 			}
 			db.commitTransaction(txn);
@@ -356,7 +358,8 @@ class PrivateGroupManagerImpl extends BdfIncomingMessageHook
 	}
 
 	private GroupMessageHeader getGroupMessageHeader(Transaction txn, GroupId g,
-			MessageId id, BdfDictionary meta, Map<AuthorId, Status> statuses)
+			MessageId id, BdfDictionary meta,
+			Map<AuthorId, AuthorInfo> authorInfos)
 			throws DbException, FormatException {
 
 		MessageId parentId = null;
@@ -366,24 +369,25 @@ class PrivateGroupManagerImpl extends BdfIncomingMessageHook
 		long timestamp = meta.getLong(KEY_TIMESTAMP);
 
 		Author member = getAuthor(meta);
-		Status status;
-		if (statuses.containsKey(member.getId())) {
-			status = statuses.get(member.getId());
+		AuthorInfo authorInfo;
+		if (authorInfos.containsKey(member.getId())) {
+			authorInfo = authorInfos.get(member.getId());
 		} else {
-			status = identityManager.getAuthorStatus(txn, member.getId());
+			authorInfo = contactManager.getAuthorInfo(txn, member.getId());
 		}
 		boolean read = meta.getBoolean(KEY_READ);
 
 		return new GroupMessageHeader(g, id, parentId, timestamp, member,
-				status, read);
+				authorInfo, read);
 	}
 
 	private JoinMessageHeader getJoinMessageHeader(Transaction txn, GroupId g,
-			MessageId id, BdfDictionary meta, Map<AuthorId, Status> statuses,
-			Visibility v) throws DbException, FormatException {
+			MessageId id, BdfDictionary meta,
+			Map<AuthorId, AuthorInfo> authorInfos, Visibility v)
+			throws DbException, FormatException {
 
 		GroupMessageHeader header =
-				getGroupMessageHeader(txn, g, id, meta, statuses);
+				getGroupMessageHeader(txn, g, id, meta, authorInfos);
 		boolean creator = meta.getBoolean(KEY_INITIAL_JOIN_MSG);
 		return new JoinMessageHeader(header, v, creator);
 	}
@@ -398,7 +402,8 @@ class PrivateGroupManagerImpl extends BdfIncomingMessageHook
 			PrivateGroup privateGroup = getPrivateGroup(txn, g);
 			for (Entry<Author, Visibility> m : authors.entrySet()) {
 				Author a = m.getKey();
-				Status status = identityManager.getAuthorStatus(txn, a.getId());
+				AuthorInfo authorInfo = contactManager.getAuthorInfo(txn, a.getId());
+				Status status = authorInfo.getStatus();
 				Visibility v = m.getValue();
 				ContactId c = null;
 				if (v != INVISIBLE &&
@@ -407,7 +412,7 @@ class PrivateGroupManagerImpl extends BdfIncomingMessageHook
 							.getId();
 				}
 				boolean isCreator = privateGroup.getCreator().equals(a);
-				members.add(new GroupMember(a, status, isCreator, c, v));
+				members.add(new GroupMember(a, authorInfo, isCreator, c, v));
 			}
 			db.commitTransaction(txn);
 			return members;

briar-core/src/test/java/org/briarproject/briar/blog/BlogManagerImplTest.java

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import org.briarproject.bramble.api.FormatException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.client.ClientHelper;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.Contact;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.ContactId;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.contact.ContactManager;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.data.BdfDictionary;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.data.BdfEntry;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.data.BdfList;
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@ import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DatabaseComponent;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.DbException;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.db.Transaction;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.IdentityManager;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.LocalAuthor;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.Group;
@@ -29,9 +31,9 @@ import org.jmock.Expectations;
 import org.jmock.Mockery;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
-import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status.NONE;
-import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status.OURSELVES;
-import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author.Status.VERIFIED;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.NONE;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.OURSELVES;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.VERIFIED;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getGroup;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getLocalAuthor;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getMessage;
@@ -64,6 +66,8 @@ public class BlogManagerImplTest extends BriarTestCase {
 	private final Mockery context = new Mockery();
 	private final BlogManagerImpl blogManager;
 	private final DatabaseComponent db = context.mock(DatabaseComponent.class);
+	private final ContactManager contactManager =
+			context.mock(ContactManager.class);
 	private final IdentityManager identityManager =
 			context.mock(IdentityManager.class);
 	private final ClientHelper clientHelper = context.mock(ClientHelper.class);
@@ -72,6 +76,8 @@ public class BlogManagerImplTest extends BriarTestCase {
 			context.mock(BlogPostFactory.class);
 
 	private final LocalAuthor localAuthor1, localAuthor2, rssLocalAuthor;
+	private final AuthorInfo ourselvesInfo = new AuthorInfo(OURSELVES);
+	private final AuthorInfo verifiedInfo = new AuthorInfo(VERIFIED);
 	private final BdfList authorList1, authorList2, rssAuthorList;
 	private final Blog blog1, blog2, rssBlog;
 	private final Message message, rssMessage;
@@ -81,7 +87,7 @@ public class BlogManagerImplTest extends BriarTestCase {
 
 	public BlogManagerImplTest() {
 		MetadataParser metadataParser = context.mock(MetadataParser.class);
-		blogManager = new BlogManagerImpl(db, identityManager, clientHelper,
+		blogManager = new BlogManagerImpl(db, contactManager, identityManager, clientHelper,
 				metadataParser, blogFactory, blogPostFactory);
 
 		localAuthor1 = getLocalAuthor();
@@ -124,7 +130,7 @@ public class BlogManagerImplTest extends BriarTestCase {
 
