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I’m still hoping that Element (of the Matrix network) would gain more users and become as popular as email is, with several providers around the world that make

I’m still hoping that Element (of the Matrix network) would gain more users and become as popular as email is, with several providers around the world that make it easy to sign up and use. Funding for the infrastructure and running costs is going to be an issue for all these platforms. Only donations and grants seem to be viable to some extent (and maybe ads again), not payments or subscriptions from end users.

bobkrusty 6y ago
I think we need different app/server as matrix servers depend on one software ig., matrix engine. Imagine if theres vulnerability it will affect all matrix servers.
- 3np 6y ago
  While synapse is the main reference implementation, there is also dendrite (getting very close) and at least 4 other actively developed Matrix homeserver implementations.
- stryan 6y ago
  Matrix is a protocol, so there can be multiple Matrix home server implementations. There's already three: Synapse (python, main implementation with full support), Dendrite (golang, beta level feature support), and Construct (C++, alpha/beta feature support, fully third party).
  - BrightOne 6y ago
    There's also a Rust homeserver called Conduit (https://conduit.rs https://conduit.rs)
fartcannon 6y ago
It's odd that they recommend Signal, when their own chart shows that Element is the superior option.
- atoav 6y ago
  I would also recommend Signal over Element to everybody who is not a full blown techie (so most people I interact with in my daily life). This is because Element has some needlessly rough edges that even I as a battle-worn programmer/media tech person had a hard time with. Until this improves I cannot recommend it to friends unless I want to become "the guy that always recommends stuff that is impossible for normal people to understand".
  - fartcannon 6y ago
    You struggled to make a user name and password? Did someone help you sign up to HN? Forgive me if I am doubtful.
    - bogwog 6y ago
      I would recommend signal simply because Element’s UX/UI and branding (which is more important than tech people usually admit) is bad. I’ve had the element app on my iPhone sitting unused for a long time, and sometimes I scroll by it and forget what it is. When I launch it, the first thing I see is a loading spinner thing on top of my chat rooms and contacts. What is it loading? I don’t know, and I probably don’t care enough to want to wait for it. Element is superior to Signal in technical aspects, but crappy in the parts that matter most for a social/chat application. Luckily, Signal is a decent alternative.
      - fartcannon 6y ago
        As you say, Element is superior technically and in my experience has a better UX/UI (simple sign up, no need for phone numbers, and straightforward chat app). I don't recommend Signal due to the, as you say, inferior technical aspects, the phone number dependency security issues, and the centralized single point of failure (recall the huge, day long outage they had a few weeks ago) I use Element as my primary chat application, across platforms like iOS, web and android, and I've never seen it load. I use it with friends, colleagues and with my 73 year old mum. Bonus points because it's in F-Droid, too! Basically, it's just great, in my opinion!

bobkrusty 6y ago

I think we need different app/server as matrix servers depend on one software ig., matrix engine. Imagine if theres vulnerability it will affect all matrix servers.

3np 6y ago
While synapse is the main reference implementation, there is also dendrite (getting very close) and at least 4 other actively developed Matrix homeserver implementations.
stryan 6y ago
Matrix is a protocol, so there can be multiple Matrix home server implementations. There's already three: Synapse (python, main implementation with full support), Dendrite (golang, beta level feature support), and Construct (C++, alpha/beta feature support, fully third party).
- BrightOne 6y ago
  There's also a Rust homeserver called Conduit (https://conduit.rs https://conduit.rs)

fartcannon 6y ago

It's odd that they recommend Signal, when their own chart shows that Element is the superior option.

atoav 6y ago
I would also recommend Signal over Element to everybody who is not a full blown techie (so most people I interact with in my daily life). This is because Element has some needlessly rough edges that even I as a battle-worn programmer/media tech person had a hard time with. Until this improves I cannot recommend it to friends unless I want to become "the guy that always recommends stuff that is impossible for normal people to understand".
- fartcannon 6y ago
  You struggled to make a user name and password? Did someone help you sign up to HN? Forgive me if I am doubtful.
  - bogwog 6y ago
    I would recommend signal simply because Element’s UX/UI and branding (which is more important than tech people usually admit) is bad. I’ve had the element app on my iPhone sitting unused for a long time, and sometimes I scroll by it and forget what it is. When I launch it, the first thing I see is a loading spinner thing on top of my chat rooms and contacts. What is it loading? I don’t know, and I probably don’t care enough to want to wait for it. Element is superior to Signal in technical aspects, but crappy in the parts that matter most for a social/chat application. Luckily, Signal is a decent alternative.
    - fartcannon 6y ago
      As you say, Element is superior technically and in my experience has a better UX/UI (simple sign up, no need for phone numbers, and straightforward chat app). I don't recommend Signal due to the, as you say, inferior technical aspects, the phone number dependency security issues, and the centralized single point of failure (recall the huge, day long outage they had a few weeks ago) I use Element as my primary chat application, across platforms like iOS, web and android, and I've never seen it load. I use it with friends, colleagues and with my 73 year old mum. Bonus points because it's in F-Droid, too! Basically, it's just great, in my opinion!