XMPP vs Matrix: Why Matrix sucks – Simplified Privacy
video.simplifiedprivacy.com

XMPP and Matrix are two competing federated end-to-end encrypted messengers. XMPP is far better, on server cost decentralization, speed over Tor, degoogled push notifications, multi-identities, and overall privacy. So if Matrix is inferior centralized bloatware, why is it more popular? Especially among techies, who should in theory understand these concepts.

This brand new video gives a quick overview of the technical reasons that XMPP is the gold standard king of federation. And it briefly discusses how Matrix manages to push it’s agenda: https://video.simplifiedprivacy.com/xmpp-vs-matrix-why-matrix-sucks/

Some critics will say that “Matrix is a complete package, while XMPP is fragmented”. This is essentially propaganda, because all the XMPP clients interact (Dino, Gajim, conversations, monocles). The only one that doesn’t interact is OTR encryption from pidgin which provides an alternative for hardcore cypherpunks who want to destroy the encryption keys when the conversation is done. So because one single client has an alternative use case, the Matrix cheerleaders want us to fill out Google Captcha spyware to register on Matrix.org because it costs so much to self-host.

  • sir_reginald@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    2 years ago

    idk about the rest but the $5 Hetzner box running Synapse is inaccurate. While you can definitely run either Prosody or Synapse in the same box, Prosody consumes much less resources, which means that if, for example, a $5 box can run a 500 users Prosody (XMPP) server, that same box running Synapse could allocate only around 100 users

    (not actual numbers, I haven’t done any real benchmark other than installing both of them in my Raspberry Pi, mess around with both and test how Prosody’s resources consumption is much lower, both on “idle” and when receiving traffic)

    • Derin@lemmy.beru.coEnglish
      3·
      2 years ago

      Sorry, I meant for personal use. It’s absolutely okay for a synapse server running 1~5 users connecting to large rooms and using multiple Appservices for bridging in other networks.

      Source: Been doing that for 3+ years.

      If you’re looking for something for 500 users, I wouldn’t recommend a $5 VPS.

      • sir_reginald@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        2 years ago

        I get your point and your use case, but I like to look further in the viability of the network.

        yeah of course, a $5 box can’t host 500 users, they weren’t actual numbers. But in my tests on limited hardware, Synapse consumed almost twice as much RAM and CPU for (barely) the same usage. So I’d imagine that when scaling things up a large XMPP server can be run with much less hardware than a similarly sized Matrix server.

        This is quite relevant for the longevity of the network. Cheaper hosting means more people can afford to voluntarily run servers and also less amount of donations can cover the costs.

        • Derin@lemmy.beru.coEnglish
          1·
          2 years ago

          You’re not wrong, but if we’re talking about the longevity of the network then I’d recommend looking at non-synapse servers. Synapse is designed to scale horizontally, not vertically.

          If you want something with more bang for your buck, with the potential for vertical scaling for small to medium size deployments, then Dendrite and Conduit are more viable alternatives.