- cross-posted to:
- monero@monero.town
- cross-posted to:
- monero@monero.town
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.
It still exists; it’s fine - for all intents and purposes. It fizzled out because most of the features people wanted were optional extensions to the protocol, so you wouldn’t have every feature with every client/server.
Say what you want about Matrix, having one company pushing it with a core API and user-facing application that is “good enough” (I’m not a fan of Element myself, but it does the trick for normal people looking to sign up) makes it easier to adopt.
Case in point, check out the software page of the XMPP.org website. For each piece of software there’s a small dropdown showing you how compliant it is with each standard. That kind of decision making - beyond just “which one looks/feels the nicest” - is kind of what’s been holding XMPP back all these years. (in my opinion)
Shame, too, as XMPP has always been pretty great.
Thanks. Yes it had a lot of potential. Was always confusing too… what client… what server… what should work.