 		ContactId contactId = new ContactId(0);
 		Contact contact = new Contact(contactId, blog2.getAuthor(),
-				blog1.getAuthor().getId(), true, true);
+				blog1.getAuthor().getId(), getRandomString(5), true, true);
 
 		context.checking(new Expectations() {{
 			oneOf(blogFactory).createBlog(blog2.getAuthor());
@@ -146,7 +152,7 @@ public class BlogManagerImplTest extends BriarTestCase {
 
 		ContactId contactId = new ContactId(0);
 		Contact contact = new Contact(contactId, blog2.getAuthor(),
-				blog1.getAuthor().getId(), true, true);
+				blog1.getAuthor().getId(), getRandomString(5), true, true);
 
 		context.checking(new Expectations() {{
 			oneOf(blogFactory).createBlog(blog2.getAuthor());
@@ -175,8 +181,8 @@ public class BlogManagerImplTest extends BriarTestCase {
 		context.checking(new Expectations() {{
 			oneOf(clientHelper).parseAndValidateAuthor(authorList1);
 			will(returnValue(localAuthor1));
-			oneOf(identityManager).getAuthorStatus(txn, localAuthor1.getId());
-			will(returnValue(VERIFIED));
+			oneOf(contactManager).getAuthorInfo(txn, localAuthor1.getId());
+			will(returnValue(verifiedInfo));
 		}});
 
 		blogManager.incomingMessage(txn, message, body, meta);
@@ -281,8 +287,8 @@ public class BlogManagerImplTest extends BriarTestCase {
 			oneOf(clientHelper).addLocalMessage(txn, message, meta, true);
 			oneOf(clientHelper).parseAndValidateAuthor(authorList1);
 			will(returnValue(localAuthor1));
-			oneOf(identityManager).getAuthorStatus(txn, localAuthor1.getId());
-			will(returnValue(OURSELVES));
+			oneOf(contactManager).getAuthorInfo(txn, localAuthor1.getId());
+			will(returnValue(ourselvesInfo));
 			oneOf(db).commitTransaction(txn);
 			oneOf(db).endTransaction(txn);
 		}});
@@ -396,21 +402,21 @@ public class BlogManagerImplTest extends BriarTestCase {
 			// Create the headers for the comment and its parent
 			oneOf(clientHelper).parseAndValidateAuthor(authorList1);
 			will(returnValue(localAuthor1));
-			oneOf(identityManager).getAuthorStatus(txn, localAuthor1.getId());
-			will(returnValue(OURSELVES));
+			oneOf(contactManager).getAuthorInfo(txn, localAuthor1.getId());
+			will(returnValue(ourselvesInfo));
 			oneOf(clientHelper).getMessageMetadataAsDictionary(txn, messageId);
 			will(returnValue(postMeta));
 			oneOf(clientHelper).parseAndValidateAuthor(authorList1);
 			will(returnValue(localAuthor1));
-			oneOf(identityManager).getAuthorStatus(txn, localAuthor1.getId());
-			will(returnValue(OURSELVES));
+			oneOf(contactManager).getAuthorInfo(txn, localAuthor1.getId());
+			will(returnValue(ourselvesInfo));
 			oneOf(db).commitTransaction(txn);
 			oneOf(db).endTransaction(txn);
 		}});
 
 		BlogPostHeader postHeader = new BlogPostHeader(POST, blog1.getId(),
 				messageId, null, timestamp, timeReceived, localAuthor1,
-				OURSELVES, false, true);
+				ourselvesInfo, false, true);
 		blogManager.addLocalComment(localAuthor1, blog1.getId(), comment,
 				postHeader);
 		context.assertIsSatisfied();
@@ -504,22 +510,22 @@ public class BlogManagerImplTest extends BriarTestCase {
 			// Create the headers for the comment and the wrapped post
 			oneOf(clientHelper).parseAndValidateAuthor(authorList2);
 			will(returnValue(localAuthor2));
-			oneOf(identityManager).getAuthorStatus(txn, localAuthor2.getId());
-			will(returnValue(OURSELVES));
+			oneOf(contactManager).getAuthorInfo(txn, localAuthor2.getId());
+			will(returnValue(ourselvesInfo));
 			oneOf(clientHelper).getMessageMetadataAsDictionary(txn,
 					wrappedPostId);
 			will(returnValue(wrappedPostMeta));
 			oneOf(clientHelper).parseAndValidateAuthor(authorList1);
 			will(returnValue(localAuthor1));
-			oneOf(identityManager).getAuthorStatus(txn, localAuthor1.getId());
-			will(returnValue(VERIFIED));
+			oneOf(contactManager).getAuthorInfo(txn, localAuthor1.getId());
+			will(returnValue(verifiedInfo));
 			oneOf(db).commitTransaction(txn);
 			oneOf(db).endTransaction(txn);
 		}});
 
