Element | Secure collaboration and messaging
element.io
Element is a Matrix-based end-to-end encrypted messenger and secure collaboration app. It’s decentralised for digital sovereign self-hosting, or through a hosting service such as Element Matrix Services. Element operates on the open Matrix network to provide interoperability and easy connections.

I’m thinking of moving away from US-based messengers.

Signal, telegram etc have the same problematic architectures. Of those kinds of solutions, I like Threema best, but nobody uses them (which is only a problem because of their architecture).

So I wanted to get a solution with a decentralized architecture, pretty much like the fediverse.

From what I can see, the fediverse activityPub with MLS layer project (to enable fediverse end-to-end encrypted messaging) is still in the functional documentation stage.

So, what do you think of Element as a messenger (which uses matrix protocol)?

  • Ontimp@feddit.orgEnglish
    61·
    5 days ago

    Different POV:

    I work on large Matrix-based state infrastructure which includes collaboration with Element. In my experience their team has integrity and is competent, though the UX aspects of especially Element X could progress way faster. Imo this is in part due to the fact that their key customer segments are no longer private individual users but rather large public bureaucracies in Europe going after digital sovereignty.

    Imo the key point is: You are not choosing Element but Matrix. Element is just the most well-known of many client-side messengers implementing the open standard Matrix. While Element is very active in the Matrix foundation, they cannot unilaterally change said standard.

    Imo moving to matrix is a great move for personal sovereignty, even if the protocol itself is at times a little resource hungry and quirky.

    • erebion@news.erebion.euEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      “they cannot unilaterally change said standard”

      They could do Embrace, Extend, Extinguish. Just look how much overlap the Matrix Foundation and Element have in terms of people. They change things around pretty quickly and other client developers can barely keep up, making Element the best supported client.

      Doesn’t mean it will definitely happen, but I find it concerning.

    • Pip@feddit.orgOPEnglish
      2·
      5 days ago

      This all sounds very promising. Especially that they cannot unilaterally change the standard and that they have stable and high-volume clients. I’ll put together a list of client-side messengers implementing matrix.

      • Ontimp@feddit.orgEnglish
        2·
        5 days ago

        https://matrix.org/ecosystem/clients/

        The matrix foundation tracks components (clients, servers, SDKs, etc.) and their respective maturity and repos on its website.

        For mobile devices, Fluffychat is the main mature alternative to Element X. And Fluffychat actually puts private use cases first afaik and looks/feels more like Signal/WhatsApp as compared to Element X.