From 13b70daafbf6b0bd7bbb1297808bedfc0c83887c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Aminda Suomalainen Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2022 19:07:25 +0300 Subject: [PATCH] matrix: keep doing Questions and Answers Ref: #243 --- pages/matrix.markdown | 64 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 64 insertions(+) diff --git a/pages/matrix.markdown b/pages/matrix.markdown index 098573c..426775f 100644 --- a/pages/matrix.markdown +++ b/pages/matrix.markdown @@ -55,6 +55,70 @@ As can be read between the lines from my critiques, I don't consider any homeser The world situation in general discourages me from anything as heavy. +### Why cannot I see history in your Matrix rooms? + +Matrix doesn't support self-destructing messages or message expiry in general, so +I don't feel comfortable with world-readable logs (which would easily end to +search engines forever). + +If you need to see something in the backlog, I suggest +using IRC (IRC@Etro or PirateIRC especially) or XMPP which each store messages +only for 7 days (Ergo default) or some months (Prosody default) on a single server. + +### I am told that I should Matrixify my IRC channel, what does that mean? + +You are likely using IRCnet and I am sorry that you have to deal with this raider group. It means some mix of: + +* setting a Matrix avatar to the room +* removing the `#` from the name of the Matrix room +* setting a main alias to the Matrix room that doesn't contain the IRC network's name +* bridging to Matrix in a way that Matrix user (that may not be you) has full power over the room, potentially also over the bridge bot + * be careful if you are told to answer a bot `yes` in a `/query`! + +### Why should I use Matrix instead of IRC? + +No reason, if IRC suits you better than Matrix. As I have said before, I find +maintaining IRC easier. IRC also tends to work better for me in poor network conditions +and with [IRCv3](https://ircv3.net/) specifications and implemented draft proposals, +it can be very pleasant modern experience without the issues that come from federation. + +There is a usecase for every tool and while federation is important feature +in general I am yet to miss it in IRC. + +I keep mentioning Ergo IRCd, which [scales](https://github.com/ergochat/ergo/blob/master/docs/MANUAL.md#scalability), has serverside history and integrated bouncer +feature so it's just a matter of adding it to your IRC client alongside your +SASL credentials and you will receive your offline messages whenever you +reconnect. Ergo also supports `RELAYMSG` making messages from other protocols +seem more native to read and many graphical IRC clients even provide integrated +image uploading support. + +[Pirate Party of Finland](https://piraattipuolue.fi/en) considers Ergo-based [PirateIRC](https://pirateirc.net/) +and [its webchat](https://webchat.pirateirc.net/) a reasonable fallback should we have to leave other protocols +or they would be unusable otherwise. + +### Why isn't Pirate Party of Finland using Matrix? + +This goes a bit past my personal Q&A, but we are using it kind of as a "tech demo". +However it cannot currently mature past that as: + +* we don't have people interested in Matrix (obviously excluding me). +* we don't have resources for hosting a Matrix homeserver, while we had IRC before we were founded. +* moderation tools are so bad it's only me dealing with them (see critiques near top of the page). +* [Matrix flagship clients, Element Web, Element Android and Element iOS don't support knocking](https://github.com/vector-im/element-meta/issues/43) + which has been supported by Matrix Specification since September 2021 or so meaning + users of those aren't able to request access to our rooms. + +### So do you wish Matrix to fail? + +No, I have been using countless of hours at writing these critiques and performing "quality assurance"/testing, +localizing clients to Finnish, providing support on their rooms for users of those clients, writing a Matrix +Spec Change proposal (that was merged), having coauthored another, writing or contributing documentation in two languages +and whatever else I have been doing since 2016. + +Matrix has a place in my heart, just as IRC and XMPP and while none of the three are perfect, I wish for the issues +get resolved and the fighting between them to end and I am tired of the "stop having fun" or "you are worse person for still using deprecated IRC" +or "I wish IRC/XMPP just died already as it's so old" or whatever attitude I see amongst certain Matrix user/enthustiastic groups. + * * * * * *The lucky Matrix number is `{{site.matrixLatestRoomVersion}}`, but do [consult the Spec for that](https://spec.matrix.org/latest/rooms/#complete-list-of-room-versions) and definitely ask `!servers upgrade {{site.matrixLatestRoomVersion}}` from [Version Checker](matrix:u/version:maunium.net) or [Fluff Generator](matrix:u/+:jae.fi) or [their siblings](https://github.com/maubot/rsvc).*