3 ms·

I've been using Signal for a few years now. Got most of my friends and actually all of my coworkers to switch. The one thing that really bums me out is that th

I've been using Signal for a few years now. Got most of my friends and actually all of my coworkers to switch. The one thing that really bums me out is that the desktop app is another Electron app. At the time of initial development and even now, there's really been no good cross platform way to build a desktop app with a team as small as Signal's, but they recently had an AMA on reddit where I asked if they had considered migrating to a Flutter based desktop app in the future. Their answer was generally positive regarding Flutter, but also a fairly firm no to future migration, so it seems we're stuck with Electron unless something changes.

meibo 6y ago
This is what surprised me most, using Telegram next to Signal in the recent months - their Windows app is fully native and super fluid + speedy. It's really a night and day difference, I hope Signal devs will reconsider some time.
- jakswa 6y ago
  Same deal on ubuntu/linux! For a year or so I've been really happy with Telegram's resource usage and snappiness.
toomuchtodo 6y ago
I would donate specifically to an effort to develop a native Signal Mac app.
- kop316 6y ago
  Donations are kind of a funny thing IMO. Some folks who develop for open source are not motivated by money, and may not even want it. I personally have been developing MMS to get it on the pinephone, and I don't think I would want anyone to donate to me. The main reason is now I feel like it obligates me to work and support people, versus now I do not feel any obligation. I get that I can ask for donations with no expectation in return, but I would still feel that way. I would offer if that is truly what you want, perhaps taking some of the first steps to get it going may be a lot more useful than donating. If you have the first steps done, it makes the goal much easier if others want to help. That is exactly what I have found wokring through my project. A lot of people come out the woodwork to help on smaller issues that they can tackle, but there was no large scale effort until I finally rolled up my sleeves to start.
  - mimimi31 6y ago
    >I feel like it obligates me to work and support people Couldn't you just make it very clear that any donations are only endorsements of the work you've already done and independent of any work you may or may not do in the future? That way everyone is on the same page and you don't have to feel like you owe your donors support or continued development.
    - kop316 6y ago
      I could yes, but at the same time, I do feel that if I got a donation and then life/work/etc. got in the way and I stopped doing anything, I still feel like I in some way let them down since they did donate to me. I will offer that I am also in a fortunate position where I don't need the money in the first place too.
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
- cyberdelica 6y ago
  I'm not interested in donations, but I might have a go at this in a few months, if I get the time - as I'm a regular user of Signal, but I refuse to use Electron apps. Can't promise anything though.
  - toomuchtodo 6y ago
    Nothing expected, very much appreciated.

meibo 6y ago

This is what surprised me most, using Telegram next to Signal in the recent months - their Windows app is fully native and super fluid + speedy. It's really a night and day difference, I hope Signal devs will reconsider some time.

jakswa 6y ago
Same deal on ubuntu/linux! For a year or so I've been really happy with Telegram's resource usage and snappiness.

toomuchtodo 6y ago

I would donate specifically to an effort to develop a native Signal Mac app.

kop316 6y ago
Donations are kind of a funny thing IMO. Some folks who develop for open source are not motivated by money, and may not even want it. I personally have been developing MMS to get it on the pinephone, and I don't think I would want anyone to donate to me. The main reason is now I feel like it obligates me to work and support people, versus now I do not feel any obligation. I get that I can ask for donations with no expectation in return, but I would still feel that way. I would offer if that is truly what you want, perhaps taking some of the first steps to get it going may be a lot more useful than donating. If you have the first steps done, it makes the goal much easier if others want to help. That is exactly what I have found wokring through my project. A lot of people come out the woodwork to help on smaller issues that they can tackle, but there was no large scale effort until I finally rolled up my sleeves to start.
- mimimi31 6y ago
  >I feel like it obligates me to work and support people Couldn't you just make it very clear that any donations are only endorsements of the work you've already done and independent of any work you may or may not do in the future? That way everyone is on the same page and you don't have to feel like you owe your donors support or continued development.
  - kop316 6y ago
    I could yes, but at the same time, I do feel that if I got a donation and then life/work/etc. got in the way and I stopped doing anything, I still feel like I in some way let them down since they did donate to me. I will offer that I am also in a fortunate position where I don't need the money in the first place too.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
cyberdelica 6y ago
I'm not interested in donations, but I might have a go at this in a few months, if I get the time - as I'm a regular user of Signal, but I refuse to use Electron apps. Can't promise anything though.
- toomuchtodo 6y ago
  Nothing expected, very much appreciated.