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If Slack adopted the IRC protocol, it would be subject to the same issue Microsoft had with the early web -- either implementing proprietary extensions to the s
by ethbro 7y ago
If Slack adopted the IRC protocol, it would be subject to the same issue Microsoft had with the early web -- either implementing proprietary extensions to the spec to enable features, kludging in new features by abusing existing functionality, or waiting for spec consensus before expanding.
And furthermore, it'd be reimplemented almost instantly by Facebook / Apple / Microsoft / Google.
So I can see why they decided to chart a different path.
- buboard 7y ago> it'd be reimplemented almost instantly by Facebook wait, how? It's not like there was/is a lot of ppl on IRC, just a handful, and it doesnt fit into their product (talking with strangers)
- ethbro 7y agoClearly defined spec + order of magnitude funding difference + new market = ideal product cloning opportunity As has been mentioned here, Facebook is running out of strangers to connect: future growth will depend on adding new types of users.