 		BlogPostHeader originalPostHeader = new BlogPostHeader(POST,
 				blog1.getId(), messageId, null, timestamp, timeReceived,
-				localAuthor1, VERIFIED, false, true);
+				localAuthor1, verifiedInfo, false, true);
 		blogManager.addLocalComment(localAuthor2, blog2.getId(), comment,
 				originalPostHeader);
 		context.assertIsSatisfied();
@@ -613,8 +619,8 @@ public class BlogManagerImplTest extends BriarTestCase {
 			// Create the headers for the comment and the wrapped post
 			oneOf(clientHelper).parseAndValidateAuthor(authorList1);
 			will(returnValue(localAuthor1));
-			oneOf(identityManager).getAuthorStatus(txn, localAuthor1.getId());
-			will(returnValue(OURSELVES));
+			oneOf(contactManager).getAuthorInfo(txn, localAuthor1.getId());
+			will(returnValue(ourselvesInfo));
 			oneOf(clientHelper).getMessageMetadataAsDictionary(txn,
 					wrappedPostId);
 			will(returnValue(wrappedPostMeta));
@@ -626,7 +632,7 @@ public class BlogManagerImplTest extends BriarTestCase {
 
 		BlogPostHeader originalPostHeader = new BlogPostHeader(POST,
 				rssBlog.getId(), rssMessageId, null, timestamp, timeReceived,
-				rssLocalAuthor, NONE, true, true);
+				rssLocalAuthor, new AuthorInfo(NONE), true, true);
 		blogManager.addLocalComment(localAuthor1, blog1.getId(), comment,
 				originalPostHeader);
 		context.assertIsSatisfied();
@@ -752,15 +758,15 @@ public class BlogManagerImplTest extends BriarTestCase {
 			// the rewrapped post
 			oneOf(clientHelper).parseAndValidateAuthor(authorList2);
 			will(returnValue(localAuthor2));
-			oneOf(identityManager).getAuthorStatus(txn, localAuthor2.getId());
-			will(returnValue(OURSELVES));
+			oneOf(contactManager).getAuthorInfo(txn, localAuthor2.getId());
+			will(returnValue(ourselvesInfo));
 			oneOf(clientHelper).getMessageMetadataAsDictionary(txn,
 					wrappedCommentId);
 			will(returnValue(wrappedCommentMeta));
 			oneOf(clientHelper).parseAndValidateAuthor(authorList1);
 			will(returnValue(localAuthor1));
-			oneOf(identityManager).getAuthorStatus(txn, localAuthor1.getId());
-			will(returnValue(VERIFIED));
+			oneOf(contactManager).getAuthorInfo(txn, localAuthor1.getId());
+			will(returnValue(verifiedInfo));
 			oneOf(clientHelper).getMessageMetadataAsDictionary(txn,
 					rewrappedPostId);
 			will(returnValue(rewrappedPostMeta));
@@ -772,10 +778,10 @@ public class BlogManagerImplTest extends BriarTestCase {
 
 		BlogPostHeader wrappedPostHeader = new BlogPostHeader(WRAPPED_POST,
 				blog1.getId(), wrappedPostId, null, timestamp, timeReceived,
-				rssLocalAuthor, NONE, true, true);
+				rssLocalAuthor, new AuthorInfo(NONE), true, true);
 		BlogCommentHeader originalCommentHeader = new BlogCommentHeader(COMMENT,
 				blog1.getId(), comment, wrappedPostHeader, originalCommentId,
-				timestamp, timeReceived, localAuthor1, VERIFIED, true);
+				timestamp, timeReceived, localAuthor1, verifiedInfo, true);
 
 		blogManager.addLocalComment(localAuthor2, blog2.getId(), localComment,
 				originalCommentHeader);

briar-core/src/test/java/org/briarproject/briar/blog/BlogManagerIntegrationTest.java

@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package org.briarproject.briar.blog;
 
-import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.Author;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.LocalAuthor;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.sync.MessageId;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestDatabaseModule;
@@ -23,6 +22,7 @@ import java.util.Iterator;
 import static junit.framework.Assert.assertNotNull;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorConstants.MAX_AUTHOR_NAME_LENGTH;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorConstants.MAX_PUBLIC_KEY_LENGTH;
+import static org.briarproject.bramble.api.identity.AuthorInfo.Status.NONE;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.test.TestUtils.getRandomBytes;
 import static org.briarproject.bramble.util.StringUtils.getRandomString;
 import static org.briarproject.briar.api.blog.MessageType.COMMENT;
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ public class BlogManagerIntegrationTest
 		assertEquals(1, headers.size());
 		BlogPostHeader header = headers.iterator().next();
 		assertEquals(POST, header.getType());
-		assertEquals(Author.Status.NONE, header.getAuthorStatus());
+		assertEquals(NONE, header.getAuthorStatus());
 		assertTrue(header.isRssFeed());
 	}