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Maybe I'm missing something. What do you understand by federated protocol? As I understand it, Matrix seems to be an open protocol that supports federation.

by galbar 5y ago

Maybe I'm missing something. What do you understand by federated protocol? As I understand it, Matrix seems to be an open protocol that supports federation. The open protocol part is evident by the extense documentation of the protocol specification that I linked in my previous message and by the fact that anyone can propose a change in the spec: https://spec.matrix.org/unstable/proposals/ https://spec.matrix.org/unstable/proposals/ You can see how the protocol supports federation here: https://matrix.org/docs/spec/server_server/r0.1.4 https://matrix.org/docs/spec/server_server/r0.1.4 As for the organization governing the protocol, there is The Matrix.org Foundation: https://matrix.org/foundation/ https://matrix.org/foundation/ In the foundation page it states it is "a non-profit UK Community Interest Company, incorporated to act as the neutral guardian of the standard on behalf of the whole Matrix community"

Andrew_nenakhov 5y ago
by an open federated protocol I understand the likes of email or xmpp, or TCP, for that matter. Standardized and developed by an independent entity, for better or worse. Where the power of any single developer is checked by other developers and the standards body. Currently, matrix.org owners can unilaterally change the protocol in any way they like, upgrading their server that hosts the vast majority of users, and all the other independent implementations would be left in the dust. Until this is possible, it is not really a protocol, it's more like a private API available on multiple instances.
- galbar 5y ago
  So if all goes well, it will become an "open federated protocol", according to your definition, in a few years when it is more stable, mature and multiple interests (companies) are governing its direction? Sounds like a fair position to have.
  - Andrew_nenakhov 5y ago
    I wouldn't hold my breath for it to happen. Why would the current owner relinquish control to others to govern its direction?

by galbar 5y ago

Andrew_nenakhov 5y ago

by an open federated protocol I understand the likes of email or xmpp, or TCP, for that matter. Standardized and developed by an independent entity, for better or worse. Where the power of any single developer is checked by other developers and the standards body. Currently, matrix.org owners can unilaterally change the protocol in any way they like, upgrading their server that hosts the vast majority of users, and all the other independent implementations would be left in the dust. Until this is possible, it is not really a protocol, it's more like a private API available on multiple instances.

galbar 5y ago
So if all goes well, it will become an "open federated protocol", according to your definition, in a few years when it is more stable, mature and multiple interests (companies) are governing its direction? Sounds like a fair position to have.
- Andrew_nenakhov 5y ago
  I wouldn't hold my breath for it to happen. Why would the current owner relinquish control to others to govern its direction?