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Poll: Switching from WhatsApp

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Re: Poll: Switching from WhatsApp

#152
post #113
post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

matrix-synapse(server) suffers from performance issues[1], dendrite[2], the replacement should be resolving that but is currently in beta. Apart from that it integrates fairly well with other networks through bridges.[3] It can be self hosted and it federates, which is a pro. Not too sure about audits and security, it has improved much, when I started using it (2019) they didn't have login throttling[4] and shortly a…

Your first link lists a lot of tickets than actual performance issues. Searching on an issue tracker for the word 'performance' is not a good source for claiming there are performance issues. Synapse used to have scaling issues. Those are pretty much fixed.[1] [1] https://matrix.org/blog/2020/11/03/how-we-fixed-synapses-sca...

Speaking as a Matrix user: it definitely still has performance issues. I'm regularly running into sudden lag spikes that have no clear justifiable reason to exist.

More details about my specific case are found here: https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/8612 - and occasionally other performance issues pop up for other people too.

I'm sure this will eventually be fixed, and honestly the performance is probably good enough for most people, but Synapse is definitely not as performant yet as a homeserver should be.

Re: Poll: Switching from WhatsApp

#153
post #75

I've never used WhatsApp (and only briefly tried some of the other listed messengers), but switching from one centralised and commercial system, once it runs into issues as many similar systems did before it, to another very similar system, doesn't seem quite wise. Personally I'm using XMPP and IRC for instant messaging, and tend to recommend the former: it's a nice and federated protocol, with users and software, an…

A good XMPP solution for non-techs is quicksy.im (which is based on the very solid Android Client 'Conversations'). However, while I use XMPP on a daily basis, we have one big issue: There is no good iOS client. So far I have tested ChatSecure, Monal and Siskin, which all support OMEMO end-2-end encryption, but none comes even close to the quality you would expect. ChatSecure seems to be the most mature, but its deve…

I ended up setting a web interface (converse.js) primarily for use with iOS. No push notifications with it, but also heard that iOS native clients tend to crash and lose messages, and apparently can't run in the background.

Re: Poll: Switching from WhatsApp

#155
Where is the "Don't switch" option? Because as much as I hate that Facebook bought them, they're part of what I would call "critical social infrastructure."

Asking to leave WhatsApp is like cancelling your contract with your ISP and going offline just because you don't like the company.

Re: Poll: Switching from WhatsApp

#156
post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are completely missing the point of todays discussion, it's not about who can distribute binaries or implement client. It's about not giving Facebook more data.

From this point of view you can switch anywhere. But if you would like to avoid constant switching in the future, you have to think long-term and consider a distributed network, not another walled garden. Edit: Matrix solves all problems I refer to.

>you have to think long-term and consider a distributed network, not another walled garden.

Like IRC or Jabber?

Re: Poll: Switching from WhatsApp

#157
post #88

The problem is not finding a nice alternative. The problem is that everybody's contacts are on Whatsapp. How do you make THEM switch?

You uninstall WhatsApp and tell your closest family and friends that they can only reach you on Signal. Because you are so important to them, they will install Signal as a backup/secondary app. Other people will do the same, and it will snowball into everyone having Signal installed and at some point people will realise that the network effect is gone.

Re: Poll: Switching from WhatsApp

#158

Telegram is a downgrade in terms of both security and privacy. Just leaving the comment for people who consider it. It's an excellent platform and a joy to use but I personally refuse to use it.

It's strange, because I would say Telegram is an upgrade both security and privacy.

a. It doesn't require a cellphone always on (most important point for me)

b. It's not run by Facebook, or any other FAANG

c. It's not based in the USA

d. It has a great UX.

Re: Poll: Switching from WhatsApp

#159
post #88

The problem is not finding a nice alternative. The problem is that everybody's contacts are on Whatsapp. How do you make THEM switch?

Make it easier to switch, is the answer.

That was my thought process evaluating alternatives this morning. Signal is apparently lauded by the privacy crowd, but I took one look at it and said "no way is Mum going to use this".

I went with Telegram because the usability was good, WhatsApp-like functionality, and I saw a few people I know already on it - non-techies in particular, which is vital if we're going to disrupt WhatsApp.

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